Neath Port Talbot Council is considering closing a number of offices in the borough. Following a recommendation from officers, councillors will discuss shutting five council-run buildings, declaring them surplus to requirement, with effect from March 31, 2023.
If given the go-ahead, the plans would see around 190 members of staff move to alternative locations at existing office spaces across Neath Port Talbot. It is hoped by council bosses that by closing the buildings, it will help the authority with savings on energy bills during the current cost-of-living crisis, as it aims to reduce on-going budget pressures.
The buildings set for closure include two owned by the council, along with three which are currently leased from third parties. The two council-owned properties include offices at 36 Forge Road, Port Talbot, and Ffrwydwyllt House in Commercial Road. In the case of these properties it's proposed that they are declared surplus to operational requirements and handed over to the head of property and regeneration who will consider their future usage.
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The others which are leased to the council include 36 Orchard Street, leased by Neath Port Talbot CVS, as well as Baglan Resource Centre in Moor Road, and Cimla Hospital, which are leased to the local authority by the NHS. It's proposed that discussions should take place for early surrender and termination of the leases.
The report reads: "Officers have now been embarking on an accommodation review and are undertaking this in phases that will see officers concentrate on different parts of the civic and operational accommodation buildings over time. Phase one is to identify some initial outcomes to achieve costs savings, phase two will see officers consider options centred around the larger civic accommodation buildings. Phase three will see consideration of our depot buildings. At each stage reports will be brought to members for determination on a manner to proceed."
Phase one of the accommodation review will now be decided at a cabinet meeting on February 22. You can read more of our stories from Neath Port Talbot here, or subscribe to our newsletter here.
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