Civic Centre refurbishment

The 13-storey building has been the focal point of the authority since it opened in 1967, but due to limited investment it is no longer fit for purpose and in urgent need of modernisation.

A typical 1960s concrete frame building, it has become increasingly costly to run, heat, cool and maintain and was not designed for today's flexible, increasingly paper-free working trends.

It has reached the stage where the urgent work necessary to bring the Civic Centre up to standard can no longer be avoided.

The Council has examined every option available, including relocating to new premises, carrying out a total rebuild, refurbishment and patching-up repairs.

And it is clear that refurbishment is the cheapest and most cost-effective way of ensuring the authority continues to provide the very best standard of service to its residents.

The planned refurbishment is designed to bring about a number of benefits including:

• a major reduction in maintenance and revenue costs
• significant cash savings from relocating staff currently based at the Council's four other town centre buildings to the Civic Centre
• a more user-friendly environment for residents and staff alike, and
• a kick-start to the much needed regeneration of Victoria Avenue , the thoroughfare used by the vast majority of visitors to the town

Council Leader, Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, said: "When we reviewed the operation of the Civic Centre last year it was clear that costly maintenance work was unavoidable.

"We looked at all the available options including carrying out patching-up repairs, full refurbishment, a total rebuild and relocating to another site altogether.

"The all-party working party leading on the project concluded that urgent investment could not be avoided and the most cost effective approach was refurbishment of the existing facilities.

"This project will enable us to deal with urgent maintenance issues and reorganise ourselves to reflect today's modern working methods.

"By accommodating more of our staff in the Civic Centre and closing our four other sites we will significantly reduce energy costs, helping us to meet our Carbon Reduction Commitment.

"We want the Civic Centre to continue to be the focal point for Council services well into the 21st Century, but in the most cost-effective way possible.

"Not only will this work reduce the increasing amount of urgent repair work necessary on an ongoing basis but it will also reduce the running costs of the building.

"The electric, heating, water and ventilation systems in the Civic Centre and the toilet facilities are all in urgent need of upgrading.

"Our original plans included modernising and improving the areas of the building occupied by elected councillors.

"But this work is not urgently required and has been suspended on an open-ended basis until such time as there is a significant improvement in the economic climate.

"It is imperative that we continue to review the way we do things to see if we can operate more efficiently and more effectively.

"These essential works to the Civic Centre will make the building more cost effective for many years to come as well as more user-friendly and efficient for customers and staff alike.

The first phase of the refurbishment will require those staff currently based on the top four floors of the building to move temporarily to nearby Margaret Thatcher House.

But while the work is taking place it will be a case of 'business as usual' for the Council, with disruption to services kept to a minimum.

EC Harris was appointed in April 2010 as the consultants to work on planning and designing the refurbishment works.

Mace Plus has been appointed to undertake the construction works, which are expected to be completed by September 2012.