Further to minute 83 (31 January 2012), the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management presented an update on what had been done or was in hand since the Cabinet decision on 2 February 2012 (minute 279 refers) in respect of Office Rationalisation. He indicated that timescales had yet to be finalised and progress would be dependent upon a review of the project plan. A review would also be undertaken of the resource available to the project and progress would be in line with the capacity to deliver it.

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In the light of a comment from a Member in relation to a specific commercial interest in a building, the Chair proposed that the press and public should be briefly excluded from the meeting, so as to have regard to the officers’ advice.

On a motion by Councillor Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor Keeley, it was

Resolved – That in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for 10 minutes to allow for consideration of advice from officers that may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act. The public interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

In response to a question from a Member, the Director commented upon a commercial interest that had been expressed recently in relation to one of the Council’s buildings. Members were disappointed that such information had not been available at the time of previous decisions.

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Members sought additional information from officers including the provision of a background paper which detailed all of the Council’s building assets. Members commented also that there should be a reduction in the use of external consultants, with greater use of internal knowledge requested information in relation to the use of external consultants and upon the total costs that had been incurred to date, associated with the Office Rationalisation programme.

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the officers be requested to present a further progress report to the next appropriate meeting, to include –

(a)  a greater emphasis on timescales;

(b)  an update in relation to the outcome of consultation.

(3)  That the background paper in relation to the Council’s building assets be circulated direct to Committee members.

(4)  That the officers be requested to take such steps as may be required to reduce expenditure on consultancy services.