£250k heating project paused at Leek HQ due to potential merger. Other upgrades also delayed amid uncertainty.
The council might merge with another one soon. This is due to government plans changing things locally. Spending big money now seems unwise for them. Besides heating, other projects stopped too.
Ventilation upgrades costing £41,750 and replacing alarms also got delayed. Martin Owen talked to the panel about it. He said decisions loom about the building itself.
This happened even before reform plans surfaced. Spending on its upkeep seemed questionable to leaders. Two of three boilers broke down at one point. Contractors helped get the heating back on though.
Some heating backup is still in place for now. The council did install LED lighting already. It saves money after just eighteen months. They will also handle required maintenance projects.
One council member worried about boiler repairs. Keeping old equipment running can become pricey. Costs could quickly go up unexpectedly, he said.
Owen said repairs cost far less than new boilers would. He also said the boilers, while old, offer some backup. Engineers will get called if needed. Spending £250,000 now isn’t smart, he thinks.
The council’s future itself is uncertain, as is the building’s. It needs more clarity at this moment. The committee had worried about running costs before. They especially noticed costs during the pandemic period. A small staff occupied a large space.