Subject: Utilisation of empty council buildings

Date of meeting: 2 February 2023

Proposer: Councillor McNair

Seconder: Councillor Bagaeen

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Conservative Group

This council:

1) Notes that City Council buildings are now significantly underutilised;

2) Further notes that the cause of this is the Council’s policy to move towards remote service provision with staff working from home;

3) Recognises the unnecessary costs to the taxpayer being incurred from the City Council maintaining and heating buildings which now largely sit empty;

4) Notes that other Councils have downsized their council buildings since the pandemic; and

5) Calls for a report containing a cost-benefit analysis of downsizing the City Council, that includes:

a. Current occupancy of Council buildings;

b. Proportion of council staff working from home;

c. Potential benefit to the budget from downsizing the council, including by leasing empty office space or selling unneeded premises.

Supporting Information:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/sprawling-council-offices-set-to-be-bought-by-housing-develo-268342/