Wider Impact of agreeing an updated Capital Budget

Dear Cllr Shotton in you report on the Capital Budget update 5th July
you say “The sites currently occupied that would be disposed of as
part of the Central Business District programme will form part of the
overall evaluation and assessment.” Who will conduct this evaluation?
and whatDear Cllr Shotton in you report on the Capital Budget update 5th July
you say “The sites currently occupied that would be disposed of as
part of the Central Business District programme will form part of the
overall evaluation and assessment.” Who will conduct this evaluation?
and what would be the impact on the CBD if they choose not to dispose
of the sites?

What NOW for Disabled Parking in Hanley

What NOW for Disabled Parking in Hanley, what alternatives have been put into place? please comment below on where you can now park

Before

lost to public realm

 

After

The future of Stoke on Trent councils property assets

I have received a reply on behalf of the Labour Group to my earlier email, see below.

Stoke Labour Group claim that Civic Centre and Swann House are excess buildings, and that there are no plans to close 40 buildings across the city. During Cabinet meeting 31st May Cllr Rosenau clearly states “we currently occupy 40 buildings across the city” and that “relocating 2000 staff to Central Business District will enable us to rationalise our assetts”

If Civic Centre and Swann House are the only excess buildings, Where are the 1100 extra staff coming from?

Stoke Labour Group claim that “Each building that we currently use will be assessed for use and function, cost benefit, running costs, repair costs, efficiency etc, and decisions will be made on an individual basis”, But on 31st May Cabinet agreed to the “active marketing and disposal of surplus buildings”  But details of the strategy to rationalise the Cities assetts will not be revealed untill 26th July at Cabinet.

An amendment needs to be made that either “active marketing and disposal of EACH surplus building Comes goes to Scrutiny Commission” or “a decison on the marketing and disposal of surplus building is made after the “Corporate Accommodation Strategy – Central Business District” report is produced, to safeguard the wholesale disposal of Council Assets before full and due consideration is given by ALL Councillors to EACH building.

FOI. Not in my name

Has Freedom of Information Department at Stoke on Trent City Council become the General Enquire Office? All questions to either Councillors or Officers appears now be passed onto the Freedom of Information team for an answer.

Is this John van de Laarschot. and Cllr Pervez latest attempt at control? Do they want all information out of the Civic Centre to now go via the Press Office or FOI Department?

Stoke on Trent Policy Framework Plans

Attempt to provide links to all Councils Plans

Mandatory:-
•Children and Young People’s Plan draft
•Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy (Safer City Partnership
Plan)
•Development Plan documents
•Licensing Authority Policy Statement
•Local Transport Plan
•Sustainable Community Strategy
•Youth Justice Plan draft

Emails to John van de Laarschot from Vanguard

Some emails to John van de Laarschot gained from a FOI from Trevor Jones they have been redacted because the Monitoring Officer believes that the release of this information will prejudice the exchange of free and frank views and advice, I’ve provided extracts as some may get a neck ache trying to read the PDFs the council provided as ever please feel free to comment  below.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/vanguard_2#incoming-285938

From: Toby Rubbra <toby.n.rbbra@vanguardconsu|t.co.uk> Sent: 04 August 2011 07:34 To: John van de Laarschot Subject Update Importance:

Hi John

Alternatives to enable Central Business District to begin

Can I make a suggestion to our Councillors

Less then 50% of the 2000 proposed office workers are coming from the Civic Centre, why not just build one new office in Hanley?

One new Office will still show serious commitment to the Central Business District to attract other businesses, allow money to be raised from the sale of the 40 other Council properties across the City and save money on that backlog of maintenance.

Asset Management

OPEN EMAIL to Cllr Rosenau and Cllr Pervez

To Councillor Ruth Rosenau : Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transportation

Please provide the list of Council Buildings across the City that are under consideration to close and relocate to the City Business District

Please provide for each building

1. Name and Location of the Building
2. If Council owned or rented
3. Number of Staff Based in the building
4. Plans for future of building
5. Cost of backlog maintenance

If you do not have the information to hand and feel the need to submit a Freedom of Information request, please do do in your own name and forward the reply when your have received it.

Please reply on how you will be answering my query.

Thank you

Ian Norris

Cllr Rosenau has replied but is unable to provide which council buildings are being considered for closure to provide the 1100 staff for the CBD and save £20million on back maintenance.

“To assist the process of the move to the CBD, all Council buildings providing ‘back-office’ or administrative functions are being analysed with a view that these functions will eventually relocate to the CBD.

As we are currently reviewing these buildings, we have not come to a conclusion on the final number, and therefore we cannot provide you with exact details of costings and locations.”

Has this been fully thought through as to me knowinf the number of staff that can relocate and where from is pretty essential to ensure the proposed move is even feasable, or is she just keeping details away from local residents who will be affected until its too late to do anything?

Reply from Cllr Pervez
Dear Mr Norris

You will be aware that the Cabinet meeting on 31 May 2012 agreed the relocation of key functions to the Central Business District (CBD). A copy of this report is available on our website.

To assist this process of the move to the CBD, all council buildings providing ‘back-office’ or administrative functions are being analysed with a view that these functions will eventually relocate to the CBD.

I also understand you have submitted a FOI request dealing with this issue, so I suggest that the detailed answer is provided through the FOI query.

Yours sincerely

Councillors Pervez and Rosenau

Reply from Cllr Rosenau
Dear Mr Norris

In response to your email of 1st June 2012. You will be aware that the Cabinet meeting on 31st May 2012 agreed the relocation of key functions to the Central Business District (CBD). A copy of this report is available on our website.

To assist the process of the move to the CBD, all Council buildings providing ‘back-office’ or administrative functions are being analysed with a view that these functions will eventually relocate to the CBD.

As we are currently reviewing these buildings, we have not come to a conclusion on the final number, and therefore we cannot provide you with exact details of costings and locations.

I also understand you have submitted a FOI request dealing with this issue.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Rosenau