£9.9m bill to equip Rotherham Council's new offices

The £3 million-a-year rent paid to regeneration group Evans for Riverside House does not include kitting out the buildings.

The first staff will begin moving in before Christmas and the authority insists the total cost is less than staying put in its ageing existing buildings.

But the council has come under fire for committing so much to its latest high-profile investment in the wake of the £3 million refurbishment of the Town Hall, the £5 million purchase of Doncaster Gate hospital and controversial cuts to youth centres.

Tory councillor John Turner said that it was also at odds with a belt-tightening approach which saw council officials slashing £30 million from their annual budget.“

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The kit-out cost will go on building rooms within Riverside House and adding all fixtures, fittings and computers, plus filling the library, public cafe and customer service centre.

Estates manager Paul Smith said: “The £9.9 million to fit out Riverside House was budgeted for at the beginning of the project.

“The cost of Riverside House over 35 years is less than the cost of keeping our current estates because of the works that would be needed.

“It’s cheaper to move to Riverside and do all the other works than to refurbish what we have now. It also means we are part of revitalising that part of town."

s than the current total.

An “agile working” system means desk-sharing will be the norm, with 58 spots for every 100 employees to minimise unused space.

TORIES ATTACK COST OF FURNISHING NEW OFFICES: See this week's Advertiser.