'We are staying in Shirehall' - New Shropshire Council leader vows to keep council HQ open

He performed a u-turn on a desire by his predecessor Keith Barrow to sell Shirehall.

And he also poured cold water on Mr Barrow's desire for the council to become a more streamlined body that commissioned services from elsewhere.

Councillor Pate, who took over as leader in December, has wasted no time in stamping his authority on the council.

Former leader Keith Barrow had favoured a move to create a council with as few as 400 workers. Under the plans Mr Barrow was also looking to move the authority out of its Shirehall base and to smaller premises.

However, Councillor Pate today confirmed the plan to sell the site has been abandoned, and they will now look at moving more workers into the building where appropriate.

He said: "We are now going to stay at Shirehall. We have done a re-appraisal of the costs of running it and it is less than envisaged previously.

"It is the cheapest accommodation by far that we can get anywhere in the Shrewsbury area. We could not get equivalent accommodation for the same price Shirehall costs us so we have made the decision to stay here on a permanent basis."

Last year Mr Barrow said the cost of Shirehall meant the authority had to look at alternatives.

He said: "We have got to move out of Shirehall. If we can sell Shirehall and move to new offices that cost a fraction to run, we would save the cost of a new building in four to five years.

"We need offices that do not cost an arm and a leg to run."

Councillor Pate said the building would require "some remedial work", and that they would now look to install solar panels on the roof as a way of generating income.

He said: "They won't really be visible to anyone else and it would generate something like around £30,000 a year in revenue savings.

"Our financial problems are long term so anything we can do to help revenue streams in future is a help, not only to us but to the rate payers too.

Councillor Pate also said that plans to reduce the council's workforce to the levels proposed by Keith Barrow as pat of his idea for a commissioning council, were "optimistic".

He said: "I think perhaps the vision was a bit optimistic.

"We have to continue to drive out efficiencies in the system. We are certainly looking at staffing levels but I have to say that I think our staff are the biggest asset the council has."

Councillor Pate said some people who work at council premises in Shrewsbury could be based at Shirehall in future.

He said: "There are portions of the people who deliver council services in other buildings around the county and it would make sense - where sensible and applicable - to bring some of them back into Shirehall.

"However, saying that it would be plain nonsense to move someone who works in Oswestry too Shirehall.

He added: "Where appropriate, and provided it is a sensible arrangement there is no reason who staff who operate in the Shrewsbury area cannot be brought back into Shirehall."