Labour is demanding Judicial Review into attempts to sell-off of Durham County Council’s new, purpose-built HQ.
The party is seeking legal guidance on a potential challenge focusing on “secret” meetings held by the Tory-led Coalition, which saw major council asset and financial decisions discussed and debated in private, away from public examination.
Councillors have lambasted the Tory-led Coalition’s decision to try and force through the sale of the Waterside Building, at The Sands in Durham, to Durham University Business School (DUBS), claiming it is a “calamitous politically-motivated decision that will cost taxpayers tens of millions”.
Labour’s concerns centre on private meetings held by the Coalition to make decisions away from public scrutiny, even though the deal involves huge sums of public money. Councillors also say the lack information on the sale and in-depth business case examining the full and true implications of the plans, is also a major concern.
Durham Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall, said:
“Time and again, Labour has raised serious concerns about the way this Coalition has reached decisions regarding the future of the Sands building and time and time again our genuine worries have been ignored or rebuffed.
“Every major decision has been debated and decided upon in secret meetings – behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. When you are discussing projects that involve tens of millions of pounds in taxpayers’ money, that is just not right.”
Labour has raised numerous concerns over the past year in Council Scrutiny meetings but has yet to receive a “single satisfactory answer.”
“An independent report found that the Waterside Building is by far the most economically-sound solution to the County Council’s HQ issues. It would cost far more to repair County Hall or build a third HQ than it has to build the new HQ, which also puts the Council in the heart of the city, so starting all over again makes no sense,” added Cllr Marshall.
“With the incredible cost increases of raw materials, labour, fuel and land; there is no way this Tory-led Coalition can build another HQ for anywhere near the same outlay. They are on the brink of forcing through a calamitous politically motivated decision that will cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.”
The Coalition revealed plans to build A THIRD Council HQ at Aykley Heads, earlier in the year. A decision that involves the creation of three new buildings that will cost considerably more than the outlay for the Sands and scupper a once-in-a-generation plan to demolish County Hall to create a 6,000-job business park on the site with the potential to create income in excess of £15m per month, had the council built and leased the offices.
A third HQ also increases the long-term burden on the taxpayer, with cuts of over £16m required this year alone.
Labour Shadow Cabinet member for Strategic Housing and Assets, Cllr Kevin Shaw, added:
“Residents need to know how their money is being spent instead of being patronised and misled by having all discussions and decisions surrounding the new HQ hidden from public view.
“This whole process is politically-motivated. Coalition councillors backed themselves into a corner by opposing the Sands building when they were in opposition and now feel they can’t back down. If this is not the case, prove it – tell the taxpayers of County Durham the reasons behind the decision to try and sell off this building, because so far the silence has been deafening.”