The plan of purchase of an expensive office area at £80m HQ building as proposed by Cheshire West and Chester Council has evoked some negative response from the leaders of Opposition. The plan for purchase of the £20m property for shared offices near racecourse is being questioned vigorously, as it involves a lot of public money. This is also coupled with the Tories plan for selling of the County Hall for £10m and making of shift of the staff to the new building, which is suitably located near to Chester city centre, close to several restaurants, hotel, and apartments.

These concerns have led to passing over of the proposal to be scrutinized by Chester council’s Panel after the executive meet held recently.

In its response to the proposed move, Labour leader Cllr Derek Bateman clarified that it is not that the Labour Party is opposing the proposal outright, but that the council needs to ensure that such a large amount of public money is not invested in a wrong manner. The party also stressed upon the need for ensuring that there is transparency and full scale discussions on the issue of sale of County Hall to a local university and make sure that it is being properly used, before the proposal is accepted for application.

Bateman was supported by Finance spokesman Cllr Justin Madders for the Labour Party, who expressed his apprehension at incurring of such a huge expenditure, when the council had decided to cut services for streamlining the budget this year. He also suggested that this could not be accepted without a substantial reason for making such a shift of location.

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