NEW COUNTY OFFICES.

Shannon News, 19 June 1923, Page 2

NEW COUNTY OFFICES.

AiJxF'l'a BOROUGH PIUJi'USAL. BUT WANTS-A LUNGER TERM. At Saturday's meeting of the Horo\wie.iuci i.uuuty euuiicu a deputation euuaiowng ui me Mayor T. liobouiij, «mt Cm. KeeaweU and Harvey, waned upon tue Council in regard to me question ui Uie County taking unices m me proposed Municipal jiuilamgs. l lie Mayor explained tile proposal, when it was decided to erect the nuildings, was to include offices for the County Council, Power Board and Borough Council. He explained the convenience of the plans submitted, saying that the County Council had given them an idea oi their requirements and these plans had been prepared wvitli an idea of meeting them. The rental asked was £2 10s per week of £l3O per annum, and besides provision for the different offices of the County Council, they would have an up-to-date .strong-room. and would share a board-room, for which no ( charge would be made, with the other two bodies, wlio would have offices in the building. The councillors had seen the plains and he‘hoped the Council would give the proposal favourable consideration'.

Cr. Keedwell said it was hardly necessary for him to mention the important position occupied by the County Council, and they had thought it was only right to ask them to occupy offices in keeping with the importance of their position. It must be apparent to everyone that new offices were needed. The staff was cramped for room and the x object of the present scheme was to provide up-to-date accommodation where work could be done to the best advantage. They would have here also a fireproof .strong-room, which was necessary to a body which had a lot of valuable records to preserve. The rent was low .considering the space offered and further there would be no rates nor insurance to provide. A further advantage would be that the three local governing bodies would be in the same building which would be an advantage both to these bodies and to the public, as providing the maximum of convenience and efficiency at the minimum cost. Cr. Harvey said' the Mayor and Gr. Keedwell had covered the ground fairly well, but there was one point that he might, bring up. If the County had to build offices for themselves they could not do it. so cheaply and further they would have the three bodies together, which would be very convenient for bodies having &o much to do with each other as these would Cr. Rvder asked what assurance the Council bad that the rent would not be increased.

The Mayor explained that his Council was prepared to give a lease of seven years!

Cr. Harkness: Will the Mayor explain bow this rent is arrived at. is it based on the interest on cost? ’ The Mayor said that this was so. The cruestion of the cost of the whole building had been gone into and the vent- based ; on this. C.r. Catley said be.would like to ask if the Levin. Borough Council would build in accordance with the plans subtilitted if the County Council did' not take these offices. The Mayor explained that that would be a < matter for the Borough Council to consider. If ihe County turned ddwn the proposal made he would like to know if a counter’proposal could be made.

Cr. Fyder asked if the Borough would be prepared' to consider the idea of a longer lease.

Tbe Mayor said that he thought this might, be done. If the County Council had any recommendations to make he would be pleased to consider them. The Power Board had taken their offices on a seven years’ lease and he merely mentioned this term as. a basis.

Mr Monk, chairman of the County Council, said that, the County Council would consider tbe proposals made find, the deputation thanked the Council for their attention and withdrew. Sneaking to the Council subsequently. Mr Monk said, as far as be understood the situation an agreement bad been come to about 1913 between the Countv Council and the Levin Borough that if the council effected .some repairs to the present building ffliejr •should have the use of. them rent free for a. number of years after which a small rental should he paid. They had recognised for some time that, further room was necessary and when the matter of these new municipal buildings came up two years ago, had recognised that, here was a good chance of getting up-to-date offices. One thing to consider was that, they had a large collection of plans and documents which were extremely valuable and which might in the present wooden building be burnt at any moment, Thev had now an opportunity of getting-‘into a fireproof building, and it was an important point. Further, tbe Engineer had been working under very unfavourable conditions for Some time —conditions under which it. was pot fair to ask him to continue, and he was certain that, the Council would see the necessity;of providing hccommoda.tioni for him at once. In fact, his present, office was only occupied bv him. by favour of the Borough Council and it was not a satis- < factory state of affairs. He agreed with ) I cr. Ryder that if a longer lease could > ijo got it would be a good thing. He was heartily in favour of the scheme; as the deputation had pointed out the business of the County was continually growing and provision had to be made for thfs increase. *

' Cr. HArkness said that the chairman had pointed out, the position pretty clearly. The engineer was labouring under very unfavourable conditions and could' not he expected to do his best, work under such conditions. He was strongly in favour of the scheme. The offices were in a good position and he would suggest that, they be taken, but that a 21 years’ lease be asked for. Hq would like to point out that no