Despite looming reorganisation plans that could see its dissolution, Stafford Borough Council has approved a proposal to purchase its headquarters at the Riverside Civic Centre.
At a specially convened meeting, councillors voted in favour of acquiring the four-storey building, which the authority currently leases.
The Civic Centre, also home to several other organisations including NHS services, is under a lease agreement that still has more than five decades remaining. With rent costs expected to rise over time, council members have moved to secure ownership as a cost-saving measure.
Long-Term Financial Considerations
Ownership of the building would allow the council to apply for environmental grants and implement energy-efficiency upgrades, potentially reducing operational costs in the long term.
Council Leader Aidan Godfrey explained the rationale behind the move, noting that the existing lease, signed in 1974, restricts the authority’s ability to manage costs effectively.
“The lease has become an expensive burden. It ties our hands and leaves council taxpayers footing the bill for expenses we cannot control,” said Mr Godfrey.
He added: “We have looked very closely at the figures to see if purchasing the building was the right thing to do. And our decision was based on investing in the future.
We want to protect taxpayers’ money and if we were to own the building, we would avoid unnecessary costs. We would also be able to bid for investment that will reduce the carbon footprint of the Civic Centre – and help improve its energy efficiency, therefore providing a reduction in long-term running costs.”
Uncertain Future Under Government Reforms
The council’s future, however, remains uncertain. As part of a wider local government restructuring plan announced by the national Government in December, the existing two-tier system in Staffordshire is set to be replaced by unitary authorities.
Stafford Borough Council is among several authorities that could be abolished under the proposals. Councillors have backed an initial plan to form a new unitary authority for southern Staffordshire, which would consolidate six existing boroughs and districts.
Due to commercial sensitivity, discussions and decisions regarding the purchase of the Civic Centre were held in private. Nonetheless, the move signals a proactive step by the council to safeguard financial sustainability—regardless of its future configuration.
