Agenda item

Briefing Note

The Board considered a Briefing Note which provided an update and outlined key findings and recommendations following an occupancy study of Broadgate House, Friargate and the Council House.

Post pandemic, as employees returned to work from offices, it created opportunity for the Council to review the way in which we currently occupy our property portfolio, including office accommodation.

In January 2025, following an occupancy study of Broadgate House, One Friargate and the Council House, Leadership Board in consultation with Members decided on the closure of Broadgate House to deliver an on-going financial saving to the organisation and to further reinforce our One Coventry approach by consolidating staff into Friargate. These findings have led to the following actions:

• Move Children’s Services, Education and Housing & Homelessness Team into Friargate and the Council House (House Project and Horizon/Youth Justice Teams).
• Move MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) into Friargate.
• Move the Customer Service Centre and Meet and Greet Team and Children’s Conferencing Suite into Central Library, all other Customer Services teams would relocate to Friargate.

A comprehensive occupancy audit programme and findings informed a decision to explore potential rationalisation opportunities and/or a more efficient use of operational properties to achieve financial savings.

Continued monitoring of occupancy further presented an opportunity to:

Phase 1 - 2023/24 Reduce CCC occupancy in Friargate from 6 floors to 4, vacant floors offered up for commercial let, potentially generating additional income.

Phase 2 - 2025 Bring staff together, moving Children’s, Education & Housing & Homelessness teams from Broadgate House to Friargate.

Phase 3 - Disposal of BGH once savings realised, to enable re-positioning of this building as a redevelopment opportunity noting and respecting its listed status.

The Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy spoke about the purpose of the closure is to ensure the Council properly utilises its office buildings to ensure value for money. He reiterated that there had never been any plans to exit the Council House, but that there was potential to build on the heritage aspects alongside St Mary’s Guildhall and the Police Museum, already located on the ground floor.

The Board questioned Officers and the Cabinet Member and received responses on a number of matters relating to the presentation including:

• That a wider audit of Council property had been undertaken as part of the One Coventry Services process.
• That the Lady Godiva Clock would remain the responsibility of the Council.
• The impact on letting Friargate 2 if more commercial lettings take place at Friargate 1, and that Friargate 2 is half let currently but will continue to be marketed.
• That the Council House is an important asset to the city but currently has a low occupancy rate.
• That community groups are able to book rooms at the Council House at a rate that covers costs.
• That the closure of Broadgate House is part of a wider modernisation programme with agile working increasing and enabling more inclusive work patterns.
• The savings made from the proposed sale of Broadgate House will cover any refurbishment required by the re-location of teams to the Library and Council House.
• That the wider portfolio of commercial property was always reviewed, but that smaller office units were more difficult to let, and the focus was on larger commercial sites which are more financially viable and contribute to the wider economy of the city.
• That there are limited additional costs of Broadgate House being empty as it is a listed building and exempt from business rates, but the hope is that it would be disposed of quickly.
• Overall, the initiative to move to Friargate has been a success, that has reduced the Council property portfolio, which will mean a reduction in costs.
• Members may want to consider the current use of offices allocated to them as part of a future review.

RESOLVED that the Board note the contents of the Briefing Note and Officer presentation.