County council HQ under fire as party leaders clash online

COST OF OAK HOUSE IS HOT TOPIC OF HUSTINGS

- OLIVER PRIDMORE

PARTY leaders have clashed over Nottinghamshire County Council's new £19 million headquarters ahead of the May 1 elections, with one describing it as a vanity project.

The Tory-run administration has defended Oak House, near Hucknall, as a project that will save money compared with staying in the historic County Hall in West Bridgford.

But some of those vying to take over the county council say they could sell the building off.

The Post's sister news and sport website, Nottinghamshire Live, hosted a hustings ahead of the election which leaders of five parties took part in.

All 66 county council seats are up for grabs in the election, with 34 needed for any party to run the council on its own. The Conservatives are currently in charge with a small majority.

Issues including potholes, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services and council tax were hotly debated during the online hustings on Tuesday. The final question was on Oak House, with candidates suggesting a broad range of future uses for the building.

The building was designed to solely house frontline council services, but as the cost of maintaining County Hall increased, the council decided to make it into a new headquarters. With an original budget of £11 million, the Conservatives say the final build cost was £19 million.

Given the upgrades required, staying in County Hall would have cost £50 million over the coming years, say the Conservatives.

Business plans are now being drawn up for County Hall, which has been the home of the county council since it was built in the 1940s.

A full council meeting was held at Oak House in March, despite the fact building work was unfinished. One group of councillors turned up to the meeting in hard hats to highlight this.