City council's HQ 'has a future' in new set-up

COUNCIL LEADER SAYS PROMINENT BUILDING COULD BE BASE FOR SOUTH DERBYSHIRE AUTHORITY IF PLANS GET THE GO-AHEAD FROM GOVERNMENT

- By NIGEL SLATER

DERBY'S Council House does have a future and will be a frontrunner to be the home of a new authority - says the city's leader.

Labour councillor Nadine Peatfield accepted there was “technically” uncertainty over the future of the city council’s HQ on Corporation Street.

This is because Derby City Council could cease to exist in the coming years.

But Councillor Peatfield was hopeful the huge building, built in the 1930s, would be the home of a newly formed ‘South Derbyshire’ authority.

Her comments came after Derby moved a significant step closer to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) during a lively meeting.

The Government wants to simplify local government and hopes the changes will save money and provide better public services.