City slated for spending on changes to HQ

Published on Thursday 9 October 2008 09:59

IT was hailed as one of the most modern and innovative office buildings in the Capital when it opened less than two years ago.

But the council was today accused of wasting thousands of pounds on comfier furniture and a new glass screen to reduce noise levels in its 80 million Market Street headquarters.

A 23,500 bill has been run up by the authority for what it today described as "slight changes" to the open-plan building.

The move has been criticised by some workers in the Waverley Court HQ, while opposition politicians today said the money should be spent on local services.

The council revealed that a giant glass screen on a lower-level floor of the building cost 6349, and is needed because of noise from a nearby corridor.

Two rooms have also been revamped at a cost of 17,155, to make it more comfortable for employees during long meetings. The bill includes the cost of two tables, 20 chairs, new audio-visual equipment including LCD screens and what one worker called "subdued lighting".

Labour group leader Andrew Burns said: "Spending 23,000 to make council offices more comfortable should not be a priority in the current financial climate.

"Just in the last few weeks local Citizens Advice Bureaux have been threatened with closure, local voluntary organisations are losing previous grant monies due to the implementation of the so-called Fairer Scotland fund, local community centres are losing their full-time workers, and local schools continue to suffer budget reductions.

"Properly funding these types of public service should be the priority of the SNP/Lib Dem administration and not buying office furniture."

The first workers moved into the striking building next to Waverley Station in December 2006. Shaped like a giant letter E, and made mostly of concrete and glass, it has its main entrance on East Market Street and replaced 20 run-down council offices around the city.

The 200,000 square feet HQ, home to some 1800 staff, was officially opened by the Princess Royal in April last year.

One employee said today: "Talk about strange goings-on. A huge glass screen has been put up in the supposedly open-plan that is Waverley Court. We all call it the goldfish bowl. Rumour has it that some directors are furious and want it taken down."

A council spokeswoman said today: "As would be expected with any new building, as the day-to-day issues associated with working in an open-plan office setting have become clear, slight changes have been made to Waverley Court since it opened.

"The insertion of a glass panel along a corridor was necessary in order to reduce noise levels and disturbance to staff. Two meeting rooms are being equipped with extra audio-visual equipment and furniture as these will be used for longer meetings, staff training and situations which require particular AV technology.

"This work is being undertaken as part of the council's on-going sustainability programme."