Costs of relocating EDDC HQ vs refurbishing Knowle

The request was partially successful.

Dear Ms Symington,

I would like to make a Freedom of Information request for the following information:

I would be grateful if you could provide me with the precise figures for refurbishing the 1970s/80s block at Knowle for the EDDC headquarters - as against the total estimated costs of relocating to new headquarters.

Thank you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

J Woodward

East Devon District Council

Thank you for submitting a request for information. We will respond to your request as quickly as possible, within the 20 working day statutory deadline under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

For updates on this case, please quote your unique reference number 101000310466 .

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East Devon District Council

Dear Mr Woodward,

Thank you for your request for information. Please find the response to your query below.

The requested information is not held. The building referred to does not provide sufficient floor area for the Council's anticipated requirement and an estimate has not been prepared specifically for these buildings.

I am sorry that we cannot provide the requested information.

If you are not satisfied with the way we have responded to your request, please fill in our online complaint form at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/making_a_complaint or write to the Monitoring Officer, EDDC, Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL.

Kate Symington
Information and Complaints Officer
East Devon District Council

01395 517417
www.eastdevon.gov.uk

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Dear Ms Symington,

Thank you for your reply.

If I might ask you for clarification:

> What is the 'floorspace' in the 'building referred to' - by which I mean the newer 1970s/80s building, as opposed to the Victorian hotel buildings?

> What is the floorspace of the entire Council headquarters at Knowle?

> What is 'the Council's anticipated requirement'?

I have further quesitons:

> How has the Council determined how much floorspace it requires?

> What consultancy work has been carried out into the costs and benefits of refurbishing:
- the newer 1970s/80s building,
- the Victorian hotel buildings, and
- the entire Council headquarters at Knowle?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Jeremy Woodward

Dear Ms Symington,

It is now after the 20 working day statutory deadline under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I asked for clarification of your initial response, but it has not been forthcoming.

I would like therefore like to ask for an internal review.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Jeremy Woodward

Kate Symington, East Devon District Council

Mr Woodward

My apologies for the delay in clarifying these points. The information you need can be located in the report to Cabinet of July 2013 which can be accessed here but for ease of reference, I have included relevant detail below. http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cabinet_agen...

The Knowle provides an overall floor area of 7,722 m2; whilst the assessment for the size of the new HQ to provide Council services advises a requirement for an overall area of 3,352 m2.

Within the report, in para 3.4.3, it advises the floor area for the Office Extensions is 1,938 m2. EDDC’s floor area requirement of 3,352 m2 is further discussed in section 4.3.0, which confirms how the area was established and identifies a breakdown of the various differing requirements for the accommodation.

The issue of refurbishing the Knowle is referred to on our website under Relocation Q&A section – http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/stakeholderq...

I hope this is helpful.

Regards

Mrs Kate Symington
Information and Complaints Officer
East Devon District Council

01395 517417
www.eastdevon.gov.uk

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Dear Ms Symington,

Thank you for your reply.

1) You refer to the Langdon Davis report:

3.2.2 EDDC Office Extension
 Subsequent to the alteration works to the Knowle in 1974, as numbers of staff increased, in 1978 the first of the two new office blocks were constructed to accommodate the expanding Council. The second new office block being commenced in 1983. Currently the Office Extensions provides a gross internal floor area of 1,938 m2.

> Could you provide me with a breakdown as to how this figure of 1,938 m2 was reached?

2) You refer to the 'issue of refurbishing' on the EDDC website. However, these pages do not answer my FOI question of 18th December or my clarification of 10th January.

> Could you provide me with the precise figures for refurbishing the 1970s/80s block at Knowle for the EDDC headquarters?

> What consultancy work has been carried out into the costs and benefits of refurbishing:
- the newer 1970s/80s building,
- the Victorian hotel buildings, and
- the entire Council headquarters at Knowle?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Woodward

Kate Symington, East Devon District Council

Mr Woodward

The floor space area was calculated by an independent consultant and cross-checked with the Display Energy Certificate (DEC).

As previously advised, we do not have precise figures for the refurbishment of this part of the building.

The information we do hold in respect of this matter is available from the Cabinet papers previously referred to.

Mrs Kate Symington
Information and Complaints Officer
East Devon District Council

01395 517417
www.eastdevon.gov.uk

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