Office moves
Dear Highlands and Islands Enterprise,
I have read with interest about your recent move back into the centre of Inverness and I am interested to know how much money yet another move is costing the taxpayer!
With this in mind, under the FOI Act can you provide details on the following -
Total cost of moving from Cowan House to Fraser House?
The total rent for Fraser House for the duration of your stay?
The total to exit the tenancy agreement for Cowan House? If the tenancy agreement has not been exited, how much is this costing?
Are there any other office moves planned in the next 18 months?
Yours faithfully,
Eric Gordon
Dear Eric Gordon,
Thank you for your request (below) received on the 30th June 2014. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be processing your request for information relating to the HIE's relocation. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2002, we will aim to respond as quickly as possible but in any event within 20 working days from the date the enquiry was received in this case by the 28th July 2014.
In the meantime, should you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in contact at the address below.
Kind regards,
Craig
Craig Lawrence
Customer Services Improvement Manager
Highlands and Islands Enterprise | Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean
Fraser House, Friar’s Lane, Inverness IV1 1BA
T +44 (0) 01463 244403
E [email address]
Dear Mr Gordon,
Thank you for your request received on Monday 30th June 2014, please see below the response to your request.
1. The cost of moving from Cowan House to Fraser House?
This cost was £119k.
2. Total rent for Fraser House for the duration of your stay?
The rent and rates cost for 2 years is £276k.
3. The total to exit the tenancy agreement for Cowan House? If the tenancy agreement has not been exited, how much is this costing?
The cost of exiting the Lease Agreement at Cowan House was nil as the new tenant has been assigned an existing lease from HIE and HIE therefore has no obligations for any dilapidations.
4. Are there any other office moves planned in the next 18 months?
There are two other moves currently been planned in the next 18 months, one consists of down sizing HIE's Dingwall office to smaller premises already owned by HIE thus enabling this property to be released for business opportunities. The other is the ongoing development and future relocation of new office accommodation in partnership with UHI at the Inverness Campus site in Inverness, this will house staff in both the Inverness and Dingwall offices and will reduce in the long term HIE's annual operating costs.
It is important to note that through the release of Cowan House significant employment opportunities have been created. I trust the above information will be of assistance to you, but if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact myself at the address below. Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) act 2002, you will have the right to request a review of the way in which this request has been processed. Should you wish to exercise that right, you will need to contact us within 40 working days of receipt of this email. If you remain dissatisfied on completion of the review, you have the right to appeal to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner. - www.itspublicknowledge.info
Kind regards
Janie Sheridan
Business Improvement Manager
Highlands and Islands Enterprise | Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean
Fraser House, Friar’s Lane, Inverness IV1 1BA
T +44 (0)1463 244537
E [email address]
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