Six Falkirk Council buildings to be sold off

The sale of the buildings is the next step forward in the council’s new HQ and arts centre, Falkirk Council’s executive heard on Tuesday.

The six buildings are Falkirk Burgh Buildings in Newmarket Street; Abbotsford House in Bainsford; Rossvail in Camelon; Denny Town House; Sealock House in Grangemouth and Kilns House in Falkirk.

As previously agreed, the Municipal Buildings will also close their doors.

The buildings will be sold or demolished with the proceeds going to the council’s budgets or Common Good funds.

Members of the Conservative group on Falkirk Council were unhappy with the proposal, however - saying they wanted more clarity on the local authority’s long-term plans.

In particular, they want to know how long staff would be relocated to the offices in Larbert, formerly used by Thomas Cook.

Councillor Lynn Munro said: "It is proposed that these buildings would be used for two or three years until the new HQ is built - but as this only accommodates some 115 people and Larbert is set to accommodate several hundred.

“Where would they return to if the buildings in today’s report are sold off?"

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Mrs Munro also said she was concerned that the new HQ and arts centre would not bring everyone under one roof, and into the town centre, as had originally been envisioned.

She said: "In September we were presented with two very different building proposals, and these two options create very different outcomes, one for a large building to bring everyone together and a second option for a mini HQ together with a new arts centre.

"As the second option was chosen, we have a very different dynamic in that we can no longer accommodate everyone in the new HQ and do away with silo working.

"People may not return from these other offices - especially given that the council is asking that some of the current buildings be put up for sale now."

Councillor Nigel Harris said he wanted to know the long-term goal for the project.

Douglas Duff, acting director of development, said there are unknown factors, due to the current pandemic.

“There are indications that home working is going to be a permanent feature, but that people will want to come together to meet, to collaborate and very much break down silos," he said.

"We want our services to work with us to define office requirements and that will help us decide what to do with new HQ and other offices."

Councillor Paul Garner said getting rid of the buildings was absolutely vital if the council wanted to hit its climate emergency targets and he firmly supported the proposal.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council said: “These buildings no longer serve as efficient office spaces and in some cases and starting to become highly expensive simply to maintain.

“By disposing of them, we can claim the receipts or put back into Common Good funds that can help our communities.”

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