18th January 2017

Cornwall Council is considering spending more than £1million to redecorate its offices in Liskeard.  The council is currently navigating its way through cuts of nearly £200million to public services.

A decision about the Liskeard offices is due to be made by the council’s 10-member cabinet next week.  There has long been a concern in Liskeard that the 35-year-old Luxstowe House, which accommodates about 250 workers, could be closed and staff transferred to the new council building in Bodmin.

A report to next week’s meeting suggests selling the nearby Westbourne House, which used to be a headquarters for social services.

The bitter pill of a £1.2 million redecoration, refurbishment and rationalisation spend at Luxstowe House is sweetened somewhat by news that a central government department might rent space there, helping to offset the financial costs.

“Luxstowe House is suffering from a lack of general maintenance which is impacting on delivery of services,” says the report.  “There are also a number of defects that are now impacting on the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors.

Westbourne House, Liskeard: to be sold?

“Investment in the building will address perceived issues of inequality between facilities at Luxstowe and the other main refurbished offices (St Johns Hall, Dolcoath, NCH and Higher Trenant) and new build offices (Chy Trevail). The other building which has not been fully refurbished is Penwinnick Road in St Austell but this has recently also seen improvements as well.

“Luxstowe is now unsuitable in several key areas related to staff welfare including toilets and kitchenettes which this project addresses.”