Staffordshire Place

ATJ said:

Come on, be reasonable. Everyone knows that if you have anything positive to say about Staffordshire County Council, you must work for them.

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SCC made me redundant but it doesn't stop me liking the new building. In fact I think it looks very smart. Whether they should have spent the money on it or not is a moot point but they are supposedly saving money on heating/maintaining all the older buildings that they hope to sell - when or if they ever will be able to sell them is something else entirely.

united 57, home working having environmental advantages is not always what it would appear on first glance. I used to work in an open plan office that had probably around 200 people on the floor. If even just a quarter of these worked from home that would be 50 houses that would have to be heated and lit during the day, whilst the large open plan office would still be heated and lit anyway.

And if i remember correctly the council does encourage a car sharing scheme for its employees. probably not enough, but they do have one

I went on Saturday to have a look and I was impresed with it. I really do think it is much better than I thought it would be.

Are we, the general public, actually allowed in the hallowed Staffordshire Place then? Can we see where our hard earned money has been wasted, oops sorry, spent?

Currently the public do not have access infact SCC employées not working in SP are not permitted entry. It seems the swipe-card security system runs à pretty tight ship......

John said:

John Marwood said:

The Nation is not facing austerity, just occassionally glancing at it

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I never had you down as a 'glass half full' sort of chap

57mph said:

57mph,
Council planner,
New Build,
Council man
Council street
The Council, Stafford
COU CN1L

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LOL

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Half full and half empty - austerity and poverty will exist and does exist to a degree, its just that, generally speaking, people are not looking at it head on, merely, as reported, glancing at it at times

If you want a good view of austerity then I recommend Somalia.

Did I read that some staff were placed in SP and were doing OK until one went for a poo?

No water connected

Log jam

Dry drop

Sharp ( pointy ) Exit

John Marwood said:

Did I read that some staff were placed in SP and were doing OK until one went for a poo?

No water connected

Log jam

Dry drop

Sharp ( pointy ) Exit

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I hadn't heard this but I hope it's true. The water in the loos at the new building is recycled 'grey' rainwater, perhaps it hasn't rained enough!

That toilet story sounds like a load of sh*t...


Sorry I couldn't stop myself

dangerousdave said:

united 57, home working having environmental advantages is not always what it would appear on first glance. I used to work in an open plan office that had probably around 200 people on the floor. If even just a quarter of these worked from home that would be 50 houses that would have to be heated and lit during the day, whilst the large open plan office would still be heated and lit anyway.

And if i remember correctly the council does encourage a car sharing scheme for its employees. probably not enough, but they do have one

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Longer term. home working can lead to people living further away from their office as commuting a further distance on fewer days per week becomes viable. In turn that can negate the environmental benefits of having to travel into the office less.

United57 said:

The issue is what to do with the clapped out buildings ?

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There's already plans to demolish Riverway and bung sheltered accommodation on that site.

Another issue is bringing in a large workforce and the impact on transport. I hope the council encorages puplic transport?

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The workforce is already travelling to the existing locations, so all that changes is that more people travel into the town centre which is more suited to public transport (since all routes lead there!). There isn't any car parking at Staffordshire Place either. With lots of departments being brought together travel between offices should be reduced too.

I also hope the council looks at ways of allowing some staff to work from home based locations. Unfortunately many councils do not like this.

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I don't think this is true - I know quite a few people who work in local authorities and are able to work from home.

Is it true that County council workers and Borough council workers have to be housed in separate buildings.

Yes

If they ever meet in daylight they can disintegrate just like a pair of those new trainers where the leather only lasts six weeks

henryscat said:

United57 said:

The issue is what to do with the clapped out buildings ?

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There's already plans to demolish Riverway and bung sheltered accommodation on that site.

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I'd read that Riverway was going to be converted into retirement accommodation.

Retirement Village is how it was originally heraled ......

Hello.. I'm new here and relatively new to Stafford - lived in the area fora few years now. I don't work in Stafford, nor do I work in the public sector but wanted to join in this conversation. I am however quite familiar with the County Council

There are some good points made. The difference between the Borough Council and County Council has been highlighted and really is an important distinction. Two tier local government like this really is a bit old fashioned and is usually replaced with unitary authorities. However this can't really work with Staffordshire, least of all due to the absence of any real significant urban areas, outside of Stafford itself. When the only remaining "city" in administrative county of Staffordshire is Lichfield, you see my point. So unfortunately this two tier approach will have to continue and that means that some area will need to be the base for the County Council - therefore Stafford has both.

County buildings will still be the "administrative home" of the County Council, the elected members themselves will still be based there, so the main building will remain in use. All the other buildings though, split between the Town Centre, Riverway, Beaconside and elsewhere should be closed, and sold off. Employees will work together in SP.

In regards to home-working and hot-desking, this is a necessity. SP does not have enough space for ALL employees to work there at the same time. In regards to provision of car parking, all Council employees have had their free parking passes withdrawn I believe, to some outrage. There are limited amounts of subsidised spaces available to staff who need them, but not all staff will be getting them. I'm used to paying 8-12 quid a day to park in a City all day, so frankly I fine the outrage of having to pay upto 4 quid a day slightly humorous.

And finally the concrete balls stuff is a joke - they didn't cost that much. They need to have security measures in place so you might as well use some that fit in with the look and feel of the development. Our resident communist Councillor Tom Harris might object, but he just likes the sound of his own voice. He seems to think the solution to all Stafford's problems is a Bus Station. At a time when bus services are being withdrawn as no one is using them, I don't really see his point.

My final point, as a relative newcomer to Stafford is that the town is tired and in desperate need of a new lease of life. This development really helps this goal and the Council should be congratulated on investing in such a project in these times.

Anyway, sure that is too long for my first post....

ExiledInStaffers said:

He seems to think the solution to all Stafford's problems is a Bus Station. At a time when bus services are being withdrawn as no one is using them, I don't really see his point.

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I wont use the buses in Stafford, the prices are a joke. For 2 adults and 2 kids its always cheaper to get a taxi door to door than to use a bus.

ExiledInStaffers said:

My final point, as a relative newcomer to Stafford is that the town is tired and in desperate need of a new lease of life. This development really helps this goal and the Council should be congratulated on investing in such a project in these times.

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After a trip round Lichfield at the weekend our town does look a bit worn out.

ExiledInStaffers said:

Anyway, sure that is too long for my first post....

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Not at all, glad you've joined in

Have you got any proof that the concrete balls didn't cost £587 each? If so, can we see it please.

ATJ said:

John Marwood said:

Did I read that some staff were placed in SP and were doing OK until one went for a poo?

No water connected

Log jam

Dry drop

Sharp ( pointy ) Exit

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I hadn't heard this but I hope it's true. The water in the loos at the new building is recycled 'grey' rainwater, perhaps it hasn't rained enough!

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Yeh its true

Confirmed today