Council continue to review accommodation needs

PLAN Some staff now remote working, but needs persist

Cavan County Council is continuing to review its long-term accommodation needs, while weighing up what financial impact COVID-19 might have on its plans for a multi-millon overhaul of existing office space.

The local authority currently operates across three separate sites on Farnham Street. They include the former headquarters and library building; the upper floors of the Johnston Library building; and offices in the Courthouse, with the remainder of the building shared with the Courts Service.

However, when the last Budget was struck in November 2019, before the Coronavirus pandemic struck, the council had hired an architect to assess what options were available.

Those “exploratory” examinations are said to still be taking place.

It’s understood the options being examined include renting additional office space, but also the prospect of developing a new set of state-of-the-art offices on a suitable greenfield site within the town centre environs.

“The ultimate solution for office accommodation would require refurbishment and extension of existing facilities or the building of new offices,” CEO Tommy Ryan previously stated.

Over €7M was earmarked for the project, as outlined in the local authority’s plans to spend €115 million to develop towns and services across the county.

It was anticipated a loan would be needed to meet spending proposals of €2m in 2020, and €5m in 2021. That again was before COVID -19 struck.

It’s understood a number of staff have adapted to remote working, and the Council’s investment in IT has facilitated that progression. But this is not considered as a suitable long-term solution, hence the council continues to keep an open mind on options.

Sports Partnership move

One move that has transpired in the past month is the decision to move the Cavan Sports Partnership team into the Council owned offices in Belturbet.

Located on the Old Clones Road near the town, the buildings were previously used in the days before Belturbet Town Council was dissolved.

More recently and somewhat controversially, it has been considered as a new location for the County Dog Pound and veterinary service.

A spokesperson for Cavan County Council confirmed the move of the Cavan Sports Partnership team to the Erneside town.

“The Cavan Sports Partnership team can operate more independently than most other sections and, as such, will be based there.

“This will create additional space in the main council offices to accommodate other staff and allow adherence to the 2m social distancing rules.”

Established in 2008, Cavan Sports Partnership is delivering a five-year strategic plan, which concludes next year, and is committed to changing culture so that more people in the county, of all ages and abilities, participate in sports or physical activity throughout their lives.

The spokesperson added that the move will be “reviewed” again in the coming months as further national guidance is issued in relation to COVID-19.

Separately, the local authority is still pushing towards completing a ‘Land Use and Transportation’ study for Cavan Town.

With Cavan Town designated as a “key regional town” in the draft Regional and Spatial and Economic Strategy, and as a “key driver” of economic and social development for the region, the study will be carried out in conjunction with the review of the County Development Plan.