The prospect of local government reorganisation in Hampshire has forced New Forest District Council to rethink a major refurbishment of its headquarters.
Last summer, the council approved a £1.75m budget for modernising its offices, a move that would enable it to let out one of the building’s wings to bring in a projected £300,000 year.
A council report has now said that because of the devolution plan, ‘concerns regarding the scheme's ability to pay back the proposed investment in keeping with the original timeframe now exist’.
The report continued: ‘Therefore, it is recommended that council approve the removal of this previously approved scheme and adjust the council's medium-term financial plan accordingly, particularly the removal of the previously anticipated income stream.’
