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| Wakefield Council to close HQ to combat rising energy costs | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Wakefield County Hall opened in 1898 and was refurbished in 1991 | Wakefield County Hall opened in 1898 and was refurbished in 1991 |
| A council is to temporarily close its historic headquarters and relocate staff and services due to the "significant" rise in energy costs. | A council is to temporarily close its historic headquarters and relocate staff and services due to the "significant" rise in energy costs. |
| Wakefield's County Hall will close by the start of November the authority said as it looks to tackle the "huge financial challenge" it faces. | Wakefield's County Hall will close by the start of November the authority said as it looks to tackle the "huge financial challenge" it faces. |
| The authority is predicted to overspend its budget by about £11m this year. | The authority is predicted to overspend its budget by about £11m this year. |
| Councillor Darren Byford said the decision would allow the authority to maintain services this winter. | Councillor Darren Byford said the decision would allow the authority to maintain services this winter. |
| County Hall, which houses the council chamber, was identified following a review as having low occupancy but high heating costs. | County Hall, which houses the council chamber, was identified following a review as having low occupancy but high heating costs. |
| The majority of services based there will be relocated to neighbouring buildings Wakefield One and Wakefield Town Hall. | The majority of services based there will be relocated to neighbouring buildings Wakefield One and Wakefield Town Hall. |
| The council said it had not ruled out closing other building temporarily, though it has not revealed how much money it expects to save with the closure of County Hall. | The council said it had not ruled out closing other building temporarily, though it has not revealed how much money it expects to save with the closure of County Hall. |
| Mr Byford, who is responsible for property, said the authority was having to manage the impact of "spiralling inflation and soaring energy and fuel costs". | Mr Byford, who is responsible for property, said the authority was having to manage the impact of "spiralling inflation and soaring energy and fuel costs". |
| "By reducing energy usage, we are able to cut our fuel bills, which will support us to maintain important services that our residents rely on, at a time of severe financial pressures," he said. | "By reducing energy usage, we are able to cut our fuel bills, which will support us to maintain important services that our residents rely on, at a time of severe financial pressures," he said. |
| The historic building houses the council chamber | The historic building houses the council chamber |
| The building, which opened in 1898 and was refurbished in 1991, will be maintained with a low-level of heating throughout winter. | The building, which opened in 1898 and was refurbished in 1991, will be maintained with a low-level of heating throughout winter. |
| Tony Homewood, leader of Wakefield Council's Conservative Group, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was "surprised and disappointed" by the move. | Tony Homewood, leader of Wakefield Council's Conservative Group, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was "surprised and disappointed" by the move. |
| "County Hall is the home of Wakefield Council," he said. | "County Hall is the home of Wakefield Council," he said. |
| "It is a beautiful old building but unfortunately it has a very antiquated heating system and costs a fortune to run. | "It is a beautiful old building but unfortunately it has a very antiquated heating system and costs a fortune to run. |
| "We will see if this decision is justified as we move forward. Whether temporary becomes permanent, we will see in due course." | "We will see if this decision is justified as we move forward. Whether temporary becomes permanent, we will see in due course." |
| The move comes as the council agreed to offer a £3.5m package of support for residents to help with soaring energy bills. | The move comes as the council agreed to offer a £3.5m package of support for residents to help with soaring energy bills. |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |