Repairs to Staffordshire council base are ending 15 months later than first planned
Repairs to Staffordshire County Council's new £38 million headquarters will finish at the end of April – 15 months behind schedule.
County council leader Philip Atkins said the latest delays on Staffordshire Place were down to the bad weather.
But he today revealed the end was finally in sight.
Contractors started repair work on Staffordshire Place in October 2011 after cladding came loose from the building just weeks after it officially opened. Work was due to be completed by
January 2012 but it has been hit by various delays.
Councillor Atkins said: "The last date I heard mentioned for the work to finish was the end of April. It's over-running at the moment because of the bad weather.
"The workmen are doing their level best to to a perfect job. It's a pain in the neck."
He blamed "shoddy workmanship" for the contractors having to be called back in to do the work in the first place.
Staffordshire Place, predominantly made up of light stonework and glass, welcomed its first county council workers in autumn of 2011. But contractors were called back within weeks to remove and reattach all 300 stone tiles used to clad the buildings in Tipping Street after two of them fell off and others came loose.
By November 2011, around 1,700 county council had moved into the two four-storey office suites.
Councillor Mark Winnington, cabinet member for environment and assets, said the ongoing work was not costing the taxpayer. He said: "Remedial work on the outside of Staffordshire Place is continuing at the contractor's expense.
"Our new headquarters are already delivering the savings we promised. By bringing staff together from 17 old and outdated buildings, Staffordshire Place is saving £250,000 a year, while new ways of working are helping us save a further £370,000 in print and paper costs – a total annual saving of £620,000. Despite the continuing work, which is at no cost to local taxpayers, the new building is having a hugely positive impact on the area and will continue to do so for decades to come.
"The work is at no cost to the council. Staff have now moved inside. They've been in there for 18 months.
"The contractor has got to put everything back as good as new."
