MINEHEAD Town Council staff could move from the town hall offices they have occupied since 1983 into West Somerset Council’s offices in Summerland Road next spring.

Councillors agreed at their meeting on Tuesday to begin talks with the building’s owner about a lease and rent and to meet West Somerset Council for discussions about fixtures and fittings.

The offices will become available when West Somerset Council staff move out at Christmas.

Town councillors agreed to a suggestion by Cllr John Malin that they should have access to the full financial case made for taking on the lease and the cost of making the necessary alterations to the building.

It was also agreed that councillors should be able to see the draft lease when it became available.

Minehead Town Council meetings were transferred from the town hall council chamber to the Quaker Meeting House in Bancks Street, which has disabled access, two months ago.

Town clerk Mrs Sue Sanders said the Summerland Road offices would be “perfect” for her staff.

“The current offices are very restricted and have stairs and no disabled access,” she said. “The district council offices would be ideal for us.”

The town hall was sold to a developer in May for £296,872 but the town council negotiated a six-month lease on the building while plans for the future were discussed.