MINEHEAD town councillors took another step towards moving to new headquarters at their meeting on Tuesday (October 18) when they agreed to the terms of a draft lease on the West Somerset Council offices in Summerland Road.
The move is planned for early next year now that the sale of the Town Hall has been completed.
And councillors agreed that negotiations for a full lease on the Summerland Road offices should now go forward – despite a warning from Cllr John Malin that they should not make a final decision without actually looking at the premises.
“Surely it would be helpful if councillors visited the offices to see what we will be renting for the next five years,” he said. “For instance, are we paying for fixtures and fittings, or will they be removed?”
The mayor, Cllr Jean Parbrook, said contact had not yet been made with the district council about fixtures and fittings, but she thought neither council would want the building to be returned to its original state.
She thought it would not be appropriate for a large party of councillors to visit the offices while they were still occupied but told Cllr Malin: “You have the right to go there whenever you like.”
Cllr Andy Lewis said that, as the premises were already being used as council offices, he was sure they would prove suitable for the town council.