City region meetings to be moved to Sheffield following £350,000 spend on offices

City region meetings are to be moved from Rotherham to Sheffield following a £350,000 office redevelopment.
Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis at his office in Broad Street West. Picture: Andrew Roe/The StarSheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis at his office in Broad Street West. Picture: Andrew Roe/The Star
Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis at his office in Broad Street West. Picture: Andrew Roe/The Star

SCR mayor Dan Jarvis revealed at a combined authority meeting on Tuesday that future meetings would be held at his base on Broad Street West in Sheffield city centre.

Mr Jarvis has chaired two meetings at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham since he was elected in May.

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A capital expenditure programme outlines a spend of £352,625 'improve public accessibility, security to ensure it meets local authority standards' and to address 'security issues' following a recent inspection.

A report seen by all four South Yorkshire leaders made no mention of holding future combined authority meetings where Mr Jarvis carries out his mayoral duties.

But following a public question from Sheffield resident Nigel Slack, Mr Jarvis said: "We do plan to use Broad Street West for mayoral combined authority meetings in the future. The capital works planned will enable this to happen.

"This will make sure meetings to which the public are invited take place in an environment that is fully equipped for requirements of public meetings.

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"Openness, transparency and accountability for the public is an important issue and I'm sure members will welcome the opportunity to put the mayoral combined authority meetings on the same professional footing they hold in their own councils."

Documents show £183,100 is being spent on construction, external signage and fittings plus £25,000 on new security gates.

Other costs include £27,725 on 'health and safety', £42,900 for 'professional fees' and £73,900 on internet, IT services and upgrading equipment.

Mr Slack also asked how the mayor was planning on improving public understanding and engagement on the ongoing devolution process.

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Mr Jarvis responded: "I'm ensuring that my mayoralty uses the full range of social media channels available, broadcast and written press pieces on the website and of course public meetings and visits.

"This of course goes beyond just information about the devolution process. The steps we're taking to develop the facilities at Broad Street West will be an important part of the wider public engagement but I'm sure there will be other ways we can achieve greater public understanding."