THE man who helped spearhead York’s ill-fated council headquarters move is to be quizzed by councillors.

Quentin Macdonald, a former councillor and City of York Council’s executive member for resources from 2003 to 2007, will meet the scrutiny committee looking into the collapse of the council’s planned move to purpose-built offices at Hungate.

Talks will take place on April 9, ahead of the committee agreeing its final report at the beginning of May.

News of the meeting came as business and political figures continued to react to the council’s latest announcement on its headquarters plans.

As revealed in The Press on Tuesday, it has abandoned the idea of moving to Hungate or building the completely-new office block proposed by Scottish architects RMJM.

Instead, the council will refurbish and expand either Norwich Union’s Yorkshire House, in Rougier Street, or West Offices, in Station Rise.

Hugh Bayley, the city’s MP, said he wished the council well in finding a suitable solution.

“This city cannot afford another property disaster like Hungate or the Barbican,” he said.

“The council should make certain that the new offices will save money compared to the existing premises before going ahead.

“If there is any doubt, they should make do with the offices they have at present.”

The developers of the wider Hungate area, next to the site the council had earmarked, welcomed news that the authority was now looking elsewhere.

Phil Darcy, director of Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd (HYRL), said: “The council’s choice of existing buildings at Station Rise and Rougier Street as possible locations for its new headquarters is a positive move forward.

“It enables the council-owned land at Hungate to be considered for other potential new-build uses and allows them to move forward with their much needed new headquarters.”

Coun David Scott, leader of the council’s Labour opposition, has said his party may refer the Hungate saga to the District Auditor, if the council’s own scrutiny committee does not deliver adequate answers, but that suggestion was criticised by council leader Andrew Waller.

Coun Waller said: “For Labour to call for this before the outcome of the scrutiny report does bring into question their support for the scrutiny process. The important thing here is to hear what the scrutiny committee says.”


Waiting game for housing complex

DEVELOPERS have still to set a date for when work will re-start on the massive housing complex east of York city centre.

Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd postponed the second phase of work on the site, originally due to start last autumn.

Director Phil Darcy said a new date had still to be decided, but he said work would be carried out this summer on a riverside nature reserve and a bridge over the River Foss, for pedestrians and cyclists.