Staff move queried

North Shore City Council's plans to bring 700 staff together in one central Takapuna location are being questioned by the agency which is overseeing the merger of Auckland local authorities.

Senior city council officials will meet the Auckland Transition Agency today to explain the plan to move into a new 4000sq m annexe being built by the landlord of its Takapuna civic building.

The agency wrote to the council noting a contract had been signed for the lease to rehouse the environmental services department.

A $4 million fitout and redesign of customer services and front-of-house area was to have begun next month and the annexe occupied in January.

The agency said part of its work was to determine locations and staff requirements for the new Auckland Council.

The agency wanted more information about the council's arrangements ... "the extent to which they are now necessary given that the council's water and wastewater staff may be relocated in future freeing up additional space."

Agency chief executive Rodger Kerr-Newell asked what flexibility was in the contract lease arrangements and could any of this expenditure be avoided.

The agency must confirm council decisions and spending that might affect the succeeding Auckland Council.

Mayor Andrew Williams said the query put the council in an awkward situation.

In December 2006, the council approved taking a 12-year lease on the entire building, with two further rights of three-year renewals.

"We have contractual obligations and are six months from moving into the building."

However, Mr Williams said there might be room to trim fitout costs.

"If we did the full plans for the fitout, it would involve a lot more meeting rooms and photocopying rooms and with increased partitioning, you have to increase the level of air conditioning.

"So, if you keep to a more open plan and minimal design you don't have such a cost."

Mr Williams said the lease of the building across the road where environmental services was housed was due to expire in February.

This building was deemed unsatisfactory some years ago when a floor buckled under the weight of files and they had to be sent to Albany for storage.

Mr Williams said the new annexe had potential to sublease to another party if the council could not take over all four floors as was planned.

Mr Williams said the council had got a "very good deal" on the lease of the annexe which was being built at a cost of nearly $20 million.

About 50 staff in the headquarters of the city council's water and wastewater operations would be affected by any relocation arising from local body reorganisation.