The future of local government is very uncertain, so now is not the time to be spending over £9 million of local taxpayers' money, when we do not know what the size or shape of the local authority will be over the next few years.  

"Plan B", supported by the Civic Society, the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and the local Lib Dem Group at HBC is to refurbish the current offices at Cresent Gardens so that the office space is up-to-date and energy-efficient.  This would come in at about half the cost of bulding completely new offices.  It would also preserve a lovely Harrogate heritage asset--with stunning features both inside and out--for future generations to enjoy and use.

The site at Knapping Mount where the Conservative Group want to put the new offices is far more suited for housing to be built--housing that Harrogate District so desperately needs.  The money realised from the sale would help to pay for the refurbishment of Crescent Gardens.