Council will respond to Housing Executive’s office closure consultation

Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy has expressed concern at the Housing Executive’s proposal to consolidate its office accommodation to Carlisle Road. 

On April 9, Housing Executive staff in Derry were informed the organisation was planning to close all its offices in the city - Collon Terrace, Waterloo Place, Richmond Chambers and Waterside - and relocate to the city centre location. 

Raising the issue at Wednesday’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning committee, Cllr Duffy said her party had been contacted by Housing Executive staff in the Waterside and Collon Terrace offices.

She added: “These are valuled offices within our communities. The staff who work within them are valued staff and obviously our constituents absolutely should have a huge say in this process because they use these offices regularly.

“I know that I would attend meetings in these offices and they are well attended in terms of people coming in to use the front desk. People depend very much on these services.

“And while getting a bus to the town doesn’t seem a lot to some people, it can for others. 

“I think Derry City and Strabane District Council needs to be feeding into this consultation. It is causing great concern and great upheaval to the staff that are currently working within these offices,” said Cllr Duffy.

Agreeing with Cllr Duffy, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) suggested Council should respond to the Housing Executive’s consultation on its consolidation proposal. 

He added: “We have similar concerns regarding the consolidation of Housing Executive services that are currently spread across four sites in this city. 

“Most notably it is the impact on the district office at Collon Terrace and for the one in the Waterside; those are important offices in local areas, the same level and the same level of convenience, the same level of access cannot be guaranteed in a city centre site. 

“It is important that an organisation such as the Housing Executive exists in communities. Speaking as a Ballyarnett representative, Collon Terrace is accessible to people throughout Carnhill, Shantallow, Fernabbey, all those areas in Greater Shantallow. The same cannot be said for Carlisle Road.

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“So, if the Housing Executive wants to be seen as part of the community, it needs to remain in the community it serves, that would be our view. We can see some value in terms of financial savings for the Housing Executive and how that is reinvested but those are outweighed by community concerns and staff concerns,” said Cllr Farrell.

Cllr Farrell also highlighted the importance of Council seeking an assurance that the 265 staff employed by the Housing Executive in Derry remain in post. 

Cllr Duffy’s proposal Council should respond to the ongoing Housing Executive consultation on its proposed consolidation was seconded by Cllr Farrell; it was unanimously agreed.