THE cost of repairing Herefordshire Council’s leaky roof at their Plough Lane offices in Hereford is expected to be around £240,000.

Council bosses have decided to re-allocate £50,000 to top up the budget for the roof repairs.

Acting assistant technical services director Chris Jenner says the competetively tendered cost for the repairs amounted to £240,000 against an original budget of £200,000.

The council will use some of the £130,000 it had originally earmarked for toilet and stairwell improvements within the property services estates capital programme for 2019/20.

“The improvement works to the staircase are now deemed unnecessary by building control as we are not exacerbating the present escape routes with the proposed occupatio numbers for the building,” the officer decision record says.

Council officers say the work will maintain the fabric of the building ensuring it remains open, usable and fit for purpose.

The repair will also reduce current maintenance costs due to the water leak.

The officers warned that to do nothing would have an impact on the council’s ability to deliver services.

The damp condition could affect the quality of work, be a health hazard and affect the wellbeing of their staff, resulting in absence.