A BUDGET of more than £1 million has been recommended for refurbishment and alterations to Usk County Hall after only being open for two years.

In a report to go before Cabinet today (2nd December) Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) is looking at potentially moving staff from Magor and other satellite offices to the county hall.

Although decisions about where staff may work have not yet been made, vacating Magor’s Innovation House has been featured heavily in discussions.

According to the report, refurbishment and ‘fit out work’ is required to allow additional staff to occupy the county hall along with a need to create extra parking.

A design of works to J and E blocks in county hall along with the creation of extra parking has produced an indicated cost of £1,100,000.

The budget, if approved, will be funded by a reduction in office costs elsewhere when members of staff transfer to the offices in county hall.

An additional £200,000 would be taken from the remaining property maintenance budget for 2015/16 and £400,000 taken from the same budget for 2016/17.

The £1.1 million figure represents an amendment to MCC’s approved capital budget.

Cabinet will make a decision, then the issue will go before full council at a later date.

At the time of going to press, MCC had yet to comment on this story.