Council planning meetings are to move out from Voreda House due to the meeting room been unsuitable following recent complaints about the acoustics in the Patterdale Room that form the main council meeting room at the councils £8.5 Voreda House, office in Penrith.
The Patterdale room had originally been destined to form the main council chamber for Eden District Council under the original plans of the Libdem administration at Eden Council.
Following the changes to local government Voreda House became one of Westmorland and Furness Councils new hub building hosting some council meetings alongside an open plan office used by some of the councils staff.
However, the council is also undertaking the refurbishment of Redhills Business Centre and enter into a contract late in 2024 with the suppliers to deliver the refurbishment works with a total value of upto a further £1million.
The councils Chief Legal Officer has requested officers to move all of the Eden Local Area Planning Committee meetings, with the exception of one planned meeting, to the Council’s office at Redhills from Voreda House.
“I can confirm that the Council is committed to democracy and wishes to ensure members of the public are able to attend meetings and hear the debate.
Although the room at Redhills, Penrith does not currently have bespoke microphones installed, the room is much larger and the layout is better for members of the public to observe the meeting, and both see and hear officers and members during the discussion.”
Council officers are also looking at options to improve the room acoustics and explore proportionate microphone options in rooms where larger meetings are held.
The decision to relocate council meeting to Redhills has resulted in questions been asked by former councillors and members of the public over why the large council chamber in Penrith Town Hall is standing unused next to Voreda House can not be brought back into use by the council for meeting given the close proximity to Voreda House.
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