BARNSLEY Council’s ruling cabinet members are set to approve a £2.4m investment to maintain health and safety compliance at their Smithies Lane depot.
At next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, councillors will discuss the plans to improve the site which include demolishing the night garage and improving a number of areas.
The funding package, totalling £2.432m, will be used to support a number of schemes.
These include a canteen and shower block heating upgrade, two new staff cabins, a workshop deep clean and six new vehicle lifts.
The transport workshop at the Smithies site will also be rebuilt at a cost of £1.35m - the most expensive part of the project.
While the area will also be resurfaced at a cost of £425,000.
A report states: “The Smithies Lane depot is the key location for the delivery of many of the public-facing operational services.
“Continued investment is required to maintain the required health and safety standards for our employees.
“Discrete projects within the programme will enable operational services to continue to be deployed from this location.
“The depot’s role has been extended over recent years with satellite depots closing and services moved centrally, it is accepted that the sites infrastructure is at capacity, is tired and is maintained with cosmetic repairs whilst awaiting investment.
“The proposed investment will help to ensure the depot continues to meet modern standards for health, safety, and operational efficiency.
“Planned improvements include upgrades to heating, security, and staff facilities, alongside resurfacing, workshop enhancements, and equipment replacements.”
The budget would have to be kept to as the report states that any further work has not yet been identified for the funding by the council.
The report added: “Funding of £2.432m has been provisionally allocated to this project from monies previously set aside within the council’s capital programme for investment in its own assets.
“There are currently no additional funds identified by the council for this project and the project will have to be met within the budget identified, however if this changes then approval will need to be gained through the appropriate governance route.
“This proposal assumes the transport workshop rebuild will take place after 2025/26 financial year and will be reviewed subject to future funding and is an indicative estimate only at this stage, as noted above work with SYMCA is ongoing around reviewing transport depot options and will be reported through the appropriate governance lines once resolved.
“To note to assist in reducing costs, where work is to be completed by an in-house council service this will be done at cost.
“Consultation has been completed with heads of departments and other depot stakeholders.
“To do nothing is not an option, there is potential for breach of health and safety legislation and personal claims.
“The depot will work less efficiently, and heating equipment will become worse.”
The funding package is set to be approved at next week’s meeting.
