A major modernisation and refurbishment project is set to start at Town House in Kirkcaldy. The £3 million investment project includes the provision of a new Local Office plus modern, flexible office accommodation in the rest of the grade B listed building. It will close for business for the duration of the works and is scheduled to reopen in Autumn 2013.

From Monday 13 August Local Office services have moved to Forth House in Abbotshall Road. Registration services (births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships) will move to Hunter House in Hunter Street from Tuesday 21 August. Councillors will have temporary office space in Forth House and they can also be contacted on 08451 55 55 55 ext 47 16 99 or by email. (cllr.firstname.lastname@fife.gov.uk). The Kirkcaldy Area Committee meetings will take place in Forth House from 29 August.

Other Services are to remain in their current offices in the centre of town just now, but they too are set to move into the modernised Town House in early 2014. Town House will become the principal Council hub for Kirkcaldy, where members of the public will be able to access most services under one roof. The Local Office services delivered from Park Road and Beauly Crescent will remain unchanged under these proposals.

Councillor Neil Crooks, Chair of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee said, “The Town House refurbishment is part of an ongoing programme within Fife Council to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce energy costs and reduce revenue expenditure on buildings maintenance, concentrating staff into less and less buildings as a cost and efficiency measure.

“ When the Council embarked on this massive programme across the region, it was in pursuit of a significant budget saving and it is far better to reduce buildings than reduce staffing which is the Council’s other major revenue cost.

“At the end of the day, the Town House will be transformed into a modern workplace with access to Council services across a wider range being available in a single visit. I certainly welcome the investment and am advised that the costs will be recovered quite quickly through reduced revenue demands, which is a necessity as Local Government budgets are being cut severely year on year.”