The council's Labour leader, Coun. David Scott has requested an update on the next steps towards delivering a new council HQ for the city. The project at Hungate was thrown into turmoil last month when English Heritage criticised the council's plans, after which those plans were withdrawn. And Labour says it is time for the council to let the public know what options are on the table. Coun. Scott said:

"We have requested an update for the Shadow Executive meeting on 20th August. We want to work constructively with officers to find a way forward. The objective is to provide better working conditions for staff in better accommodation, and ultimately, a better service to the public and we must not lose sight of that.

"A month has passed and Labour councillors are extremely concerned about the lack of information coming forward both to councillors and to the public. If there is work taking place on alternative viable options, then we look forward to hearing what those options are".

Coun. Scott added:

"The council's accommodation of office staff is one of the biggest issues on its agenda at the moment and clearly it is important the project is moved forward in light of recent events. We must seek to deliver an appropriate building with costs that do not run out of control. The next step will be critical to achieving both of these things, and the council leader needs to show real leadership to make them happen".