THE postponement of a referendum on a regional assembly has allowed a council to move.

Richmondshire District Council had put its proposed move of offices from Richmond to Colburn on hold, until after any local government reorganisation following the referendum.

But council bosses say the indefinite postponement of the vote in Yorkshire and the Humber means the move can now go ahead.

Council chief executive Harry Tabiner said: "In my view, it is important that the council now looks to the future and plans accordingly.

"The regional debate may return, but the form, context and time-scale are now so uncertain as to make it impossible to include in future plans.

"I believe that progressing the Colburn move would represent a positive and tangible demonstration to staff, partners and residents of our desire to move Richmondshire forward as an organisation.

"If we had ceased to exist in November, as was possible, it would have made no sense to move."

An independent expert has already agreed the council's current office accommodation is inadequate.

Councillor Yvonne Peacock, representative for the Addlebrough ward, is also backing the move.

She said: "It is now important for Richmondshire that we move forward and take decisions that have been put off.

"The problem we have in Richmond is the offices are scattered around the town.

"It is not an efficient way of working."

A site on Colburn Business Park has already been reserved for the council by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Council officers had looked at 12 other sites.

The move will only affect back-office workers. The authority will continue to run its community offices for face-to-face inquiries.

Funding for the new development will come from the sale of the four Richmond offices and savings.

The proposal to move offices will be discussed at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, August 31.

If councillors approve the move, a business plan will be drawn up by officers and planning permission will be sought for the council's current offices, in order to maximise their value before they are sold.