Title

ENERGY

Council temporarily closes county hall over spiralling energy costs

Wakefield Council will temporarily close its county hall building in a bid to save on rising energy costs.

Wakefield Council will temporarily close its county hall building in a bid to save on rising energy costs.

The council will close the building by the start of next month and will move staff to neighbouring buildings at Wakefield One and Wakefield Town Hall.

Wakefield's cabinet member with responsibility for property, Darren Byford, said: 'By reducing energy usage, we are able to cut our fuel bills, which will support us to maintain important services that our residents rely on, at a time of severe financial pressures.

'While the building is closed, a low level of heating will be used throughout the winter months to ensure this important historic building is well maintained.'

The council is also considering what other buildings could be closed to save on energy costs.

ENERGY

Choosing the future, not the familiar

By Jo Miller | 22 October 2026

Jo Miller says whatever shape local government in New Zealand takes in the future, the challenge remains the same – creating organisations capable of deliver...

ENERGY

First, rewire the place, then turn the lights on

By Rob Huntington | 14 October 2026

From Trumpton’s tangled wires to today’s fragmented public services, local government must join up devolution, funding and reform to improve residents’ lives...

ENERGY

The local government reorganisation reset changes the recruitment brief

By Liam Young | 09 September 2026

Liam Young examines how councils can reset recruitment, retain talent and rebuild confidence after local government reorganisation uncertainty.

ENERGY

Councils' financial pressures: The story behind rising EFS demand

By Joanne Pitt | 27 July 2026

Analysis by CIPFA of requests by councils for exceptional financial support (EFS) shows some are stabilising their position and fewer are citing commercial p...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman

-->