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Title: Another chapter in the Mansion House’s history Author: DMBC  ID & Publication: 20121211004 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Doncaster  Subject: Council News

More people are set to enjoy Doncaster’s Mansion House.

There will be more flexibility to open the historic building to the public as all council meetings are moving to a modern council chamber in Doncaster Council’s new Civic Offices.

The last full council meeting at the Mansion House was held on Thursday 6 December and the first full council meeting in the new chamber will be on Thursday 17 January.

About 135 elected member meetings covering issues like planning and licensing, including eight full council meetings, were held at the Mansion House last year.

In the short term, Doncaster Council is looking at introducing more public open days and building up the current events programme at the Mansion House.

There will be more of the ever-popular afternoon teas and special events such as music evenings.

In the longer term, the council is looking to promote the Mansion House to tourists through coach party tours and as the perfect place for corporate hospitality.

The Mansion House was built by local builder John Thompson, completed in 1748 and officially opened on April 15th in 1749.

Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, said: ‘The Mansion House is a great attraction as it is one of only three in England, the others are in York and London. It is fantastic that more people will get the opportunity to enjoy its splendour.

‘Now councillors and members of the public will be able to experience meetings in the purpose built council chamber which is the focal point of the new civic offices.’

The Mansion House cost £8,000 to build. The first Mayor to live in the Mansion House was Robert Seaton in 1750 and the last was Alderman George Tuby in 1922 although he only spent three nights there as he found it claustrophobic.

The first staff moved into the council’s new offices on 19 November 2012. Other teams will be moving in between now and the end of January.
The move consolidates numerous council offices into one modern, low energy building. It includes a new 'one-stop-shop' customer service centre where residents can complete their council business in one visit to one location. The Civic Offices open to the public on Monday 14 January 2013.

The new offices will mean the council can eventually realise annual savings of approximately £650,000 from not operating out of multiple inefficient and costly to maintain buildings.

The Civic Offices form part of the Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ) which is transforming the Waterdale area of Doncaster’s town centre.

The CCQ project is being delivered by Doncaster Council and its development partner Muse Developments. It has been supported financially by the European Union, as part of the European Regional Development Fund’s support for the region’s economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

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