I CANNOT think of a better symbol of Lancaster City Council's commitment to Morecambe than to move its headquarters there.

Think of it, Lancaster City Council in the New Morecambe Town Hall. Doesn't that say something positive about the unity of the district and show how mistaken and self-serving are those who claim that the city in general, and this administration in particular, never thinks of Morecambe?

There are, of course, good reasons which transcend the symbolism of the move.

First, there will be significant regeneration from transferring more than 300 office jobs from Lancaster to Morecambe, which is short of good office jobs.

And while I am confident that we could attract more office jobs to Lancaster, the city needs to show the way in Morecambe.

Secondly, if we can turn Lancaster Town Hall into a major museum there will be tourism benefits for the whole district, including Morecambe.

Thirdly, and this is where the review of council buildings started, we do need to bring services closer to the people.

In a few years time, I hope that most people who contact the council by phone or walk in off the street in Lancaster or Morecambe can have their problems dealt with straight away. As well as installing new technology we need better access than either town hall currently offers. We also have to find a solution to the soaring costs of using the two town halls and several other locations.

Outstanding repairs to the two town halls will cost nearly £3 million, without any improve-ment to service or regeneration or tourism benefits.

The long term cost to the council taxpayer of just doing those repairs then carrying on as we are is just as large as the radical option supported by Cabinet.

I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the huffing and puffing from those who see Morecambe's future in its past. But if we want to improve council services and to stop spending too much of the taxpayers' money on repairing buildings then things have to change Cllr Ian Barker, Leader of the council.