COUNCILLORS will be holding their meetings at different venues over the coming months as workers move in to refurbish their HQ.

Council meetings will be shifted away from The Deane House, in Taunton, to temporary venues from next week.

The relocation comes as the authority prepares to spend £6 million updating its premises and preparing for other organisations to move in.

The Deane had looked at relocating to share County Hall with Somerset County Council or a new build on Firepool, but decided staying put was the most economical option.

Work will start later in the year, but from Thursday, August 3, most meetings held in the John Meikle room council chamber will take place at Brittons Ash Community Centre, on Bridgwater Road, Bathpool, starting at 6.15pm rather than the current 5pm.

Planning committee meetings will be staged in the main hall at the new West Monkton Primary School.

Both venues have parking facilities and buses into the evening.

Full council meetings will be held at Shire Hall, Upper High Street, Taunton, from Tuesday, October 3.

Council deputy leader Cllr Mark Edwards said: “This is a good opportunity for us as a council to get out into the community that we serve.

"I hope that this may encourage more people to come along to our meetings.”

Among the organisations set to share Deane House with the district council are Avon and Somerset Police, who are relocating Taunton Police Station from the current base in Shuttern.

Talks have also been held with GP practices and other organisations about moving in and occupying surplus space.

Critics say staying put at Deane House and spending so much tax payers' money does not make business sense.

But the authority says renting out space will help offset refurbishment costs, while running costs will be lower once the building has been upgraded.

Members of the public will still be able to visit Deane House for queries on issues such as council tax, housing and planning during the revamp work, which will take "months rather than weeks".