YORK’S council leader has invited staff from another local authority to share their ideas about how the city’s new civic base can run smoothly.

Coun James Alexander took a tour around Barnsley Council’s offices, which have been highlighted as an example of how modern working methods can be used to cut costs.

With City of York Council set to move into its new HQ at West Offices in Station Rise, which is scheduled to be ready by the end of next year, Coun Alexander said he wanted council employees from the South Yorkshire authority to speak to their counterparts in York about their switch.

He said: “Barnsley Council’s office of the future will inspire the way staff work in the new council office in York.

“We need to move away from work being a place where people go to an activity people do. I have spoken to Barnsley’s council leader Stephen Houghton and he has agreed to send some of his staff who were sceptical of the new ways of working to come and speak to our staff about the changes being proposed.”