Tauranga City Council is looking at alternative venues for the first of their 2015 meetings scheduled for the last week in January.

Due to the mould discovered in council buildings late last year, the council chambers are currently occupied by staff.

Council staff in the chambers expect to be moved before the end of the month. Photo: TCC.

They are expected to be gone by January 27, says Mayor Stuart Crosby.

'If they are still required for the staff then we will find somewhere else,” says Stuart.

'I think the intention is they will all be gone by the end of the month. The other two councils have all the IT, the microphones and all that.”

The regional council premises are already used for Regional Land Transport Committee meetings says Stuart.

'I'm not sure at this stage if it will be required,” he adds.

City council meetings resume on Tuesday January 27, with further Ten Year Plan meetings for the rest of that week.

The council has arranged leases for part of the Westpac Building in Devonport Road, the former ANZ Building in Spring Street and a building in Durham Street beside the car park.

This is to house about 300 staff displaced following announcements on December 15 and 23 that toxic black stachybotrys mould was affecting staff health.

While parts of the buildings can be re-occupied after affected carpets are removed and cleaned, there are also leaks that may take more time to track.

Council staff currently camped out in Baycourt are among the first to move, because the theatre and exhibition space is required for shows.

The Durham Street building was previously leased to the council for the documents digitising contract, and space formerly occupied by a language school on the first floor has also become available.

Council staff are still acquiring information on the state of the buildings and working at getting them in a state for staff to return, says Stuart.

A comprehensive report on the two building's water tightness and earthquake strengthening requirements is expected in March, which is also expected to outline better cost estimates.