Slough council to close Observatory House on Fridays from next month

Slough Borough Council (SBC) has made the decision to close its Observatory House headquarters on Fridays.

The council said the move at the Windsor Road site would save the authority £90,000 a year.

The Friday closures will start from Friday, February 6.

Services will continue ‘as normal’, with staff who are usually based at Observatory House, working at alternative council buildings or from home, depending on which is more appropriate for their service.

The council said the decision is running alongside ongoing work to boost presence of council staff across the town, and not just at one headquarters.

The change will also make the ‘most cost effective use of the council’s buildings’, the authority explained.

Other council buildings, including libraries, The Chalvey Hub, The Britwell Hub and The Curve are not affected.

Cllr Dexter Smith, leader of the council, said: “Like most businesses where hybrid working is a policy, on Fridays there are far fewer members of staff accessing our main headquarters building than on other days of the week.

“There has been a great deal of work undertaken to ensure this change does not affect council services which residents rely on every day of the week, and we are reassured our services will continue as usual.

"This opportunity to make a substantial financial saving, whilst maintaining our services is one we cannot pass up.

“I am clear, this is only one of our buildings closing on Fridays, not the council.”