Oadby and Wigston Borough Council unveils new ?2.7 million office …

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council (OWBC)^[1] has officially opened its new eco-friendly office in Brocks Hill Country Park after months of refurbishment. The new base is a council-owed building which has been renovated^[2] to provide a modern, two-storey office space.

The council used to be based at Bushloe House,^[3] a mid-19th century Grade II listed building in Station Road, in Wigston^[4], which it said was “costly to maintain and expensive to heat”. The new office, which is in neighbouring Oadby^[5], is to be funded by the sale of the old site, which is still on the market but is ‘under offer’.

The council believes the move will save it around £2 million^[6] over the next 10 years as the new base is more “modern, green and energy efficient”. The move is also part of the council’s commitment to an “agile working model”, allowing staff to book desks at the office but also work from home.

Prior to the development, the building allowed park-users access to a popular cafe and public toilets. These are set to return at the council offices and will be reopened in September, once all renovations are complete. Local coffee chain Jenno’s^[8], which also has shops in Blaby and Leicester, will operate from the office.

Councillor Samia Haq, the Liberal Democrat leader of OWBC said the move^[9] was a “huge decision” for the council. However, she said the long-term benefits were “clear”.

She said: “We’re setting a clear example that we are willing to be innovative and creative to save taxpayer money while at the same time providing a better working experience for our staff. Equally important is the environmental benefits of us cutting our carbon footprint and working out of this modern, energy efficient building.”

The building also offers a drop-in reception for residents where they can receive basic advice, hand in forms or book to see council officer face to face at one of the three ‘appointment hubs’ in the borough.^[10] These are located at Elliott Hall in South Wigston, Trinity Methodist Church in Oadby and the King’s Centre in Wigston.

References

1. ^{^} Oadby and Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^{^} renovated (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Bushloe House, (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Wigston (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^{^} Oadby (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^{^} will save it around £2 million (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^{^} Five Leicestershire railway stations set to have ticket offices closed (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
8. ^{^} Jenno’s (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
9. ^{^} the move (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
10. ^{^} the three ‘appointment hubs’ in the borough. (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)