There has been no decision on the future of Wokingham borough council’s headquarters at Shute End.
At the recent full council meeting, Cllr Peter Harper asked the Cllr Stephen Conway, the leader of the council, for an update on the situation.
He said: “The council last year advised it was considering moving its headquarters to the former Marks and Spencer building on Rose Street.
“Can you update me on the latest situation on the future council headquarters, and when a decision will be reached?
In reply, Cllr Conway said: “In January this year, the executive considered the findings and outcomes from the latest stage of feasibility work undertaken on the council’s future office provision.
“Having considered this work, the executive agreed that the options of a full refurbishment of the existing Shute End offices, or a relocation to 28-38 Peach Street, Wokingham, or a leasehold or freehold of a building, are the current viable options for future Headquarters provision.
“It was noted in the January 2025 executive report that the next stage of work on the future headquarters will need to be informed by the receipt of further clarity on the implications and timescales of any local government reorganisation and the outcomes of work to test and ratify future workforce ways of working and attendance levels in the office.
“At this stage no further substantive work is currently being undertaken whilst we wait for the outcomes of these two pieces of work.
“Future workforce considerations are aiming to conclude in the autumn, with outputs that will inform our future HQ requirements, particularly in terms of the required capacity of the building.
“In the meantime, the officer teams are working on implementing a short-term investment plan for maintenance and improvements at Shute End to ensure the existing headquarters remains fit for purpose and safe for our workforce and our customers.”
