A CASH-STRAPPED council is not immune to the energy crisis as bosses revealed they turn off refrigerators and are considering closing its HQ on Fridays to help save money.

UK citizens have been taking drastic measures to save money on energy after their bills spiked by thousands of pounds, caused primarily by the war in Ukraine.

The government froze the average household bill at £2,500 a year but to battle financial turmoil and a blackhole in the nation’s finances, those plans are scrapped and will rise to £3,000 a year from April.

Like other local authorities, Slough Borough Council (SBC) is not immune to the rising energy costs. The timing isn’t great as it needs to sell up to £600m of its assets and make £20m savings a year for the next seven years to reduce its £760m borrowing debt.

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In August, SBC bosses decided to buy all of its forecasted energy consumption until March 2023 in advance in a bid to tackle anticipated rising prices. It had a budget of £2.4m but faced an increase by £1m “to manage the increased in-year pressure”.

Executive director for place and community Richard West told councillors sitting on the overview and scrutiny panel that it’s “better” to keep its fixed price throughout winter and see what the energy market is like in February.

In the interim, he said the council is looking at getting rid of some of their refrigerators in the kitchen. Only one of the four is plugged in, according to Mr West.

He also said SBC is planning to close its £39m headquarters Observatory House for three days between Christmas and New Years to save money. There are also plans to close the office in Windsor Road on Fridays.

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Speaking at the meeting on Thursday, December 1, Mr West said: “We talked about closing the building earlier in the year, but it wasn’t felt to be the right thing to do at that point in time because it gives the message that we are open four days a week.

“We wouldn’t be working four days a week but there’s a perception issue if shut the building for a day.

“There are consequences to things that we got to consider in the round but if prices go up, then if we needed to, that’s an opportunity.”

At a previous cabinet meeting, council leader James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green) said they are drawing up a strategy to leave Observatory House and move its operations somewhere else in Slough.