Vandalism at the council’s vacant former headquarters has contributed to an annual bill to the cash-strapped authority of more than half a million.

Slough Borough Council left its former HQ on Bath Road in 2019 – with the last of the services leaving in 2021. But the council has been unable to sell it off since then due to ‘operational matters’ according to a recent council statement.

Now the council has revealed it spends £576,000 a year on keeping the building, including on 24 hour security to stop vandals. A council report said: “Following a number of vandalism incidents in the following years, the building has been left with no electrical supply.

“This has resulted in a physical security presence being on site 24 hours a day to ensure the security of the building.”

READ MORE: Slough Borough Council's old head office listed for sale by mistake

It adds: “The building is currently costing the council circa £576k per annum to hold, this is primarily down to business rates and security costs.”

The former HQ, known as St Martins Place, was earmarked for sale in 2022. This is part of the council’s plan to sell off properties to pay off its debts after going effectively bankrupt in 2021.

But in a statement to the local democracy reporting service in October, the council said ‘a number of operational matters’ needed to be clarified before it could be put on the market.

Now leading councillors on the council’s asset disposals committee are being asked to agree that the building should finally be marketed for sale.

Council leaders on the council’s asset disposals committee will decide on Thursday November 14 whether to recommend this to their cabinet colleagues next week.