The Council have admitted that very little existing furniture will be moved to their offices at Toft Green.

Instead a contract has been let which will see some of the furniture refurbished and resold, some donated to charity and some dumped.

The value of the contract has not been disclosed.

Council officials who work from home will get first choice of redundant desks and seats.

The Council have also admitted that nearly £1 million will be spent on new furniture at the new HQ. Expenditure includes the purchase of 2507 new seats. These are described as:
• 1,160 task chairs (for sitting at desks)
• 793 for Customer Centre and Meeting Rooms
• 153 Cafe
• 401 soft seating including sofas (sofas counted as one seat regardless of size)

Although the building will be home to 1400 staff, fewer than 1000 are expected to be in the building at any one time. “Hot desking” (using any free desk) will be standard practice for all staff.

No formal opening date for the HQ has been announced but taxpayers will be hoping that costs will be kept to a minimum. Rumours of a “Royal” opening have been discounted.