COUNCIL bosses are to spend £665,000 on solar panels in a move to cut costs.

But the plan for five Oxford City Council buildings would not break even for 14 years.

The photovoltaic panels would go on Cardinal House, Headley House, Knights House, Barton Leisure Centre and Ferry Leisure Centre.

After 25 years, the move will have brought in £1.9m through using less energy, selling energy and reduced payments to Government. It also gets Government cash for using solar panels.

John Tanner, board member for a cleaner greener Oxford, said: “We have got to create a low-carbon future for Oxford and everywhere else, and getting solar panels on public and private buildings so we can create our own clean energy is an important part of that.”

The Government is looking to cut subsidies for solar panels from April because of their surge in popularity.

Mr Tanner said: “We are hoping to get the full rebate from the Government but even if we miss it and get the lower rate, it will still be worth doing.

“It’s always a problem finding the capital for upfront investment but there is no doubt that, for our children, this will seem a very sensible thing to do.”

He said the panels themselves were “virtually indestructible” but the adapters required would need replacing about every 10 years. Further buildings could get panels if the five are successful.

The council’s executive board will be asked to approve the plan on Wednesday. A report to members said: “The shortlist of properties has been developed to ensure a pilot can proceed at a reasonable pace while addressing some of the key issues that may be encountered in the roll out of a wider scheme.”