The future of the headquarters of South Oxfordshire District Council should be decided by members from all political parties, according to councillors.

The council's watchdog scrutiny committee said an all-party working group should be set up to decide the future of the office building, in Crowmarsh near Wallingford.

The offices were built 25 years ago, and the council's chief executive David Buckle said better facilities were needed for staff, councillors and the public.

The council is being asked to decide between refurbish the existing offices, demolishing the building and rebuilding at Crowmarsh, selling the site and moving to another location, or doing nothing.

Consultants employed by the council said the best option was to sell the site and move to a new base.

Wallingford's mayor Nigel Moor told the scrutiny committee there was no justification for spending money to refurbish a sub-standard building. He said the council should look elsewhere.

John Bellamy, chairman of Crowmarsh Parish Council, said he was concerned about the effect on the village if the site was used for housing.

The committee's recommendation on how to proceed will be debated by the council's cabinet on Thursday, January 9.