Hundreds of Black Country council workers are set to move into centralised new offices after the plan was given the go-ahead by finance chiefs.
Sandwell Council, which employs more than 10,000 staff, wants to axe a raft of smaller bases across the borough and transfer staff to a proposed new development on the former Oldbury bus station site. The cost-cutting proposals could also see the council cash in by selling some old offices it currently owns while moving out of a series of leased premises.
Approvals were made during a behind-closed doors meeting last week.
Around £50,000 will now be spent on a feasibility study, which will be completed over the next three months.
Councillor Steve Eling, cabinet member for resources, said the scheme could save Sandwell residents millions of pounds in years to come.
“We are talking about accommodation for hundreds of staff, so it is very much a major project,” he said.
“It certainly has the potential for savings of six-figure sums each year.
“The really big savings will come through moving out of the buildings we lease currently. Most of those are on leases until around 2010 until 2013, which is when the savings will start taking effect.
He added that the council would also be cashing in on a number of its own properties, but declined to say how much it expected to receive for “commercial reasons”.
Councillor Eling also dismissed critics’ suggestions that residents outside West Bromwich and Oldbury would be left alienated by the moves.
“None of the staff affected by the plans have face to face contact with the public so where they are based in the borough will not make any difference to the service they offer residents in different areas,” he said.
“At the moment we have got people spread across a number of sites and some of the buildings are not in good shape and not cost-effective.
“It is always cheaper to have staff in buildings you own rather than lease.”
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