Hundreds of staff will be forced to relocate and share desks under a cost-cutting plan revealed by a Black Country council to dispose of more than 20 of its offices.

Cash-strapped Walsall Council is planning to get rid of buildings across the borough but will keep the Council House and Civic Centre, where 1,898 workers will have to share just 1,234 desks.

Around 350 employees could also be temporarily accommodated at 293 desks at the Education Development Centre in Rushall, the home of schools manager Serco.

However that building is also earmarked to be sold off in the future. Bosses, who have to save £70 million by 2015, will also be making more staff work from home.

Tim Johnson, executive director for regeneration, said: “Spending less money on office buildings means we can improve services and hold the council tax level.

“Doing nothing is not an option. We need modern technology that meets the needs of our customers.”

Council officers are working on the plan, with no final decisions being made.

They say the changes would pay for themselves within three years and save the council £1 million a year within seven years.

Under the plans, staff would not have their own desks but would have to “hotdesk” at a different workstation each and every day.

Workers would have their own passwords to log into the computer and phone system but would not have their own permanent workstations. Some, but not all council departments already do this.

The “surplus” buildings earmarked to be sold house around 1,000 staff and include sites in Norton Road and New Forest Road and Aldridge Manor House in Little Aston Road.

The Allen’s Centre in Hilton Road is also in the firing line with the Bloxwich North community office in Buxton Road; Challenge Building in Hatherton Street; Delves Community Safety Office in West Bromwich Road; Educational Development Centre in Pelsall Lane and Educational Support Centre in Field Road.