Hundreds of Dudley Council workers to move

Adult, community and housing services staff from six sites in the borough will move to Harbour Buildings, at the complex in Brierley Hill. The plans, which the council says will save the authority £150,000 per year, have been revealed by Dudley Council's chief executive John Polychronakis.

They will go before the council's cabinet next week and come as council chiefs work to cut £27 million from the budgets over the next three years. Under the proposals, 120 staff will relocate from Capstan House, at The Waterfront, 60 staff from Dudley town centre sites and 50 staff from Falcon House, in the Minories.

In addition, 90 staff will move from Solus House, in Upper Gornal, and 60 staff from Forge House, Brierley Hill, during 2014-15 when the leases on these buildings come to an end.

Around £250,000 will be spent fitting out the building to meet the council's needs but the council says it will use existing funds to carry out the work.

Mr Polychronakis said: "Harbour Buildings at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill, has been identified as the most suitable building to accommodate around 400 staff relocating from six buildings. The proposal will deliver annual revenue savings for rent and service charges rising to £150,000 per year, once all moves are completed.

"Refurbishment work is currently being undertaken by the landlord, to bring the building back to its original condition –£250,000 is required to fit the building out so that it meets our specific requirements, including cabling, fittings and partitioning.

"The landlord's contractor is already on site, and the council's fit-out can be delivered more economically if undertaken at the same time as the landlord's refurbishment."

The decision to relocate staff followed the council carrying out a review of its accommodation to see where savings could be made. The council needs to make savings of £11m over the next 12 months.