Perth and Kinross Council’s offices at Pullar House in Perth could be mothballed from April 2024.
The total cost to the public purse for running the Kinnoull Street building in 2022/23 was £3.1 million including energy costs.
Councillors last week voted to support the SNP budget which outlined a statement of intent to vacate the building or to co-share the building and its costs.
PKC’s lease of the building runs until September 30, 2025.
Tabling the SNP’s budget council leader Grant Laing said: “Our budget does not shy away from making difficult decisions. But we have done our very best to protect the most vulnerable, our partners and our staff.
“We have challenged expenditure pressures and identified new savings – allowing us to reject savings of over £6.1 million and invest more in our agreed priorities.
“This includes bringing forward the savings identified for Pullar House, unless there is a clear commitment towards a shared public sector approach.”
Staff working from home
It is understood Pullar House is operating at significantly reduced capacity due to staff working from home and council staff could be re-accommodated elsewhere if no agreement to co-share the lease of the building is made.
There are council offices at 2 High Street, Perth and Carpenter House on Perth’s Carpenter Street.
This week a PKC spokesperson confirmed mothballing Pullar House would save £800,000 over two years.
However occupancy rates – which are thought to sometimes be less than a third – were not confirmed as they “vary day by day”.
Cllr Laing said: “This is about the building, not the people. It will allow negotiations on the building to start sooner rather than leaving it to the last minute before we have to be out.”
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