Angus Council is looking to close 32 offices in a bid to trim almost £5 million a year from its budget.
The local authority has introduced a five-year plan designed to squeeze services into just 10 buildings across the county.
William Wallace House and St Margaret’s House at the council’s purpose built, single site campus in Forfar built only 10 years ago are earmarked for closure.
Other buildings to be axed include Dewar House and two leased High Street properties in Arbroath, the Damacre Centre in Brechin, Panmure Centre in Carnoustie, Invertay House in Monifieth.
The plan seals the fate of Forfar’s controversial Cross site, which was courted in private by pub giant Wetherspoon but dumped after costs proved too much.
After the meeting, council leader Iain Gaul said the move would “allow us to focus our spending on services rather than bricks and mortar”.
He promised existing local offices will stay open “until these new facilities are up and running.”
At a meeting of the full Angus Council, strategic director for resources Mark Armstrong introduced a report on the Agile Programme as part of the council’s wider Transforming Angus strategy.
He said: “The key objective within the Agile Programme is to change the way that we work, the way that we deliver services, and make better use of technology to improve our services and increase our productivity.
“The council is recommended to agree the properties which are identified as surplus to requirements.
“At the end of year five, it’s anticipated that revenue savings would amount to £4.9 million per annum.”
Two of the council’s larger office premises, at Angus House in Forfar and Bruce House in Arbroath, will accommodate most of the council’s back office functions.
Eight new local hubs will provide customer facilities, which will be shared by a range of services.
A detailed report on what these will look like will be presented in July.
The council will explore selling the empty properties, leasing to partners or private/third sector, community asset transfer, or other community empowerment opportunities.
Meanwhile, school areas, day care and residential care services, depots, theatres, libraries, and leisure centres are not included in the programme.
The report was approved by the full council without comment.
North East MSP Alex Johnstone said he appreciates efficiency savings must be made but this will have a “negative” transforming effect.
He added: “Closing town centre premises will also have a negative impact on commercial areas that are already struggling to attract footfall.
“I am also concerned two of the buildings in the flagship campus in Forfar will struggle to attract businesses to locate there.”