Angus Council is creating a series of local authority hubs to increase productively and cut down on the number of buildings it uses.

As part of its five-year working and estates plan, the new council facilities will be developed in designated local service areas - Arbroath, Brechin/Montrose, Carnoustie/Monifieth and Forfar/Kirriemuir. Completion of the proposed locality hubs has been scheduled for 2019.

So far, six buildings with almost 5000m2 of floor space are no longer in use - Peasiehill in Arbroath, Park Place, St Drostans and Damacre Centre in Brechin, Invertay House in Monifieth and Castle Street offices in Forfar.

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A range of options are now being considered for either disposal or income generating opportunities for the surplus properties. Ideas include transferring them for community use or purchasing the sites to develop new housing.

Council leader Ian Gaul said the scheme has resulted in money being saved by the local authority.

"We've already made the £108,000 saving target for this year and expect to save £1.25m in 2017-18 as services continue to change how they work.

"The new hubs will be used by a range of council services. By sharing premises which will be customised to local needs, we will not only reduce the number of buildings but we will be able to offer a better service to local people.

"These local service hubs, along with the new integrated library and customer support service at local libraries, will also extend opportunities for sharing facilities with our public sector partners, such as Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, ANGUSalive and Police Scotland."

(LM)