Birmingham claims £3m savings after vacating buildings with expensive leases

Birmingham City Council has claimed estimated savings of nearly £3m in the last 12 months through a programme of vacating leased buildings occupied by back office departments.

The programme covered a range of city centre leased buildings including Alpha Tower, 1 Victoria Square and 7/8, Waterloo Street as well as a number of buildings in suburban areas.

Birmingham added that in future years a full 12 month benefit of £3.8m of taxpayer’s money will be saved every year.

The council’s Working for the Future programme is designed to create savings of £100m over 25 years through consolidating the council’s office portfolio and creating “improved, sustainable and more efficient workspace”.

Key elements of the programme are to:

• Vacate buildings with expensive leases
• Reduce the amount of office space used
• Improve retained buildings, and
• Develop new sites.

Cllr Randal Brew, Birmingham’s cabinet member for finance, said: “Vacating buildings with expensive leases and providing staff with a modern working environment shows that the council is committed to operating in smarter ways.”