FORTY five staff at Malvern Hills District Council may be moved to different offices to help the council’s finances.

The full and part-time workers now based at Portland House on Church Street could be relocated to the Council House, on Avenue Road, and the Brunel House, on Portland Road.

The move, which includes making the new accommodation fit for occupation, is expected to cost £75,000.

But members of the council’s executive committee, which meets on Tuesday will be told that £15,000 to £20,000 would be saved immediately by vacating Portland House.

A report to the committee also states that the last condition survey showed the roof of the building needs £250,000 of work but if Portland House was sold it the council would gain £800,000 for its capital programme.

The council’s property working party is recommending the staff in Portland House are moved to other offices by the end of February 2009.

The working party had also been looking at the option of putting the council’s administration staff into one building but is now recommending this is deferred until there is clarification on joint working with other council’s and an improvement in the economic climate.