COUNCIL chiefs in Worcestershire have given some thought to selling off their historic County Hall headquarters, it has emerged.

Worcestershire County Council has revealed how "selling the site and relocating" was one idea offered up in a desperate bid to save cash.

But the suggestion has been rejected, with bosses saying "at this stage" they want to develop the site for "multi-occupancy" to get more outside organisations renting office space.

The developments have been revealed in a special briefing report about the updated Property Asset Strategy, spelling out how the council will manage its assets between now and 2020.

The 35-page dossier, as your Worcester News first revealed last week, has set the authority a target of grabbing an extra £10 million in capital receipts from selling off property.

On the future of County Hall, where the vast majority of the 5,000-plus non-schools workforce are based, it says four possible options have been considered, including "remaining as we are" or an outright sale and relocation.

The other two options were to rent more space to other public authorities and private companies, or "transfer the management of County Hall to a third party" to maximise the returns and exploit its location.

It backs the option to rent out more space, saying: "The feasibility of these options will depend to a large extent on the appetite the council has for change.

"At this stage the recommendation is to develop County Hall for multi-occupancy, investing in the re-configuration of the space into a more dynamic and innovative office space."

After swathes of job cuts and the commissioning out of several functions more and more sections have become free inside the building.

The likes of HMRC and DEFRA rent space on the site, with the briefing document revealing the council now gets £1 million a year into the coffers by letting spare space.

But the Conservative leadership has already insisted it will not sell off "the crown jewels".

The new strategy aims to build on the changes since 2011 which have led to 99 pieces of property being sold ranging from large-scale office blocks to old community halls, day centres, libraries, commercial units, workshops, school sites and more.

Some 33 council leases have been ditched and 17 main administrative buildings been reduced to just four, saving £5 million in maintenance costs and £29 million from sales.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said: "This is an evolution of the strategy and we will need to use all the tools in our toolbox to maximise the benefits.

"In certain circumstances sales of properties may be appropriate, I think taxpayers will expect their money to be spent in the most efficient way."

The authority needs to save around £25 million in the next financial year, a target due to rise to £34 million in 2017/18.

* The great shrinking estate: Council buildings 'bonfire' to continue to rake in £10m