BASILDON Council is set to make more than £250,000 by renting out offices to the Jobcentre and Department for Work and Pensions.

The services are set to move from their current home at Regents House, in The Gore, Basildon, into the Basildon Centre, in St Martin’s Square, at the end of 2016.

The project, which still needs to be agreed by the Department for Work and Pensions next month, will see housing, benefits, council tax, financial advice and jobcentre services all located in one place for residents. Around 150 staff will be involved in the move, which will generate income for the council to protect other services.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, said the agreement was “a strong example of the council’s strategy to improve services and cost taxpayers less.”

He added: “This agreement would see a huge improvement for residents in terms of accessing services in one place – housing, benefits, library services, financial support and jobcentre services will all be in the same building, which can only make residents’ lives easier.

“But it’s also a key part of our drive to see the council costing the taxpayer less. Residents will see two public bodies locating into one place, saving on two building costs, and see their local council making common-sense decisions.

“With all councils seeing drastic funding cuts, I’d rather we looked at solutions like this, which generate income for the council and allow us to protect the money we spend on the services people value.”