Moray Council has saved nearly £100,000 since opening a new HQ in the heart of Elgin.
The £2.5million annexe in the town’s Glover Street was opened in March 2012, and allows residents to access different departments all in one building.
The local authority also revealed that it has raised £581,000 by selling the 13 offices which became surplus to requirements when the new one opened.
Council leader Stewart Cree said: “The move to centralise our offices was a fundamental part of our modernisation programme, designed to improve services to the public throughout Moray.
“When we embarked on this project in 2010 councillors had to place a great deal of trust in the officers who had brought forward the proposals.
“The savings and benefits that have arisen from the establishment of the new complex demonstrates that such trust was well placed, and reinforces our confidence in future projects of this nature.”
Some of the buildings which previously served as council offices have been given new leases of life.
Premises in Elgin’s Moss Street are now used by the town’s Citizens Advice Bureau, and a property in Gordon Street will be converted for use as a mosque.
Buildings at Academy Street are now serving as rehearsal space for the Out of Darkness theatre company and others have been placed on the open market.
Running the new office and access point costs £255,000 a year – reducing the local authority’s overall accommodation costs by nearly £94,000.
The new annexe was opened in March 2012, following an 18-month project to transform Elgin’s old Safeway supermarket building.
The venue containadvanced energy-saving features, designed to decrease running costs and the council’s carbon footprint.
A report on the complex will be presented to members of the council’s policy and resources committee on Tuesday.
The local body’s corporate director Mark Palmer added: “As well as the annual savings we’ve generated a one-off receipt of £581,000 by selling off surplus properties.
“And our service to the public is so much more convenient, as the staff at the new building are able to deal with most enquiries.”