Sandwell Council staff could move into The Public arts centre

Up to 70 council staff could move into empty office space inside £72 million Black Country arts centre The Public, the Express & Star can reveal today.

The area on level four of the West Bromwich complex has failed to attract any tenants, more than two years after it opened.

Now, Sandwell's finance chief Councillor Steve Eling has said he is looking at plans to relocate staff from rented buildings into the space to save money.

But leader of the Tory opposition group Councillor Ray Nock said the move "smacked of desperation".

The council must make savings of around £75 million over the next four years following Government budget cuts.

Councillor Eling said: "If the top floor of The Public, which has been marketed for some time and is fully fitted out, is not let out within a few months I am going to move council staff in."