West Lothian Council is preparing to sell off more than half of its offices in a bid to save cash ahead of major budget cuts.
Government funding to the local authority is likely to be slashed by £45 million in the next four years.
However, the council believes it can save around £1.5 million a year in rent on office accomodation and it could raise tens of millions by selling the properties off.
It has now drawn up a ten year plan to cut staff sites from 38 to 16. Staff from the surplus offices would move into the new £50 million Civic Centre in Livingston, provided suitable arrangements could be made for "flexible working".
Council leader Peter Johnston said: "We believe that future budget reductions will be deeper and we are working to reduce the number of properties we own. We are also looking at new ways of working, such as mobile working, to help create a new more streamlined service.
"Key to this is a closer working relationship at a local level with our partners, which will be improved by joining together under one roof in the new West Lothian Civic Centre."
The SNP administration insists the property sale will only go ahead if acceptable changes could be made to the way staff work.
However, opposition Labour leader Graeme Morrice says the plans could still cause problems.
He said: "This current SNP council are hell bent on cutting jobs and services and now they are removing office accommodation from our hard working staff.
"Yet they can find money for the Tory Provost's hospitality marquee and in sending SNP and Action to Save St John's Hospital councillors to junkets all over the world."
Selling its offices is just one strategy the council is looking at to create savings, but the administration has promised the council will work to minimise the effects the cuts will have on jobs and services.
Mr Johnston said: "As with all public sector providers we are facing a very difficult financial future.
"It is too early to announce details on our future spending plans. However, it is our aim to continue to freeze council tax next year.
"We believe that by freezing council tax for a third consecutive year, families and pensioners will have more cash in their pockets.
"There will be very difficult decisions required on service priorities to ensure we maintain sound finances in the constrained financial climate in the years ahead.
"However, West Lothian Council operates from a sound financial base and we are working hard to make efficiency savings, which we can invest to protect our front line services.
Among the sites expected to be axed are West Lothian House, Lindsay House, Lammermuir House and the Fauldhouse Partnership Centre.
