COUNCIL offices will be remodelled to provide “improved agile working and space efficiency”.

Southend Council is planning to spend £1.3million on replacing boilers, hot water systems and related pipework at the Civic Centre and court house.

However the council is also budgeting half a million pounds on moving desks.

A further £70,000 will be spent on extending wireless internet throughout all of the council’s buildings.

This will be available to visitors as well as staff members and allow council officers to take part in “flexible working”.

Cllr James Courtenay, cabinet member for growth and deputy leader of the council, said: “In recent years we have reduced the number of council buildings that staff operate from, which saves us more than £500,000 every year.

“Thanks to this, the majority of our staff are now based in the Civic Centre delivering a full range of services which are vital to our residents, and as responsible employers, we have a duty to keep the buildings heated and safe and maintain service delivery to local people.

“The boilers which heat the Civic Centre and the courthouse are in urgent need of replacement and the current solution is only temporary.

“As technology improves, so does the need for the council to keep pace.  Extending the WiFi provision in council-run premises will allow for better and more efficient working.

“Improving our space efficiency will enable us to identify working areas which could be used differently and shared or let to more partner organisations which will bring yet more income into the council and continue to reduce the savings we need to make.”

The last major revamp of the 52-year-old civic centre happened in 2014 and added a new refreshment and meeting area, a bigger customer service area, extra self-service terminals and an extra marriage room.