A NUMBER of council buildings in Stockton, including the library, could be demolished as part of a scheme to improve efficiency.

Stockton Borough Council is to appoint a consultant to investigate the future of its offices and the possibility of opening up one services centre to incorporate the work of the existing buildings.

It is hoped that by creating one office for different aspects of council work, such as housing and education, the public will find it easier to get the help and advice they need.

The consultant will decide whether the council buildings in Stockton, Billingham and Thornaby should be left as they are, renovated, or closed down and replaced by a one-stop shop.

It is estimated that the renovation of the 11 sites would cost more than £1.4m over the next five years.

If the consultant recommends a new service centre, it will house more than 1,100 staff and would cost about £17m to build.

A new library would be built at a cost of more than £2m.

Among the planned demolitions would be the municipal buildings in Stockton, the library, Alma House and Wynyard House in Billingham.

The remaining buildings, including Kingsway House and Queensway House in Billingham, 32 Dovecot Street, 16 Church Road and Nightingale House in Stockton, could be sold for redevelopment.

Possible sites for the library include the former bingo hall in Stockton. Funding for the library and the services centre would be sought from private partnerships.

A council spokesman said: "Constructing a new local services centre will inevitably be an expensive exercise."

If the decision is taken to build the new centre it could take up to five years, leaving the council to maintain its buildings even if they are then demolished.

The spokesman said: "The council can take comfort from the fact that it will be creating, as an alternative, a civic facility directly geared to be more responsive to the needs of the community and one in which the community will be pleased to participate."

The consultant will also look at the possibility of moving the library and creating more office space in the building to centralise facilities.