Council chiefs are planning a massive shake-up of where and how thousands of local authority staff work.

The wide-ranging proposals by Bath and North East Somerset Council could lead to new uses for several of the authority's buildings, with many freed for private office space.

The authority will also encourage employees to work from home where appropriate, or for those whose work is not largely office-based to hot-desk and use mobile technology instead.

The most drastic measure would mean just 20 staff left in the Guildhall, making available large sections of the historic building for other uses.

The Guildhall has in the past been touted as a possible site for a casino but an official report which goes before the council's cabinet next Wednesday makes no suggestions on this score.

The council, which employs 6,500 people, has long been looking to shed many of its costly buildings, and if these proposals are passed, it will be free of eight of its 12 offices within five years.

And the man pulling the purse-strings, Councillor Malcom Hanney, thinks it could save millions in the long-term, while cutting the number of desks by 40 per cent.

The plans have been in the pipeline for nine years but as the leases on four buildings, Trimbridge House, Plymouth House, Northgate House and Riverside in Keynsham, are due for renewal, members have pushed for the shake-up sooner rather than later.

Officials have looked at 38 locations, and plans to move to a single site outside the city centre were considered.

Now appears the council will go for the option of keeping two office sites in Bath, Lewis House and a small part of the Guildhall, which would continue to house most council meetings and remain as the democratic decision-making hub.

The council would also keep offices at The Hollies in Midsomer Norton but create a new complex in Keynsham.

This project would lead to Keynsham Town Hall being flattened and replaced by a development of council offices, a library, shops and other facilities.

Mr Hanney said the council would focus on creating one-stop shops at the Guildhall, The Hollies and Keynsham. People would be able to pay bills, make inquiries about council services and meet with representatives of the police and health service.

Over the next four years the council will have to fork out £2.8 million to set up the project, plus costs in the region of £3.5m to pay for relocating staff and refurbishing buildings.

But Mr Hanney said the initial costs would be recouped in five years through reduced running cost.

He said: "The main thrust is to ensure this is self-financing and is a big saver in the long-term rather than a big spender. It will free up resources and operational buildings and in some cases there will be opportunities for redevelopment.

"Private office space is desperately needed in Bath and the free buildings could be worth £10m a year to the city's economy."