A city council is considering purchasing its civic offices with a view to saving money in the long term.

Stafford Council currently leases its base in Riverside and the building has a lease with more than 50 years remaining in operation.

But it is subject to revisions that could increase the rent.

Council leader Aidan Godfrey has said the authority does not want taxpayers to face unnecessary costs they would have no control over in the future.

On Thursday, the council’s cabinet considered a proposal to buy the civic center and agreed to recommend the purchase to full council.

The debate was held behind closed doors due to commercial sensitivities.

Mr Godfrey, Labour, said: “We will be looking very closely at the figures to see if buying this building is the right thing to do. “Any decision we make will be based on investing in the future.”

He added that owning the building would also allow the council to bid for investments to improve the site’s energy efficiency, which in turn would reduce long-term running costs.

The four-storey civic center was built in the 1970s, following the creation of the current town hall during the 1974 local government reorganisation.

The building, which has its own multi-storey car park, also houses other organisations, including NHS services.