CIVIC chiefs have pledged to help local firms get a slice of the £15m work to repair Southampton’s crumbling Civic Centre.

They said they would do all they could within the rules to make it easy for city-based companies to bid for contracts and will lobby large contractors to use local workers.

Tory council leaders last night approved the massive repair programme – to be paid for by borrowing – as part of the council biggest ever office shake-up.

Employees will quit buildings across the city in a bid to save the taxpayer up to £700,000 a year and centre the w o r k f o r c e around the Grade-II listed building.

By 2014 all staff will be at the Civic Centre, Marlands House and the new regional business centre being built in Guildhall Square by the council’s business partner Capita.

Cabinet member for resources Councillor Jeremy Moulton said while the council would opt for the firms that would do the “best job for the best price”

it would create a “level playing field” for local businesses.

“It’s a large contract so I would hope a considerable number of local jobs would be created by this opportunity.

“The council will proactively advertise the contract opportunities that local firms can bid for,” he pledged.

Cllr Moulton added the council would “encourage” larger contractors to use local workers, suppliers and sub-contractors.

The two-year refurbishment will start next autumn.

Cllr Moulton said a new “procurement strategy” would speed up and make it easier for smaller firms to bid for council contracts.

He said it should improve access for local businesses by simplifying the process, such as cutting back on form filling.

However legal rules mean the council must have a fair tendering competition and can’t discriminate on grounds of nationality.

Cllr Moulton also insisted that aside from some refurbishment to accommodate moving staff there would be no flash new offices for council bosses.

The building needs extensive repairs to its stonework, steelwork, roofs and windows. The last major upgrade to the building was carried out in the 1930s.

Asbestos will also need to be removed.

“It will be lucky if it gets a lick of paint. It’s all structural repairs to safeguard the building for the future. There will be no grand new offices,” he said.

Unions fear the move will leave staff fighting for desks as reducing the number of council buildings from eight to three will shrink office space by a quarter. Offices will be lost in Cumberland Place, Cumber-land House, Frobisher House, Castle Way and Southbrook Rise.

The council claims the moves will reduce carbon emissions and allow it to introduce flexible working practices to save cash. The Civic Centre works would be carried out alongside a separate £15m revamp of the former law courts and police station to create a heritage museum that would showcase a 100-year commemorative Titanic exhibition in 2012.