ALMOST £500,000 is spent every year on paying for security and maintenance at council-owned buildings which are standing empty.

New figures show Stoke-on-Trent City Council will spend a total of £375,000 in 2012/13 on security at buildings which it owns but has no current use for.

And a further £115,000 is being spent on maintaining the buildings and paying utility bills for health and safety reasons.

Security costs are spent on boarding up buildings, installing security gates and paying private firms to fit alarms and carry out spot checks to deter vandals.

The figures do not include empty council houses, flats or garages, which incur significant additional security and maintenance costs.

Critics say empty buildings attract anti-social behaviour and worsen the appearance of the city.

Empty buildings running up costly security bills include the former Redhouse Crescent children's home, which has been closed for more than four years, as well as Fenton Library and City Farm in Bucknall which both closed due to council budget cuts.

Independent councillor Ann James, member for Great Chell and Packmoor, said: "There are a lot of buildings on the list that have been empty for a very long time.

"The issue has been debated before and I still don't understand why the council doesn't have arrangements in place for the buildings before it closes them down.

"Residents who live near to Redhouse Crescent have complained about anti-social behaviour at the building that wouldn't happen if it hadn't been left like that."

Empty council buildings in Burslem include the Wedgwood Institute, the indoor market and the town hall; part of the liquidated Ceramica Trust.

Ted Owen, aged 73, a Burslem resident and former Ceramica trustee, said: "It was short-sighted of the council to leave the old town hall empty.

"It makes no sense at all for it to be empty when it costs taxpayers so much money to keep it that way. It could be used as a housing office, a police station or even the library, but it's not value for money to keep it closed."

Plans are in place to sell some of the empty buildings, but others are set to remain empty.

Longton High School will be demolished to make way for the new Abbey Hill School and Performing Arts College, being rebuilt under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The former Austin House care home in Abbey Hulton is in the process of being sold, as is Mary Bourne House in Bucknall.

Cauldon Park Depot could be handed to Stoke-on-Trent College.

The city council's former offices in Hill Street, Stoke could be demolished.

No plans are in place for mothballed buildings like Ubberley and Bentilee Workingmen's Club and Tunstall swimming pool.

Council leader Mohammed Pervez said: "The vacant properties may or may not be required for future council use. We may be keeping some buildings for regeneration purposes or relocation of staff."