A £172,000 revamp of the council chamber at Stockport Town Hall - including an ‘eye-watering’ £16,000 on carpets - has been fierecely criticised.
The authority’s Liberal Democrat group has condemned bosses for 'splashing out' on redecorations while council coffers are under pressure and many are struggling financially due to the pandemic.
Work on the chamber - is used to host council meetings and ceremonies - is also understood to have included lighting, windows and and ceiling repair.
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But the Labour administration has hit back, saying the cost reflects the ‘scale and complexity’ of the 'necessary' renovation - and was also included in the Lib Dems' own budget amendment in February.
The controversy comes after a Lib Dem probe into what the group describes as an ‘unexpected’ overhaul of the chamber.
Leader Coun Mark Hunter said he found it ‘staggering’ that chiefs felt the ‘non-essential expenditure’ was appropriate ‘at a time when council funds are so stretched’.
He added: “They clearly knew this would be sensitive because the costs were hidden as part of an even larger amount agreed some time ago for improvements to the town centre civic complex."
Coun Hunter added that cuts and savings proposals would soon go before scrutiny committees as part of the budget setting process for the next financial year.
“When we see what the proposed impact to frontline services will be, we will remind the current administration that almost £200,000 of council tax payers’ hard earned cash has been simply wasted on paint and carpets in a meeting room,” he said.
But Labour deputy leader Coun Tom McGee has defended the move -describing the town hall as a ‘valuable part of the borough’s heritage’, with the council chamber playing ‘an essential role in the borough’s democracy.
He said: “The requirement to keep the council chamber available for meetings and events has limited the available time frame in which to carry out redecoration. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a window of opportunity to carry out the work whilst minimising disruption to council business.
“The cost of the refurbishment reflects the scale, complexity, requirement for specialist contractors and an allowance for contingencies.
“The council always strives to get value for money for work done on its behalf and as required, a competitive tender process was put in place to appoint a contractor for the work.”
The total cost of the refurbishment work is not expected to exceed £172,425, he added.
Coun McGee also took aim at the Lib Dems, whom he said had ‘descended into a group that does nothing more than seeks publicity from continually attacking council officers’ credibility’.
“These proposals were included in their very own budget amendment last year and were absolutely necessary for the upkeep of our historic town hall, which last had this type of wide-ranging work down over 30 years ago,” he added.
“As an administration we pride ourselves on delivering value for money for the people of Stockport and to ensure this happened on this occasion, a competitive tender process was put in place to appoint a contractor for the work.
“If the council hadn’t done this work we would be accused of putting the town’s heritage at risk – something we’re not prepared to do but clearly something the Liberal Democrats are comfortable with.”
