Councillors in clash over furniture costs

LABOUR councillors who attacked a 200 per cent increase in spending on council furniture have been condemned for “rank hypocrisy”.

Liberal Democrat finance spokesman Councillor Lynne Thompson says the Opposition has a nerve when it criticises the rise from £76,000 in 2007, to over £227,000 in 2008, and already up to £96,000 in the current financial year.

Labour councillor Peter Dean said non-essential purchases were waved through despite an internal freeze on council spending.

And a Labour briefing note carried this picture of furniture being loaded into a skip at the Civic Centre.

But Councillor Thompson said: “There has been more surplus furniture than usual over the past year, owing to the reduction of some 500 office jobs in the council.

“The best has been snapped up and the dregs can go. Where is the sense of proportion here? The Lib-Dems have slashed costs by 500 salaries, and Labour is quibbling about broken chairs!

“A smaller amount has come from office refurbishments, though freeze panels have allowed this only where the old furniture is unserviceable.

“The furniture in the skip is not good furniture but items which were broken or in poor condition, destined to be broken up and the materials recycled.

“Some expenditure was due to the refurbishment of public rooms and offices. Labour has sought to make political capital out of this, but it has a nerve.

“First, they neglected these areas shamelessly, so they presented a terrible, run-down impression to visitors, with rising damp, rickety furniture and old equipment. We believe that if you look like a basket case, you will be taken for one. Visitors now see a smart and businesslike looking Oldham Council and our reputation is rising.

“Second, it is rank hypocrisy. The refurbishments were agreed by all three party leaders.”