Office-spend claims refuted by McMahon

CLAIMS that council leader Jim McMahon has splashed out over £10,000 moving across a hallway into his new office have been slammed.

Liberal Democrat councillor Val Sedgewick criticised the Labour group for spending taxpayers’ cash when around 800 jobs were being cut at the council and families were struggling to pay their bills.

The spending included just under £3,000 on new carpet and £1,138 on moving equipment for support staff and painting the walls.

However, Councillor McMahon hit back saying suggestions of wasting money on lavish accommodation were “completely unfounded”.

He said office moves were needed because changing political power from a two-party coalition to a larger single-party majority meant a bigger room was needed, and no extra cash was spent.

He said: “The work that has been done actually represents the cheapest office move following a change in control in more than a decade.

“For example, when the previous administration came to office in 2008, a programme of works to relocate and refurbish the leader’s office was undertaken costing around £15,000.

“We were very mindful about costs here and the works undertaken did not necessitate the spending of any new money for this purpose.

“The room now being used as my office was already earmarked for refurbishment under a wider £4million programme of works that was actually approved by the previous administration before I took office. The refurbishment work was simply incorporated into that existing budget.”

The refurbishment included removing a 1970s leatherette wall covering and replacing it with magnolia painted walls, plus putting in window blinds and carpet of the same standard as all civic rooms.

Councillor McMahon added: “Since May, significant moves have been made to cut the costs to the public purse of members. The reductions to councillors’ allowances will save £160,000, for example, and as leader I have also declined the use of both a council credit card and the civic car.

“The day-to-day costs of the leader’s office have also been slashed with a reduction in staff that will save £60,000.

“The amount of accommodation space used by staff has therefore also reduced, so this is actually a significantly more streamlined and cost-effective leader’s office than the previous arrangement.”