A Liberal Democrat investigation into the unexpected recent refurbishment of the Town Hall’s council chamber meeting room has revealed that £172,000 was splashed on redecorations, including an eye-watering £16,000 on carpets alone.
This is at a time when residents have been struggling with the financial impacts of Covid and when the council itself needs to find £23m of service cuts and other savings in the year ahead.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Lib Dems at Stockport Town Hall, said: “I find it staggering that this Conservative-backed Labour administration think this non-essential expenditure is appropriate at a time when council funds are so stretched. 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.
“In the next couple of weeks we should see the first proposals for cuts and savings coming through our Scrutiny Committees as part of the process leading to setting the council’s budget next February. 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.”
