New carpets - 6th Mar 2014 3:59pm
This is what your council tax money pays for
Tory councillor Leah Fraser said decision to spend the money was “offensive to every taxpayer in the borough”
The new £25,000 carpet on the staircase at Wallasey town hall
Cash-strapped Wirral council has come under fire after it was revealed it is to spend £25,000 replacing carpets for the town hall stairs.
Council chiefs say the new carpets are needed for Wallasey town hall, which is a popular wedding venue.
However, it has also revealed that the original company due to supply the carpet was wound up and unable to complete the contract, meaning a second firm had to be brought in for the fitting – although the council insists this “did not affect the overall cost”.
But leading Tory councillor Leah Fraser said the decision to spend the money was “offensive to every taxpayer in the borough”.
She said the decision to spend so much on the carpet was made worse coming after the decision to press ahead with consultation on the future of Lyndale School, which caters for some of the borough’s most vulnerable youngsters with severe disabilities.
But David Armstrong, Wirral’s head of universal and infrastructure services, said: “The council is replacing carpets in areas that are used during the wedding ceremonies that regularly take place in Wallasey Town Hall, following a number of complaints from attendees.
“Every year, there are around 200 such ceremonies, held on Fridays and Saturdays, raising in the region of £20,000 per year, which is then reinvested.
“The carpets in these areas have been not been replaced since 1968. The cost of purchasing the carpet and fitting it is around £25,000, which was allocated in 2012/13’s budget.
“The carpet was sourced from a local firm, and fitted by a second company following the first’s winding up. This did not affect the overall cost of the process.”
Late last year the council came under fire for spending £850,000 on a “Downton”-style staircase for Wallasey town hall.
Senior Tory Ian Lewis blasted the ruling Labour group for approving the work while the council faces major budget challenges and must save £109m over three years.
Wallasey councillor Leah Fraser said: “Less than 24 hours after the Town Hall decided to consult on the closure of Lyndale School, we learn that the chief executive Graham Burgess is spending £25,000 on a carpet for a marble staircase.
“What planet is he on? The cabinet can’t preach austerity and cuts to the rest of us while lavishing this kind of cash on a carpet for a flight of stairs.
“It’s offensive to every taxpayer in the borough.”
Tory councillor Leah Fraser said decision to spend the money was “offensive to every taxpayer in the borough”
The new £25,000 carpet on the staircase at Wallasey town hall
Cash-strapped Wirral council has come under fire after it was revealed it is to spend £25,000 replacing carpets for the town hall stairs.
Council chiefs say the new carpets are needed for Wallasey town hall, which is a popular wedding venue.
However, it has also revealed that the original company due to supply the carpet was wound up and unable to complete the contract, meaning a second firm had to be brought in for the fitting – although the council insists this “did not affect the overall cost”.
But leading Tory councillor Leah Fraser said the decision to spend the money was “offensive to every taxpayer in the borough”.
She said the decision to spend so much on the carpet was made worse coming after the decision to press ahead with consultation on the future of Lyndale School, which caters for some of the borough’s most vulnerable youngsters with severe disabilities.
But David Armstrong, Wirral’s head of universal and infrastructure services, said: “The council is replacing carpets in areas that are used during the wedding ceremonies that regularly take place in Wallasey Town Hall, following a number of complaints from attendees.
“Every year, there are around 200 such ceremonies, held on Fridays and Saturdays, raising in the region of £20,000 per year, which is then reinvested.
“The carpets in these areas have been not been replaced since 1968. The cost of purchasing the carpet and fitting it is around £25,000, which was allocated in 2012/13’s budget.
“The carpet was sourced from a local firm, and fitted by a second company following the first’s winding up. This did not affect the overall cost of the process.”
Late last year the council came under fire for spending £850,000 on a “Downton”-style staircase for Wallasey town hall.
Senior Tory Ian Lewis blasted the ruling Labour group for approving the work while the council faces major budget challenges and must save £109m over three years.
Wallasey councillor Leah Fraser said: “Less than 24 hours after the Town Hall decided to consult on the closure of Lyndale School, we learn that the chief executive Graham Burgess is spending £25,000 on a carpet for a marble staircase.
“What planet is he on? The cabinet can’t preach austerity and cuts to the rest of us while lavishing this kind of cash on a carpet for a flight of stairs.
“It’s offensive to every taxpayer in the borough.”