Taxpayer foots the bill for Lib Dem luxury

Rochdale’s Liberal Democrat Group has been accused of plundering the public purse to pay for an unnecessary move to palatial office spaces in the Town Hall.

In a move that has outraged councillors from both the Labour and Conservative Groups and is set to cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds, it has emerged that the township committee staff are being moved out of the Town Hall.

“This is an act of breathtaking arrogance,” said the Labour Group leader, Councillor Colin Lambert. “The Lib Dems have completely lost sight of why they are in the Town Hall and are more concerned with their own self-importance. It seems that they are no longer making decisions to serve the public but are too busy making decisions that benefit themselves. This is an expensive and unnecessary move that will not benefit the public in any way.”

Township committee staff are rumoured to be furious at having to pack their bags and move to Telegraph House to make way for changes. Described as an act of “monumental hubris” by Councillor Lambert, the arrangement will see the Lib Dems claim a new leader’s room, a Lib Dem members’ room, a cabinet room, a cabinet overspill room and a private Lib Dem members’ meeting room.

“They have chosen the most expensive building in the Council’s portfolio, tried to grab the most space and are throwing out working staff who actually produce something for the taxpayer,” added Councillor Lambert. “Why does Councillor Taylor need a room facing the bar with a nice shag pile carpet? What use will all these rooms get apart from an occasional meeting? And what value will the public get from this expensive move?”

He contrasted this unnecessary extravagance with the fact that elected members in Middleton still do not have a room at all. While in Heywood the political parties share one room between them.

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk said it was important that the full costs associated with this move were disclosed. “When you consider the downtime associated with moving township staff, the costs of physically moving all their records, re-directing phone lines and internet connections, creating new stationery, refurbishing rooms and laying new carpets – as well as all the inconvenience this causes – then I think there will be a considerable and unnecessary burden for the taxpayer to bear,” he said. “The Lib Dems need reminding that they are public servants not public masters.”

He added that the estimated cost of this “vanity project” was comparable to hundreds of hours of adult care or a community support officer in every ward for a month.

The former Council Leader, Allen Brett, also weighed in with heavy criticism, noting that he had never found any need for such excessive opulence when he was leading the Council. “I think it’s very interesting that Alan Taylor has decided to pull this stunt now,” he said. “They would not have done this a few months ago before the local elections and they are gambling on people having forgotten about it by the time the next General Election comes around.”

Councillors past and present were also queuing up to condemn the move. “I don’t understand why the Lib Dems need so much office space,” said former councillor Lynne Brosnan. “The councillors are given lap tops and have ample phone call allowances so they do not have to be in the Town Hall all the time. Many of them work from home. If they want a meeting they can book a committee room for free.”

“This is just another manifestation of the Lib Dems’ arrogance,” added Councillor Ibrar Khan. “I am fighting to try and get funds for my community to pay for new play areas and the Lib Dems are just wasting money on daft empire building projects. Why do they need all this extra space? The only reason they’re doing this is to massage their egos and boost their own self-importance.”

Leader of the Council, Councillor Alan Taylor said: "I am surprised that Councillor Lambert is making an issue of this as he has agreed to everything that is happening. From time to time any organisation needs to look at their office accommodation and this is the process we are currently undergoing.

"Staff are moving all over the shop, including from the Municipal Offices to Telebraph House on Baille Street. Rochdale Township staff at our Town Hall are being moved to Telegraph House as the rest of their Department are going to be located there.

"Staff are being reallocated rooms in the Town Hall and this has allowed us the opportunity to give the Conservative Group larger accomodation as well as well as relocating the Liberal Democrats. The present Leader's office will be available for the opposition to have private meetings with officers or constituents.

I will be moving to the Conservative room as my current accommodation is clearly unsuitable for the amount of meetings I hold daily. There will accommodation provided for cabinet members to meet more efficiently to carry out their demanding roles.

"The cost of this exercise is around £3,000, which is mainly to move furniture. Ironically, the new offices that Councillor Lambert has demanded in Middleton for Labour Councillors will cost substantially more!"