Labour hit out at Council office move

The empty offices at the Town Hall are ready for the Lib Dems to move in.

3 More Image(s) In Gallery

The ongoing spat between Labour group leader Councillor Colin Lambert and Council Leader Councillor Alan Taylor has moved on to an argument about a Town Hall office move that began this week.

The move will see township committee staff moved out of the Town Hall to make way for a Liberal Democrat office expansion programme.

The two Councillors have not been on speaking terms since Councillor Lambert leaked secret council documents to Rochdale Online concerning the payment of water bills by council house tenants. Earlier this week the two clashed again over the Transport Innovation Fund bid and now Councillor Lambert has accused Councillor Taylor of being “completely out of touch with economic reality”, as the Liberal Democrats embark on what he believes to be an “expensive and unnecessary” office move this week.

Councillor Lambert said he had hoped Rochdale’s Council leader would re-consider the move but these exclusive photos reveal that township staff are now in the process of packing boxes and moving furniture.

Councillor Lambert said: “Why they need plush executive offices is beyond me. Existing offices are good enough for every other political party. It’s only the Lib Dems who think they deserve an upgrade.

“Councillor Alan Taylor has previously said that the cost of this entire move would be £3000. This is a figure plucked out of the sky and I am now urging him to accurately disclose the cost of staff organising the move to Telegraph House, the cost of new furniture, telephone lines and building works for both Telegraph House and the new, royal offices of the Lib Dems.”

Councillor Taylor has hit back by calling Councillor Lambert an 'outright liar'. He has reaffirmed his belief that the move will not cost more than £3000 and that the new office will not be equipped with brand new furniture and computers as Councillor Lambert has suggested.

Councillor Taylor said: “This move was decided by all three party leaders at the time. We agreed it to be necessary, as the Lib Dem Group had grown to 33 councillors. Councillor Lambert knows this yet chooses to lie to the people of Rochdale yet again!

“Councillor Lambert’s comments about brand new furniture and computers are complete nonsense. This move will simply be of current furniture and staff and will be around the £3,000 that we agreed upon. If Councillor Lambert has concerns about the move in Rochdale then I suggest he speaks to his party colleagues in Middleton who have requested their own office, which will cost a lot more than the current move taking place.”