Croydon council to spend £3m furnishing new HQ instead of using old desks

 

Council bosses want to spend more than £3 million on bespoke furniture and fixtures for their new HQ.

Tory-controlled Croydon is willing to pay over £1 million more than it would if it moved in existing furniture from its old offices over the road.

The council says the £3.1 million cost of fitting out its glass-fronted £145 million Public Service Delivery Hub will be “better value for money” than recycling the used furniture.

Construction of the 240,000 sq ft complex, formally called Bernard Weatherill House, is due to be completed this summer. A report containing the figures says “high levels of recycled material” will be used for the new HQ and the old furniture would go to local schools and charities.

The report states: “The bulk of the existing furniture having served its purpose (is) not suitable to support the changing working practices.”

Officials estimate that moving all the old tables and chairs into the new building would take four months and cost £2.1 million. The buy-new option will take six weeks, the report states, and the £3.1 million is inclusive of all moving, dismantling and assembly costs. One mother fighting Croydon’s plans to cut its 22 crossing patrols by up to half said she was shocked by the cost of the new fittings. Jo Wittams said: “I don’t see how they can square it with saving £60,000 on lollipop ladies… it makes you feel pretty sick.”

Opposition Labour leader Tony Newman said: “To see this money being spent on office furniture is grotesque, especially when they have the option of reusing existing furniture.” A council spokeswoman said moving “existing stock” was not an option as it would need replacing soon after.

Councillors were due to vote on the plans today.

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