Walsall Council headquarters to get revamp

More than £1 million will be spent revamping Walsall Council House and Civic Centre in the next two years, it was revealed today.

The money has been earmarked in the cash-strapped local authority's draft budget statement and will be used to "improve the customer experience" when visiting the Lichfield Street venue.

The reception area at the Grade II Listed building will be remodelled, while the mosaic floor and historic stonework are also set to get work.

Bosses today said the plans would "enhance the appeal and reputation" of the building but critics have hit out at the expenditure at a time when the authority is cutting jobs.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This is the next phase in the exciting regeneration of council buildings.

"We want to give all our customers who visit council premises an experience they will enjoy and remember.

"Work is already being done to reinvigorate the Civic Centre and the library building and the feedback on both has been very positive.

"We aim to remodel the reception area at the council house to create an impressive and welcoming environment for people.

"This will include restoring the mosaic floor and historic stonework on the outside of the building.

"These plans will further enhance the appeal and reputation of our historic Council House."

Around £330,000 is being earmarked for the work in 2012 to 2013, while a further £700,000 is set to be spent in the 2013 to 2014 financial year.

Plans include remodelling parts of the ground floor of the town hall to "enable more public use of the town hall complex which in turn may increase income."

It will also include the remodelling of the customer reception, refurbishment of the toilets and possible refurbishment of refreshment facilities.

Draft budget papers say: "This will build on a first phase of urgent repairs to this grade II listed building which are currently being progressed."

Labour representative for Willenhall South, Councillor Carl Creaney said: "That is a heck of a lot of money to spend at a time when they are making a lot of cuts.

"The building seems fine to me. Unless this is urgent repair work, it does seem like a lot of money."

Other schemes in the draft budget include plans to reduce the budget for headstone safety by £20,000 and a £250,000 plan to illuminate Walsall Arboretum to replace the annual illuminations.

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