REDDITCH Borough Council executive board has recommended the Town Hall refurbishment budget be increased by £1million.
At a meeting on Tuesday members agreed the £1million difference from the original approved budget be funded through Public Works Loan Board (PWLB).
This would bring the cost to £6.2 million, on top of £4.2m from the Town Deal for the relocation of Redditch library.
The council said the extra £1million expense took into account the refurbishment and was in line with buildings inflationary increases over the two-year period.
But Redditch Labour Leader, Coun Joe Baker, criticised the recommendation, saying he was concerned about the financial implications to the taxpayer.
“The Conservatives proudly told us it would only cost £5.2million and that the Town Hall was suitable for the move.
“Now they are requesting we borrow £1million extra because they have got the figure wrong, and the town hall is not suitable for the move and extra needs to be done to accommodate this.
“Matt Dormer and the Redditch Tory vanity project is looking to be an open cheque book where the Tory-controlled county council rub their hand with glee gaining all this for free,.
“Will they be asking Redditch Council to fund their new County Hall building? Who knows?”
Redditch Borough Council leader, Coun Matt Dormer, has rebuffed the claims, saying the figure was never set in stone.
“It’s no secret we are selling land, and land prices have increased, so we have the money.
“These figures aren’t plucked out of the air, and if this wasn’t the best thing for the town, I wouldn’t be doing it.
“It’s also important to note, not all of the additional costs will be covered by the council, there are other tenants in the building who have made changes to their plans and will be covering cost of those changes themselves.
“I will not scrimp on a top quality library for this town.”
A council spokesperson said: “These increases are in line with the economic situation nationally and the price of materials having significantly increased.
“However all of the costs will be fully covered by the income generated from our tenants.”
