At Thursday's full council meeting, members were asked to rubberstamp the replacement of the fixtures and fittings at Ryedale House, some of which is 30 years old.
The council's policy and resources committee believes many of the furnishings, part
icularly the chairs, do not meet health and safety or fire safety requirements and the "tired and shabby" civic suite, which is also used as a registry office, is in a poor condition and reflects poorly on the council.
But Cllr John Clark questioned the need and the cost of the refurbishment and said councillors should look at each and every cost again on its own merits.
Support came from Cllr Lindsay Burr, who said: "Bearing in mind we are in the middle of a credit crunch I don't think we should be thinking about spending this amount of money."
The "desirable" work includes £50,000 for a wireless audio system, £18,500 for motorised blinds and £5,000 for new signs directing people to the civic suite.
Seen as "essential" for the refurbishment to both the civic suite and members lounge are:
*£8,500 for General joinery and associated building works;
*£13,500 to replace carpets;
*£24,000 for the modification of fixed wired installation and lighting;
*£44,000 to replace the Air Handling Unit to the chamber;
*£7,000 to remove and clean the high level ducts and to renew the grills;
*£3,500 to provide and install fire dampers within the duct;
*£20,000 to replace furniture and equipment;
*£3,000 to replace the suspended ceiling in the members lounge;
*£6,500 for emulsion or £10,500 for wallpaper to redecoration; and
*£4,000 as a contingency sum.
It is estimated the total cost to the taxpayer will be between £207,500 and £211,500.
But it is a cost which is necessary, according to Janet Waggott, chief executive of Ryedale District Council.
She said: "At 30 years old the facilities at Ryedale House have provided the council with excellent value for money over the years.
"However investment in the building is overdue and there is an urgent need to repair and maintain the public space and plan a rolling programme of preventative maintenance and bring the building up to date to meet the requirements of today."
She added: "As the district's primary licensed registry office the need to provide an improved facility has become increasingly apparent.
"Rental of the facility provides the council with a source of revenue which it can use to subsidise other public services, it is important that this is not lost through a lack of investment in the building."
Ms Waggott also revealed that a ceiling fell in the reception and forward planning area of Ryedale House this week, and added: "It is vital that both our customers and our staff can access and provide services in a safe environment."
Seventeen councillors voted in favour of revisiting the costs of the revamp, with seven against and one abstention.
The programme will be considered again by the policy and resources committee on December 4, along with the rest of the capital programme, before going before the full council for approval in January.
Councillors who voted for looking at the costs again:
Cllr Geoff Acomb, Cllr Paul Andrews, Cllr James Bailey, Cllr Lindsay Burr, Cllr John Clark, Cllr Pamela De Wend Fenton, Cllr Frank, Cllr Tony Hemesley, Cllr Eric Hope, Cllr David Jackson, Cllr Di Keal, Cllr Howard Keal, Cllr Keith Knaggs, Cllr Elizabeth Shields, Cllr Natalie Warriner, Cllr Jane Wilford and Cllr Snowy Windress.
Against: Cllr Steve Arnold, Cllr Val Arnold, Cllr Brian Cottam, Cllr Linda Cowling, Cllr David Cussons, Cllr Edward Legard, Cllr Robert Wainwright.
Abstained: Cllr John Raper.
? What do you think of the scheme and costs? Email: andrew.pitt@yrnltd.co.uk
