Political row over office work

A war of words has broken over the“extravagant refurbishment”of North Lanarkshire Council offices.

Around £300,000 of taxpayers’money was spent to modernise offices on the fourth and fifth floor of the building.

This revelation comes after Conservative Group leader Meghan Gallacher questioned the infrastructure department on the total cost.

Thetory leader claims the debate surrounding new councillor offices created tension amongst political groups during an office refurbishment working group, as the SNP Group“demanded” that they have new office facilities.

Councillor Gallacher said:“this is an absolute disgrace. North Lanarkshire Council is currently facing a £20m deficit next year, yet here we are talking about the extravagant cost of refurbishing councillor offices.

“As per usual, the SNP found grievance, this time with their former office space.

“Despite being offered cost-effective changes, they decided to throw a tantrum and demanded that they were given a new office space.

“Regretfully, their demands were met by the council which caused huge upheaval to all other political groups.

“I will be the first to admit that our offices were not in great condition but for the length of time a councillor spends in the Civic, it sufficed.”

The SNP hit back at the Tories accusing them of “faux outrage”.

In a statement, the Nationalists said: “Spurious press releases like this from Councillor Gallacher are simply an attempt to distract from the fact that they have nothing to say about the devastating impact of Universal Credit on the people of North Lanarkshire – a policy that has seen thousands fall into rent arrears with the cost to the council already standing at over £1 million in a matter of months.the elephant in the room is not the refurbishment of the Civic Centre - a decision taken not by the SNP, or any other political group for that matter – but Meghan Gallacher’s need for public exposure, peddling faux rage and complaints to deflect from the reality that her party is plunging the most vulnerable into abject poverty.”

“If Councillor Gallacher has such major concern, she could have refused her spacious personal office.”

A council spokesperson said the renovation work was necessary.