PLANS to upgrade part of the Council leader’s suite of offices in Bradford’s City Hall have been approved.

A listed building application was submitted last year to carry out refurbishment works at a cost of £7,000, which is part of a phased maintenance programme to bring the Grade I listed building up to current safety standards.

The work, which was approved by Bradford Area Planning Panel today, includes removing suspended ceilings and a partition wall, expanding a visitor waiting area, installing a new kitchenette and fitting two new oak-veneered doors with brass ironmongery.

Chairman of the panel, Councillor Doreen Lee said at the meeting that it was “ridiculous” that the improvements had been made out to be a refurbishment when it was simply knocking down a partition wall and removing suspended ceilings.

After hearing a presentation from the planning officer, members quickly moved to the vote and approved the plans by a majority, with one councillor against and one abstaining.

Councillor Mark Shaw (Con, Bingley) voted against the proposals. Speaking after the meeting he said: “I think the Council should be spending more money on key services in the district rather than wasting money on paying for an office to be refurbished in City Hall.”

Conservation officer Jon Ackroyd was consulted on the plans and he found that the stud wall and suspended ceilings were modern additions to the leader’s suite which is housed in part of the original Bradford Town Hall, built in 1873.

In his consultation report, he states that the present ceiling in the meeting room is low and “results in a rather oppressive atmosphere in the room, with very dated lighting.”

“Removal of the stud wall and inserted ceilings will be of benefit to the character of the building and presents opportunity for improved treatment.”

The application said £4.1m had been spent on external improvements to City Hall in the past few years but that the leader’s suite had not yet been refurbished.

The works came in for criticism from the Taxpayers’ Alliance and leaders of other political parties on the Council when they were first submitted.

But only one objection was received, which was on cost grounds.

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, said at the time that it was part of a phased maintenance programme to “bring the building up to current safety standards”.

Stuart McKinnon-Evans, the Council's director for corporate services said: “The planning permission allows us to continue with an on-going programme of maintenance for City Hall.

"Essential re-wiring and re-plastering will deliver more cost effective and efficient use of office accommodation including a reduction in the amount of space currently occupied by Councillors, including the leader.”

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