A £232,000 programme of refurbishments to a council building is set to go ahead.

Ryedale District Council says it hopes the work, which includes a £132,000 refurbishment of the council chamber, and £100,000 of work on the reception area and entrance, will be finished by the end of May this year.

Paul Cresswell, the council’s corporate director, said yesterday (Tuesday) that the council is currently assessing its options, following the decision to approve the spending plans at a meeting of full council.

He revealed that the improvements will include new air outlet grills, replacement of the existing wood panelling and fabric wall coverings with painted walls and putting in a plasterboard ceiling.

The electrical circuits will all be checked, and the lighting replaced with an “energy efficient lighting installation”.

The chairs will be replaced because they are not fire resistant, and the tables will also be replaced, as the council says they are too heavy for one person to lift, and so lighter tables will reduce staffing costs.

The refurbishments will not include motorised blinds, or a new audio system, which were considered too expensive.

At the meeting of full council, Coun Robert Wainwright spoke in favour of a new audio visual system, but other councillors condemned the cost of the works.

Coun Wainwright said: “If we had a new audio visual system, the world out there would be able to see what actually does happen in council meetings.

“We would be able to hear each other better and it would help member services to write their minutes.”

Coun Keith Knaggs said: “Because of the current economic situation, we have to consider carefully what is desirable and what is essential.

“The current sound system will have to be replaced fairly soon, but not at the moment.”

Coun John Clark said he thought it was incredible that the council was considering spending so much money on furnishings.

Coun Lindsay Burr said: “I am proactive as a businesswomen and I do not agree with standing still, but I do object to spending such a huge amount of money on the refurbishments.

“We need to consider lower prices, and not doing the refurbishments at this particular time.”

The new budget for the council chamber was approved, with 25 councillors voting in favour, three against, and one abstaining.