Council defends new £100k reception area (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale District Council defends new £100k reception area

1:40pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News

THE £100,000-plus scheme to improve the reception area at Ryedale House, headquarters of the district council, has been slammed by the mayor of Malton .

Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith described the scheme as an “outrageous expense” at last week’s town council meeting.

He said he did not believe it was appropriate to spend such a large sum when Ryedale District Council was having to make spending cuts elsewhere.

But the district authority’s chief executive, Janet Waggott, told the Gazette and Herald later: “I am sorry that the mayor of Malton has had cause to criticise the council. I would have explained what we were doing had I been asked.

“The scheme is an invest to save project. Ryedale District Council is modernising the reception facility to offer a wider range of services which are easier to access at less cost.

“It means that we are able to provide a modern reception facility, discrete areas for customers who require privacy, and are able to use and accommodate new technology for less money.”