Suite plan leaves sour taste

County councillors will authorise work to start on the top floor of their building at a meeting tomorrow.

They will be told permission has been given for certain tendering rules to be dispensed with to ensure a quick start to the work, which will convert a former staff disco and restaurant into an office for 60 people.

At the same time, hundreds of residents in county care homes across Lancashire are living in properties which need £14.5million of repairs -- including new fire alarms, lifts and roofs.

The council will in July decide on controversial plans to close 35 of the homes, paving the way for the others to be refurbished and money ploughed into other OAP services.

Just £200,000 has been allocated for repairs in the care homes this year, against £933,000 for the refurbishment of the dining area into offices and a further £200,000 for converting a disco room.

All three have been paid for out of the council's capital programme of improvements.

County Council leader Hazel Harding said the money was an investment because it would mean the county could provide space for extra staff without having to rent new buildings.

She also pointed out the existing restaurant was costing £160,000 a year and serving just 11 meals a day.

But Lib Dem leader Coun David Whipp, said: "They are making provision for what is in essence a penthouse suite of offices for staff when we have these problems with our care homes.

"So little cash has been put aside for the care homes that they will get worse and worse, making it harder to find alternatives to their closure.

"The restaurant and disco room was redecorated only last year."

Coun Whipp is also calling for the cabinet to look at its own expenditure before trying to shut down the homes.

He said: "The bill for entertaining visitors has doubled in two years to £202,000 and so has the members' transport allowance.