CITY of Perth chief executive Martin Mileham has defended spending more than $870,000 on Council House refurbishments when challenged by Councillor Reece Harley.
Councillors this week voted on paying Metrowest Construction $874,364 to reconfigure the ground floor and customer service centre, but not before Cr Harley questioned the move.
“I am not comfortable supporting this item; I think we can make do with the furniture we have so I am not convinced this is a necessary expenditure,” he said.
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READ NOWMr Mileham explained the works that would be done, adding the size of the concierge desk was “inadequate”.
He said the cost was “reasonable” compared to a former, costlier plan he scrapped.
“When I started there was a plan for a $1 million per floor refurbishment which would have equalled $10 million; $800,000 compared to a multi million dollar plan which was halted by my administration, is reasonable.
“I think we have been respectful of he ratepayers’ money.”
The expenditure was passed.
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