Suffolk Reform Uk council leader under fire for £18k office refurb

A council leader has been criticised for spending £18,500 on an office refurbishment.

Michael Hadwen, Reform UK leader of Suffolk County Council, had instructed officers to look at options to refurbish the office space at the authority’s Endeavour House headquarters shortly after his election in May.

At the time, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the changes would serve as a ‘mentality change’ and ensure more of his cabinet members worked on-site.

But a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by a member of the public has revealed the estimated cost of the development was just under £18,500.

Matthew Hicks, the council’s previous Tory leader, said the cost “beggars’ belief”.

Figures show the majority of the money will be spent on a new 24.9-square-metre office for the leader, with a price tag of about £15,400.

According to FOI documents, most of the cost of the leader’s new office is around access control, as well as power and data provision, including a card reader, push-to-exit system and desk-side door release button.

A further breakdown showed £1,232 was to be spent on frosted glazing, £844.83 on IT equipment and £424 on a specialist desk chair.

The remaining money will be used to provide the rest of his team with the workspace improvements he set out to deliver back in May.