Walsall Council plan £550,000 for sprucing up Civic Centre
More than £550,000 is to be spent sprucing up Walsall Civic Centre next year along with £700,000 investment in the Council House and Town Hall.
Civic Centre work will replace windows dating back more than 40 years.
Bosses say it will boost the building's appearance and staff conditions. Critics ask if it is necessary as the council has to save £13million and cut almost 90 jobs over 12 months.
A report says areas are in need of "essential maintenance." Regeneration chief councillor Adrian Andrew said: "It is improving the working conditions.
"The windows are 40 years old. They are not up to standard in terms of the environment and saving money on heating bills. It will have a positive impact and we will try and keep the money as local as possible."
Democratic Labour Party Councillor Pete Smith said: "Unless this work is absolutely urgent and can be demonstrated such a sum of money is necessary it would not be justified in the current climate."
Work is planned for 2013/14 along with the next phase of Council House and Town Hall improvements.
The council wants to revamp those areas with investment worth more than £1 million. Draft budget cuts would shut public toilets and garden waste would go uncollected for five months.
