Council HQ's first meeting 'in chaos before it even happens'

BUT COMPLAINTS ARE 'SILLINESS FROM A GROUP OF SILLY PEOPLE' SAYS TOP TORY

- OLIVER PRIDMORE

THE first meeting at Nottingham- shire County Council's new HQ has “descended into chaos” before it even happens.

Councillors have been told that there will be no drinking water from taps and that they will have to attend mandatory health and safety brief- ings before tomorrow's meeting.

On-site catering at the £19 million Oak House building, near Hucknall, is not ready either and buffet meals are being provided for councillors at £12.50 a head, which cannot be claimed on expenses.

Councillors can usually get a hot meal at their current headquarters if they opt to pay, although a “tuck shop” will be available at Oak House and councillors are free to take their own lunch.

Everyone inside the building will have to be out by 6pm at the very lat- est, raising constitutional questions if the meeting runs over time.

The Conservatives are being accused of making a political deci- sion to hold the meeting at the new building before May's local elec- tions.

Oak House has been delivered under the current Conservative administration, with leaders arguing that staying in the authority's his- toric County Hall at West Bridgford would have been too expensive.