A TOWN council is set to spend almost £600,000 updating its buildings including community centres and sports facilities.

Spennymoor Town Council has approved a three-year programme of works to keep 12 buildings in a good state and so it can budget long-term for repairs and maintenance.

Independent councillors agree a plan is needed but have criticised the way the ruling Labour party approved the project and its funding.

They fear the scheme does not offer the best value for money, particularly given that around £150,000 is likely to be paid to a project manager, and say discussions about it have not been transparent.

Councillor Kevin Thompson said he and other independent members have called for the council to draw up an asset management plan for years.

He said: “We are not against reasonable action to bring our assets to a safe and decent condition.

“It needed doing so the council can do work without being rushed, an internal audit also said we needed it.

“However some of the discussions have not been in the open and we still need clarification on some of the costs, we’re unsure it is good value.”

More than half of the money - £381,813.34 - will go on Spennymoor Town Hall and £52,580 will be spent on the works depot at Jubilee Park.

Community centres at Kirk Merrington, Byers Green, Tudhoe and Middlestone Moor will undergo works, along with the bowls pavilion at Jubilee Park, Spennymoor and Tudhoe cricket clubs, changing facilities at Byers Green and High Whitworth and Kirk Merrington School.

To cover the estimated £589,178.34 cost of the scheme the authority plans to get a £400,000 loan from the Public Works Loan Board.

The remaining funds would be taken from its reserves.

The council has successfully paid off a previous £200,000 loan to alter the town hall offices and toilets to meet accessibility laws and is on target to repay a £300,000 loan for work on the roof.

It says it can afford to repay the loan over ten years.

Councillor Thompson said: “Just because you think you can afford it doesn’t mean it is value for money.

“If you get value you can improve services in other areas.”

Cllr Thompson believes council staff could carry out some of the works to reduce the cost and called for more discussions to be held in public.

He said: “If we get transparency we get public engagement, if we get public engagement we get a better council.”