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Councillors given free pick of Taberner’s unwanted furniture

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‘Ere, Rodney. Fancy a new tear-shaped sofa for Nelson Mandela House?

Everybody out: the council’s started to get rid of its office furniture as it prepares for its big move

The spectre of Del Boy stalks Croydon Council every day.

After forking out £3 million on furnishings for its new offices because its existing chairs and desks just would not do for Mike Fisher’s £140 million vanity project, now the council is looking to give away its Taberner House office equipment.

A decision has been taken that the cost of generating what pitiful amounts they might get for the second-hand council furniture eliminates a car boot sale as a possibility. So, you’d think that local charities, community groups, schools or care homes might be given first dibs in this disposal.

You’d think wrong, as the Town Hall’s 70 councillors – annual allowances of at least £11,000 – get first pick.

This email was sent yesterday afternoon from someone called Amanda Riggall, the head of facilities in what is called the “facilities management team”:

“Dear Councillors,

“Some furniture will be in need of a new home when the majority of council services move to Croydon’s new, purpose-built public access and administration building, Bernard Weatherill House, later this year.

“Taberner House is the largest of a number of premises that will be vacated as part of the move, and we want to make sure that all the furniture from the building is reused if it is in a good enough condition or, if it cannot be reused, that it is recycled.

“We have already received some Councillor requests, which we have captured, however, for thoroughness we now attach a full inventory detailing the furniture, which will be available from mid-September. If you are interested in anything listed on it, please email us at furniture.reuse@croydon.gov.uk by Friday 16th August and let us know the following…”

The email then goes on to outline how councillors should itemise what equipment they may want to acquire for their private businesses and offices. The equipment is unguaranteed, has to be collected, and can only be used within the borough of Croydon (though how they intend to “police” that odd condition isn’t explained).

If you want to take a look at the inventory of “old” furniture, click on the link below to download the council’s Excel file.

TABERNER HSE FURNITURE INV EXT

Clearly, none of that could possibly have been re-used in the new council offices.

If you think you could make good use of any of it, then why not log a request via furniture.reuse@croydon.gov.uk – making sure that you let Inside Croydon know how you get along.

Cushty.

 


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