Sutton Council is under pressure to justify spending more than £170,000 of tax payers money on refurbishing a meeting room.

At a Strategy and Resources meeting last month, councillors approved a budget of £171,000 for the refurbishment of meeting room 1 in the civic offices.

The council would not be drawn on the exact breakdown of what the budget will be spent on, but money has been earmarked for a new carpet, to remove asbestos, and to address ventilation problems.

Robert Oxley, campaign manager for the TaxPayers Alliance, said: "Given the price tag, residents will be forgiven for wondering if the room has solid gold fittings. The council must be transparent over how it spends money so local taxpayers can judge whether they are getting good value out of the expenditure."

Critics have said for £170,000 the council could in theory buy a three bedroom split level maisonette with a balcony, equipped with separate family bathroom and shower room in Hulverstone Close, near Belmont.

The council has said following the approval of the budget, jobs will now be offered out to builders to get the "best value" for taxpayers.

The room is used for public meetings and council meetings where on average 20 members of a committee sit around a table to discuss council business, with members of the public often attending.

It is estimated for only £27,160, each member of the committee could be given a versaille gold and marble console, and also a matching versaille gold button back armchair to relax on after a hard day's work.

A gold jewel carpet and gold diamond carpet, comes at only £62.50 per square metre, and so to cover the 147 sq metre room it would cost £9187, and there would still be money left over for a gold plated sign.

Councillor Simon Wales, the council's finance spokesman, said: "The council takes very seriously any investment in improvements to its buildings in the current economic climate."

"Unlike other authorities, we don't have a dedicated council chamber, which costs money to upkeep despite remaining unused for long periods, so it's important that our key meeting rooms are fit for purpose."