Council plans to splash £3.1m on furnishing its new headquarters have been called in for scrutiny.

Twenty opposition councillors have objected to the plans, which will see Bernard Weatherill House kitted out with bespoke new furniture, fixtures and fittings instead of old equipment being moved from its current location next door.

The new furniture would cost more than £1m more than the price of recycling pieces currently used at Taberner House.

The council said it would cost £2.1m to dismantle and reassemble the old items and that many were reaching the end of their shelf life.

It said purchasing new furniture, which was approved by the Corporate Services Committee on March 27, would be better value for money. 

But the plans will now go before the Scrutiny and Strategic Overview Committee after being questioned to Labour councillors.

A document submitted by Councillor Sean Fitzsimons demanded "more transparency on how decisions are made to justify why expenditure is being cut to vital services, to defer where possible any unnecessary expenditure [and] to make sure council are not gold plating facilities for staff, especially for senior managers and executive team."

He added the new furniture contradicted the council's recycling policy and said there was insufficient evidence of value for money.

Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the Labour group, said at least some of Taberner House's furniture should be reused.

He said: "At a time when libraries are being sold off, youth clubs are being closed and vital services are continuing to be threatened this does look like an appalling waste of money.

“With the council offices only being 30 metres apart I would have thought some of the existing furniture would be used. There has got to be a cheaper way of doing it.”

The council insisted it had budgeted for new fixtures, fittings and equipment to replace those that had reached the end of their useful lives.

A spokesman said: "[Bernard Weatherill House] will generate substantial savings over the next 20 years through reduced property operating costs and ending leases on other buildings, as well as saving an estimated £60m in the projected cost of bringing Taberner House up to modern standards. “

“The council has budgeted for new stock as part of its capital expenditure because existing fixtures, fittings and equipment will have outlived their useful life and would have needed replacing regardless of the move to Bernard Weatherhill House."

The Scrutiny and Strategic Overview Committee will decide whether to review the plans on Tuesday.

The council will move into its new headquarters in the autumn.