COUNCILLORS are to spend £500,000 to improve their debating chamber – at a time when they are cutting services to save millions of pounds.
New air conditioning and fire alarm systems are to be installed at County Hall, West Bridgford, along with new lighting and ceilings.
The chamber will also be made more accessible for members with disabilities.
Nottinghamshire County Council's 67 councillors meet in the chamber eight times a year. The room also hosts committee meetings.
Critics have reacted angrily, claiming the money would be better spent on delivering vital services like respite care, bus links and youth clubs for local people.
Cuts in Government funding have reduced council budgets significantly in recent years. The county council is taking £83 million out of this year's budget, resulting in 800 job losses.
The council says the refurbishment of the chamber is part of a £10 million project to make better use of office space which was agreed in 2010, before Government funding for local authorities fell significantly. It says the chamber has not had an upgrade since it was first opened in the 1940s.
However, campaigners have called for the work to be put on hold so that the cash can be spent on services for local people instead.
Amanda Giles, of Beeston, is leading a drive to keep open a respite centre for adults with learning difficulties.
Her son Luke, 23, attends the Kingsbridge Way centre, in Chilwell, which is due to close next September as part of a shake-up of respite services that will save £500,000 each year.
Ms Giles said: "Before any work is done on that council chamber, the politicians should come here and see how the money could be better spent.
"I'm flabbergasted. When you look at what's being closed down, there's no way this should be going ahead. It's like they live on another planet."
Bus services have also been cut, saving £1.8 million a year.
Stuart Yateley, 69, of College Street, East Bridgford, is concerned about the loss of late-night and Sunday buses on the 141 route. He said: "The last bus goes at just after 6pm. It used to be four hours later but the council said they couldn't afford it any more.
"If they have money for the chamber, they have money for the buses. And which of these is used more?"
Other services lost as part of the recent round of budget cuts include a £2.1 million safety net for those who need financial help, closing recycling centres at Langar and Fiskterton and cutting youth centres.
The authority also decided in February to increase council tax by almost two per cent, taking the county council share of the bill to £1,216 for a band D property.
Kay Cutts, leader of the Conservative group, said: "This is the council that pleaded poverty, said there was no choice but to put up council tax and close children's centres and day care centres and now these plans have come forward."
It was under Mrs Cutts' leadership that the move was originally approved in 2010, with the original allocation for £319,000.
However, investigations have found that a large amount of asbestos needs removing and improvements to disabled access include levelling the floor of the council chamber.
A council spokesman said: "The scheme has the full support of the county council's disabled workers' group.
"All councils have a duty to promote equality and the proposed work supports that legal duty."
