A council leader has been slammed for snapping up a posh coffee machine and brown leather suite for his new office.
The decorating war has broken out in the corridors of power at South Ayrshire Council this week.
Furious SNP members claim newly installed Tory powerbrokers have lavished money on their work spaces amidst a cost of living crisis.
The DIY dust-up has seen a summer spend of £31,000 on 15 offices within County Buildings in Ayr.
Now the opposition party has hit out at council leader Martin Dowey, claiming that constituents are having to choose between ‘heating and eating’.
SNP rivals have also raised the alarm after a Tassimo coffee machine was installed in councillor Dowey's new pad.
But the Tory council chief has strongly defended allegations that thousands have been spent on new furnishings at the council’s HQ - insisting they were taken from the County Building's basement.
And in swift defence of the brand new electronic barista, he has told how he wanted to offer members of the public a hot beverage when he invited them in for important face-to-face meetings.
SNP Ayr East Councillor, Chris Cullen, snooped on the new leader's hub - which he claims has been completely transformed since the elections in May.
Councillor Cullen claims the leader’s office has had new wooden panelling installed to replace wallpaper.
The Ayr East Councillor told Ayrshire Live : “Constituents are choosing between heating and eating and the Tory Leader is choosing soft furnishings and luxuries.
“At the beginning of the previous administration there was only painting done as the carpets were replaced previously.”
Councillor Cullen also claims the Provost is also enjoying luxurious working conditions with a new “brown leather suite". But council chiefs rubbished this claim.
But Councillor Dowey hit back, saying: “Fifteen offices received a £31k makeover of new carpets, painted walls etc. There is a £40k budget per annum for the political corridor.
“This money has not been spent in over four years.
"It is normal to do any works to offices during summer recess and all offices were walked by a service lead and assistant director who agreed what works would be given the go ahead or not.”
On defending the Tassimo coffee purchase, Cllr Dowey added: “In terms of the coffee machine, everyone will tell you that I drink tea. I got the coffee machine for important meetings.
“There is no cafeteria here. I wanted to add that nice touch. The coffee machine cost £90."
A council spokesperson confirmed that £31,000 had been spent on offices.
They added: “We can confirm £31,000 has been spent to refurbish 15 offices over the summer.
"Over the last four years, £3.1m has been spent to refurbish County Buildings, including roofing repairs; re-surfacing of outdoor courtyard area; toilet upgrades; security door upgrades; canteen upgrades; electrical upgrades; window replacement; boiler replacement and office modernisation.”
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