Councillors after more secure footing

The sad state of 30-year-old floor coverings throughout most of the Masterton District Council building convinced councillors to free up more than $80,000 for new carpet.

Masterton District Council staff will soon have a spring in their step after councillors agreed to free up budgeted money a year early so the council offices can have new carpet.

The sad state of the 30-year-old floor coverings throughout most of the building convinced councillors on Wednesday to bring forward a programme to see new carpet laid, and led to a bit of banter at the council table.

Putting a case for $84,763 allowed in the 2015/16 budget to be freed up, chief executive Pim Borren said the carpet in some areas, especially near the community services manager's office, had become a danger.

He said bringing the work forward was all part of trying to create a more professional image to the public by tidying up what had become a tired building.

Councillor Brent Goodwin light-heartedly said while he favoured replacing the carpet, at times in the past he would have been happy to see some officers tripped up.

That said, councillor Gary Caffell suggested the old, threadbare carpet could be recycled by donating it to the Regent 3 Theatre, the business Mr Goodwin operates.

All councillors favoured bringing the budgeted money forward to allow urgent areas and areas identified as being "nice to do" to be re-carpeted.