PLANS for a revamp of Kent County Council’s chamber could cost the taxpayer more than £60,000, the Kent Messenger Group can reveal.

County councillors will be asked this week to back a make-over to equip the council chamber at Maidstone’s Sessions House with state-of-the-art technology, including high-tech retractable display screens.

KCC insists the investment will help its efforts to get more people interested in council meetings, at the same time as replacing out-of-date audio and computer equipment installed 20 years ago.

Council leader Paul Carter said: “We have got to go about our business in a professional way. We are running a big business here and we need appropriate facilities.”

A report states: “This is part of a process of modernising the authority and bringing the democratic process nearer to the public.”

The council’s shopping list includes two 50in plasma screens KCC says will allow councillors and those watching council meetings via the internet to view reports and presentations.

The screens, together with two new clocks, will cost an estimated £7,195.

However, the most costly element will be the estimated £27,000 the council wants to spend on three retractable screens and projectors, allowing county councillors to see the wording of amendments and motions they are debating. The screens would also be used to show presentations by guest speakers.

A further £8,831 will be allocated to equipping the council chamber with a video conferencing facility.

A report presented to the council’s cross-party selection committee states: “It [the modernisation] needs to be seen in the context of the Local Government White Paper, the drive to create more visible and effective leadership, to enhance democratic legitimacy, improve public access and engage citizens.”