by Alan Watkins

awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

Council chiefs have agreed in principle to set aside £800,000 to demolish their former Strood HQ.
The figure is double the estimate agreed in March and includes the costs of moving works of art, including one showing the Charge of the Light Brigade, to its new base at Gun Wharf.
The decision appears to spell doom for the red-brick offices fronting the riverside originally built for Aveling and Porter, the steamroller firm which once occupied the site.
The council is raiding last year’s under-spending to pay for the work.
Medway Council’s finance chief Cllr Alan Jarrett told Cabinet colleagues that it had become quite clear £400,000 would be insufficient to complete the work.
He is to ask the full council later this month to double that budget to pay for the complete clearance and save some of the treasures inside.
The council’s spin doctors meanwhile are to be given the task of ensuring the public are happy with the demolition of the former Aveling and Porter headquarters building.
It became the Civic Centre after the steamroller giant’s owners Winget quit the Medway Towns.
Cllr Tom Mason, portfolio holder for adult services, said: “I want to make a plea we have a considerable PR exercise regarding the demolition of this building because there is a great deal of affinity to it, and people who think it should be preserved.
“Unfortunately, it was not listed by the authorities, so I would like to think we tell the public what is happening to improve the economy of Strood.
“I hope our PR exercises will be first class.”
Cllr Jarrett replied: “That’s common sense.”
It appears £2.4 million will be underspent when the final accounts are published, the meeting heard.
While more than half will be banked, £980,000 is going to be spent on projects that have been waiting for cash.
These include a council website, a kitchen extension at the St George’s Centre and spending to create Medway’s three new academies.