THE £40m plans to refurbish Derby's Council House were backed by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats at last night's council meeting.

The ruling Conservative group said that the Corporation Street building had been seriously neglected in the past and that the investment now was sensible.

Lib Dems agreed a revamp was positive for the city.

But Labour condemned the expenditure at a time when the authority was facing swingeing cuts to its budget.

Councillor Martin Rawson said it was the "wrong time" to present the report.

Referring to the Government's decision to axe investment in new school buildings in Derby, Labour's Martin Repton, said: "How can we stand here in a few years' time with a new roof over our heads when we are denying our children the same thing?"

But Tory councillor Sean Marshall, in charge of finance on the council, said the repair bill for the Council House stood at £14m and so investing now made sense.

"Over the years we have ignored the building and it is in serious disrepair," he said.

The plans, recommended by the cabinet, were approved by Liberal Democrats and Conservative members but voted against by Labour.

Similarly Lib Dem moves to reduce the number of commissions which scrutinise the council's work were voted against by Labour while supported by the Tories.

The changes will remove the climate change commission, set up to oversee the implications of council decisions on the environment.

Lib Dem councillor Mike Carr said this work should instead be taken on by the commission which scrutinises the chief executive's office.

Labour councillor and vice-chairman of the climate commission, Baggy Shanker, said an independent climate watchdog should be kept.

His amendment to the motion, which would have seen the commission retained, was lost, however.

Labour was more successful in getting cross-party agreement for the organisation of a campaign to crack down on dog fouling and more enforcement action.

There was general agreement that efforts should be made in the future to show major sporting fixtures on Derby's Big Screen in the Market Place. It followed the controversial Conservative decision not to show the World Cup because of concerns about policing.

Mr Shanker's motion asking for a guarantee for major football tournaments to be screened was amended by Lib Dem Mike Carr so that it commits to council to look to screen all major sporting events where the policing cost is reasonable.