The decision comes at a time when the council reluctantly agreed to pay £2,303.70, of public money to the Inland Revenue.

The cash is demanded for underpaid tax and national insurance contributions from Rye Town Services when it was running the Heritage Centre.

The council says that RTS also owes it £17,500 in unpaid rent and other costs but conceded there is no possibility in getting the money as RTS has no assets.

Commenting on the new tables, Town Clerk Richard Farhall said: "The tables in the council chamber have been repaired on a number of occasions and it is easy to get splinters from them.

"There is also the health and safety issue of moving heavy tables around.

"It would be nice to have oak tables but they are really expensive.
"After extensive research we have found someone who can supply sectional oak veneer tables at a cost of £1,628 plus VAT."

Councillors seemed to be in favour of auctioning off the existing tables rather than scrapping them.