The Victorian council chamber in Birmingham Council House could become a money-spinning conference venue.
A £130,000 modernisation of the room where Joseph Chamberlain once led debates will allow the local authority to offer the facilities to companies and organisations.
The refit, which will involve the provision of a new sound system and plasma screens for interactive displays, should allow the chamber to be promoted as a first class conference facility, a council committee heard.
The council business management committee, which decided to press ahead with a business plan for the refurbishment, was told the existing hire charge for the chamber is £107. However, with the addition of modern communications facilities, charges could be increased.
Coun Mick Wilkes (Lib Dem Hall Green) said: "I certainly welcome this and would be inclined to go for the more advanced facilities. The better facilities we have the more attractive the chamber becomes."
Coun Len Gregory (Con Billesley), deputy leader of the Conservative group, said: "It is a wonderful debating arena
"We need to enhance it in a sympathetic way."
