Out & About - Civic Pride and all that

I recently attended a meeting at the Council Offices of the neighbouring borough, and was delighted by this artistic topiary in a pretty garden decorating the entrance to the offices. It needs no explanation, an attractive standalone piece symbolising harmonious relationships.

Compare it to this weird sculpture (below) that has pride of place in front of the entrance to my local borough council offices ... what is THAT about? What is it trying to say? It begs the question of who exactly got to choose the sculpture and how. I've yet to meet a local who likes it.