Dundee City Council’s policy and resources committee has backed plans to build the new V&A museum for a revised cost of £80.1 million.
The meeting called to seek formal approval of the request to increase by £6.5 million the council’s contribution to the total cost heard chief executive David Martin promise a full review of the project so far, to be conducted by John McClelland.
Councillors were told Mr McClelland’s review will be “independent of council” and he will be given full freedom to examine why the project’s budget has risen so dramatically.
An amendment by Councillor Fraser Macpherson who has been at the forefront of demands for an independent inquiry was withdrawn after he accepted Mr Martin’s assurances that the review will have the power to properly scrutinise the project’s history and advise on its future.
The shock news that the cost of the project has risen from £45 million emerged earlier this month.
The Scottish Government has already reaffirmed its support for the project, and pledged an extra £10 million to help meet the new budget.
See below for updates from inside the City Chambers, and see Tuesday’s Courier for a full report and a look at the man who will lead the review.