Stirling University has defended a decision to spend almost £150,000 sprucing up its principal’s on-campus house.
The category A listed residence was refurbished at a cost of £93,000, with a further £45,000 spent on landscaping the garden.
The upgrade of 1 Airthrey Castle Yard was ordered in May 2010, the same month that Gerry McCormac became principal.
Work included £22,070 for the supply of kitchen materials, £12,162 on repairs to wardrobe fitments and underfloor insulation, and £2,393 on tiles and bathroom products.
Lighting improvements cost the university £1,542 and £6,789 was spent on floor coverings.
A further £19,420 was allocated for an entrance ramp and £6,396 for the installation of new alarm and fire systems.
Green Party councillor for the university campus Mark Ruskell called on the institution to explain the spending.
“The university needs to provide strong justification for major spending decisions like this, especially when staff are still sore from the experience of job losses,” he said.
University employees staged a strike in 2011 over plans to make 17 members of staff compulsorily redundant.
Mary Senior of the University and College Union, who represents some staff, also criticised the outlay.
She said: “Spending over £150,000 on the principal’s residence after Stirling University was arguing for savings by making staff redundant is shameful.
“This is another example of the failure of the governance at the university in agreeing such a spend, while at the same time union plans to save money were not given a proper hearing.”
A university spokesman said the principal’s contract states that he must live at the house, which was built in 1969.
“Other than routine maintenance, this was the first major refurbishment of the house after a number of years of minimal expenditure,” he added.