Council chiefs have come under fire after a leaked document revealed plans to spend nearly £150,000 on new furniture for their revamped HQ.
A row erupted last month when Perth and Kinross councillors voted to spend almost £1 million shifting meeting rooms from the top floor of their High Street base to the ground level.
The move was approved at a special council meeting, despite strong resistance from Conservative members.
At the talks, several councillors called for a breakdown of the costs to show how the £850,000 was being spent.
Despite assurances from executive director for the environment Jim Valentine that the figure had not been calculated “on the back of a cigarette packet,” the council has refused to release details of the breakdown.
A spokeswoman said it could not give out the figure at this stage of the tender process. However, The Courier has now obtained a copy of the secret paperwork, drawn up by consultants Red Skye.
It estimates the council chambers move will require £146,000 for furniture, fittings and equipment and a further £179,536 for new walls, floors and ceilings.
The list also earmarks £55,000 for “acoustics and manifestations” as well as nearly £85,000 for space heating and air conditioning.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, who earlier called for council leaders to justify the costs, said: “It is little wonder the SNP-run council were so reluctant to let the public see this breakdown.
“Local residents who have got use to hearing local SNP politicians moan on constantly about ‘austerity’ and ‘cuts’ will be astonished that these self-same individuals are now intending to spend £146,000 on new desks and chairs for themselves.
“In addition, the council is planning to spend some £15,000 on new signage and nearly £85,000 on heating and air conditioning. In no one’s world are these priorities for expenditure when money is tight. There is still time for the council to think again and scrap this unnecessary project, before it is too late.”
Council leader Ian Miller previously accused Mr Fraser of a “most desperate piece of political posturing” and said the austerity he mentioned had been brought about by a Conservative party that is “consumed by the desire to punish the poorest in society at the same time as protecting their friends in the banking sector.”
Mr Miller added that the Conservative members had been “enthusiastic supporters” of the revamp just days before the vote.Spending defendedThe controversial £10 million refurbishment of Perth and Kinross Council’s High Street headquarters has been defended by depute provost Bob Band, writes Richard Burdge.
At the annual dinner of the Society of High Constables of the City of Perth, Mr Band said the investment which will include moving the chambers from the fourth floor to the ground floor at a cost of £850,000 showed the
council’s commitment to the city centre as a “key location”.
“Think whatever you want about the proposal to relocate the council chambers although I’d urge you to think about safely trying to access the current chambers with any kind of mobility issue before dismissing it as a ‘vanity project’ the investment in 2 High Street is a key signal of this council’s commitment to our city,” he told the gathering in the Salutation Hotel.
“We could, as many other local authorities have before us, taken the route of selling up our historic buildings and moving to cheaper offices on a business park on the outskirts of the city, but what kind of signal would that send to other investors?
“What kind of message would that send to our city centre shops if we were to permanently remove hundreds of people who visit them every day in their lunch break?”
Mr Band said there is “a great pride in our city, pride in our people, businesses and the area where we live” and there was a danger in talking it down.
“There is a difference between perception and reality often talked about is the dying city centre, the dying off of the traditional High Street,” he said. “I would challenge you to take a good look at our city centre.”
He said the low number of empty retail units is one of, if not the, lowest in Scotland and he said many retailers were investing heavily in their online retail business as consumer/retail practices change.
“Investment is key,” concluded Mr Band, who was deputising for Provost Liz Grant, who was indisposed.
“Notwithstanding the impact of the current, severe financial constraints, these times will pass. To be in a strong position for the future, we must invest in today.”
He cited the recent announcement of the £30 million new retail and residential development in Thimblerow and the current redevelopment of Perth Theatre.