Perth and Kinross Council’s return to its headquarters following a controversial £10 million makeover has been branded “shambolic” by some of the city’s longest-serving councillors.
Though staff moved back into the 2 High Street in mid-October, it is considered “unfinished” and “unfit for purpose” by senior council figures.
They say staff are working in the midst of a building site and have been stripped of their dignity because of toilets that do not yet have doors.
Many are working at their desks in freezing temperatures as contractors have yet to solve major heating issues.
Councillors Alexander Stewart and Willie Wilson believe the building will be impressive once finished but agree staff should not be working there while it remains so far from completion.
Mr Stewart said questions needed to be asked, while Mr Wilson said the situation was unfair on staff – and on contractors whose job has been complicated by the return of the council workforce.
Perth and Kinross Council conceded there remains much work to be done and a spokeswoman admitted delaying entry to the building “would have incurred additional cost to the council”.
Nonetheless, she described the transfer of staff back into the HQ as “efficient” and said the response from staff had been “positive”.
Councillor Wilson dismissed the claim, saying: “There are issues all over the place and it is obvious the building is nowhere near completion.
“We went in far too early. I would go so far as to call it shambolic.
“It has not been fair on council staff or on the contractors.
“The building is still crawling with workmen, all in high-vis vests and hard hats and they have had a nightmare trying to work around us.
“It makes you question the safety of our daily working situation.
“There are major problems with heating. Some rooms are freezing and some are boiling and it is different every day, some doors are faulty and there are cables trailing everywhere.
“After more than six weeks these things are still an issue. It goes way beyond “snagging”.
His views were echoed by Councillor Alexander Stewart, who said: “I have been in on three occasions since 2 High Street reopened to staff and on the first day there were not even doors on the toilets, yet people were expected to be working.
“It was practically still a building site in some locations and weeks on it is still clearly far from being ready.
“Millions of pounds have been spent modernising this building and I am sure it will be fantastic for staff, but at present it is not fit for purpose.”
The first meeting in the new council chambers will take place in December.
mmackay@thecourier.co.uk