The cost of a controversial council chambers revamp has soared again.
Temperatures rose as it emerged a sophisticated new heating system could see the price of relocating Perth and Kinross Council meeting rooms spiral towards the £1 million mark.
The local authority was criticised last year for using a £850,000 loan to have the top floor rooms of its High Street headquarters moved to ground level.
A breakdown of the costs later revealed nearly £150,000 would be spent on new furniture, while nearly £180,000 would be spent on new walls, floors and ceilings.
Now it has emerged that extra heating controls will bump up the total cost by a further £90,000.
The figure was revealed at a meeting of the strategic policy and resources committee during a debate on the council’s capital and housing budget.
Conservative councillor Alexander Stewart, a critic of the relocation plan, said: “This really does add insult to injury.
“This new cost was buried in part of a much wider report, as if there’s been an attempt to keep it hidden.”
Councillor Stewart said the heating plan should have been identified when councillors were originally asked to approved the initial £850,000 budget.
“I would have presumed these heating controls would have been taken into account at the time,” he said.
“This comes on the eve of our budget meeting, at a time when the council is looking to make savings. They cannot be making cuts while spending this kind of money on projects like this.”
The committee was told the £90,000 system would provide sophisticated temperature control, which could be operated remotely, and would lead to a reduction in energy bills.
Council leader Ian Miller, who chaired yesterday’s meeting, did not comment on the heating arrangement.
He previously accused Conservative critics of “political posturing” and said they had been enthusiastic supporters of the High Street revamp days before the vote.
The relocation plan is part of a £10 million restoration of the building which began early last year.
Staff have moved to temporary accommodation at the Atrium on Glover Street, with meetings held at the Dewar’s Centre. The work is expected to be completed by Christmas.