Council bosses have been unable to rule out further increases in the cost of the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Aberdeen’s art gallery.
The project was initially priced at £30 million, with £10 million apiece due to be raised from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the city council and through a public donations drive.
However, that drive has netted just under £4 million and a gross budget has been set at £34.6 million.
The work has also suffered a number of delays, though art treasures are now being put back into the Schoolhill gallery and it is due to re-open to the public after the summer.
But there is now a dispute ongoing between the council and contractors with a final bill still to be settled.
A report to yesterday’s capital committee meeting read: “Informal meetings are being held with the contractor to agree a final figure which will incorporate a review of their supporting information.
“Officers from legal services are monitoring matters in order to protect the council’s position.
“Officers have access to expert legal advice from construction law specialist lawyers should that be required.”
Opposition SNP group leader Stephen Flynn asked officers if they could guarantee the £34.6 million bill wouldn’t rise further.
Council finance boss Steve Whyte said that “as with any capital projects” the final cost would be subject to negotiation and that the costs included “a number of work packages”, including the fit-out.
