Aberdeen council bosses are still settling the final bill with contractors for the multi-million-pound city art gallery renovation.
The massive, four-year renovation of the A-listed, Schoolhill building and interiors has a set budget of £34.6million.
But negotiations are continuing between the local authority and contractors behind the scheme meaning that the final costs are not yet known.
At yesterday’s quarterly accounts meeting, opposition SNP group leader Stephen Flynn asked if talks were still ongoing with the firms.
He added: “Can officers provide a cast-iron assurance that (the £34.6million) is the final cost?”
Art gallery revamp will ‘make Aberdonians fall in love with city once more’
However he was told by officers that the sum was the “approved budget” for the work and that these negotiations were common in “all projects”.
Finance officer Steve White said: “There are still conversations taking place between the council and the main contractor.
“This is to see if we can arrange the final settlement of the account.”
The final bill has been queried many times in recent years and the funding formula used for the refurbishment has proved controversial.
The Heritage Lottery fund put in £10million, £10million was to be raised from a public fundraising drive and the city council is funding the rest – but there are still millions of pounds to be raised from the public donations.
However, council leaders have predicted the renovated art gallery will provide the city with a major tourist draw while also improving the cultural output of Aberdeen.
