A group of north-east councillors have agreed to continue holding their meetings away from historic meeting chambers.
However, the decision not to use Fraserburgh’s Saltoun Square chambers split the Banff and Buchan area committee at a meeting this week.
Members agreed to a six-month trial relocation after the old meeting room was deemed unfit following an exceptionally busy meeting after Christmas.
Councillors eventually approved a programme of works to overhaul the building.
The committee was asked again whether or not it wanted to move back or stay at its new, make-shift, home at the town’s new leisure centre until the works are done.
It was revealed by Fraserburgh councillor Brian Topping that it may be next summer before work begins on the revamp.
After a vote the decision was made to stick to the status quo with two members noting their dissent at the decision and another calling it “economic vandalism”.
Fraserburgh and District independent Ian Tait said: I think that it gives totally the wrong impression to the public for us to abandon Saltoun Square.
“We are supposed to be trying to regenerate the town centre and members of the public attending our meetings could have spent money in shops.
“Instead we are on the outskirts of town with nothing around us.”
While his ward colleague, Charles Buchan, added: “As nice as the new leisure centre is, it has none of the character of the chamber.
“In my mind us moving out here amounts to an act of economic vandalism.”
After the Christmas recess the meeting agenda was particularly full with many members of the public attending the meeting.
The building was deemed not fit for purpose with only one toilet in the building and members of the public having to sit on the floor.
Troup councillor, Hamish Partridge, said he preferred the more modern setting of the leisure centre.
He said: “In this new facility everyone can hear us and with the exception of the press we don’t have our backs to anyone.
“We need to be an inclusive committee and the old chamber is just far too oppressive for that.”