Artists could helpat vennels

A councillor has proposed that local artists and Perth students could help with improvements to vennels surrounding the Perth City Hall redevelopment.

The suggestion comes as councillors were divided on plans to funnel over £1 million of funds from lighting and vennel strategies into the budget for the Perth City Hall’s £21.5m redevelopment project.

A debate was held on Wednesday when, within the city centre projects programme, it was proposed to combine the total Perth city vennels budget of £550,000 and a proportion (£500,000) of the Perth and Kinross lighting strategy budget with the city hall redevelopment project.

Concerns were brought forward by councillors Xander McDade and Dave Doogan and an amendment was proposed to keep the budgets separate, with a suggestion it may lead to unnecessary extra spending and might see funding reduced for work to the immediate area around the hall.

Cllr McDade then proposed to bring in students and local artists to help,in order to save money.

Cllr Doogan said he was “disappointed” and “unmoved” with officers answers to their queries and asked to leave the vennel, city light budget and the city hall budget as they are.

Cllr McDade seconded Doogan’s appeal to reject the merging of funds saying the public deserve to give “absolute scrutiny” for the merger of large funds.

Councillors went to a vote, with six in favour to amend and eight in favour to move forward with the proposal.

As a result of the proposed movements the total budget is now around £23m.

Fiona Robertson, head of culture and community services, argued: “There are three vennels in particular – Kirkgate, Fleshers and one other – that will be resurfaced and improved.

“It just makes sense to be made as a single project to make sure everything is finish on time and in the right way.”

She did however suggest there may be an open call to artists in the future to help improve the aesthetics.