Aberdeen city councillors have confirmed a £3m capital grant for the Peacock Visual Arts scheme to build a new contemporary arts centre in the heart of the city.

Resources management committee members voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting the money for the proposed Union Terrace Gardens project - but with strict conditions attached.

The committee agreed that the £3m grant would be capped at that level and that no more money would be awarded by the council for the £13.5m scheme.

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Members also agreed that no bridging finance would be awarded to Peacock. And councillors emphasised that the city council will not underwrite the £4.5m that Peacock needs to raise for the scheme by their own fundraising efforts.

Administration Lib-Dem and SNP members were joined by Labour councillors in backing recommendations moved by committee convener, Councillor Kevin Stewart. The committee's sole Conservative member moved an amendment but failed to find a seconder.

Councillor Stewart said: "The committee agreed to grant Peacock capital funding for its scheme. But PVA must be in no doubt that the £3m is all that we are prepared to grant. For bridge funding or underwriting of their own fundraising efforts, they will have to look elsewhere. The committee was quite clear on that."

(GK/JM)