SENIOR city councillors were today accused of a "lack of involvement" in the delayed £20 million Usher Hall revamp.

At a meeting yesterday, the council's director of corporate services, Jim Inch, revealed that he authorised the initial decision to spend £864,000 on urgent works to get the venue tempor-arily open for performances this August, rather than councillors.

The Usher Hall will reopen only for the Festival before closing again until next year. Delays have been caused by various problems with the building's structure.

The Labour group's culture spokesman, Paul Godzik, said: "I recognise this was the right decision, but when nearly £1m is spent, then there should be some sort of a political knowledge. There are fundamental questions over leadership and democratic accountability."

But culture leader Deidre Brock countered: "I am updated regularly on progress."

She added: "This really should not be a political issue and I'm disappointed that Councillor Godzik is trying to make it one."

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