FINANCIAL auditors could investigate the millions of pounds spent on City of York Council’s headquarters project.

Labour opposition leader David Scott says his party may refer the saga to the District Auditor, if the council’s internal scrutiny committee does not provide adequate answers.

As reported yesterday, the council has abandoned its original plans to build a new, purpose-built office block at Hungate and will instead refurbish and expand an existing block in the city centre.

The council has spent more than £4.8 million planning the Hungate move, including £2 million clearing and assembling land, and £1.6 million on designing and planning the building now scrapped.

Coun Scott said: “It’s about holding those involved to account, preventing more mistakes happening, and minimising the eventual cost to the tax-payers.”

He said Labour would view the findings of the council’s scrutiny committee before deciding whether to refer the matter to the auditor.

The council now plans to move to Yorkshire House in Rougier Street, or the nearby West Offices, meaning the Hungate work and accompanying relocation of the Peasholme Homelessness Centre to Fishergate were unnecessary.

Green councillor Dave Taylor said: “The relocation of the Peasholme Centre has been a fantastic waste of money.” He said land now accumulated at Hungate could be sold in future, possibly for use by a Government department, but he said much of the money had been spent in vain, including that on architects and builders.

RMJM, the architects which designed the building planned for Hungate, declined to comment.

The public will be consulted on the two options for the new HQ over the summer, and a winner will be selected by the end of the year.

The council’s planning chief, Bill Woolley, took control of the headquarters project last summer, after the costly Hungate move fell through, and has been tasked with getting the project back on track. He said both remaining options were exciting possibilities that would meet the council’s needs.