Up to £750,000 of public money may have to be spent on finishing the renovation of The Dome, Brighton.

The Dome and Museum restoration scheme, which has cost £35 million over three years, is over budget.

Brighton and Hove City Council's policy committee met in private to discuss the project.

But The Argus has learnt members agreed to allocate up to three-quarters of a million pounds to help pay developer's bills.

The cash will be released in stages and it is hoped the majority of the funds will be paid back.

Devco, made up of the Brighton Festival Society and the city council, was set up to run the scheme and it hired contractors Skanska to carry out the work. Nick Dodds, secretary of Devco, said today he was unable to disclose specifically what the money will be spent on other than that it will pay for bricks and mortar costs of the project.

He said: "It is a complicated project. It is converting a 200-year-old-building. The great thing is the place is finished and we are now negotiating with various contractors."

He said the Dome is not under threat of closure.

He said: "This is about refurbishing the Dome. It is nothing to do with the running of the Dome and the operation of the Dome. The Dome will not close."

Councillors heard Devco would be at risk of trading insolvently if the money was not made available.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Paul Elgood, said: "I am disappointed this project has come back to the council for more money and we are not supporting it."

Tory Opposition leader, Brian Oxley, said: "We need to get a real handle on the project management side of this in order that the project can be brought to a successful conclusion and so we do not have recurring crises."

Council leader Ken Bodfish said almost all large projects ended up costing more than had been estimated.