The cost of recruiting an out-of-town member to an Invercargill City Council committee has ballooned to almost double what was previously reported.

The council said last month it spent $12,268 landing Nelson-based Lee Babe for an independent member role on its water committee, noting that figure was to the end of February.

It has since revealed the final amount was $23,658.

The council did not comment further on the higher figure and said the previous comment of its governance and legal manager Michael Morris still stood.

Mr Morris said recruitment agencies were used when roles were ‘‘very specialised’’ and the costs in this situation were not out of the ordinary.

He also noted the price tag included advertising for the role.

The committee had previously discussed changing its regular 9am start time to later in the morning so Mr Babe could complete a same-day round trip.

On May 5, he attended his first meeting in person at the regular 9am start time.

The Nelson-based chartered director also holds…