Perth City Hall will be transformed into a new visual arts centre under plans approved by councillors.

Council leader Ian Miller's formal request for the Stone of Destiny to be brought to Perth has also been backed.

Mr Miller is proposing to bring the stone back to the city from Edinburgh as part of an £20m investment in cultural infrastructure.

The decision taken by Perth and Kinross councillors on Wednesday also ended lease negotiations on the hall, which has been vacant since 2005.

An amendment was put forward to defer until October but this was defeated and councillors approved the city hall as the new visual arts centre by 29 to ten.

Mr Miller said: "The future of Perth City Hall has been hotly debated over the years but I believe that it has the potential to become a valuable asset to the city as the preferred location for developing a new cultural attraction of national significance in Perth.

"Throughout our discussions about Perth City Hall, the council has remained consistent in our aim to secure a viable future for the site which would maximise the economic return for the city and the wider area.

"I believe that transforming the city hall to develop a major visual arts attraction will do exactly that.

"Redeveloping the city hall will also provide us with a potential venue to offer the Stone of Destiny in the very heart of the city.

"This proposal could be a real game changer for the city of Perth."

Mr Miller added: "Over the years we have had many proposals for how Perth City Hall could be used but they have all failed to materialise.

"I believe that this is a realistic and exciting option which sees this important city centre location retained in public use and ownership and developed in a way which will vastly increase its attractiveness to tourists locally and from overseas."