Calls for system overhaul
With yet another major York Council project falling behind schedule, and hopelessly over budget, there are growing calls for a review of project management processes in the City.
Poppleton Bar Roadworks delays
The latest budget overrun is reported on the A1237 Haxby – Wigginton cycle path. As well as major delays the project will now cost over £1.3 million compared to a budget of £700,000.
A Liberal Democrat spokesman said,
“It is time re-introduce regular project updates to the Councils monitoring committees.
Any significant delay – or cost overrun – of more than 10% must trigger a formal report in future.
We’d also like to see more openness in reporting with regular updates being posted on the Council’s web site”
As well as the cycle path, projects which would be subject to review include:
- Poppleton Bar park and ride site (5 months delay)
- “Grand Departy” (£183,000 over-spend)
- Lowfields care village (3 year delay)
- Community Stadium (2 years behind schedule)
- Guildhall re-occupation (18 months behind schedule)
- Lendal Bridge & Coppergate trials (abortive costs yet to be determined)
The Press are reporting that the Green Council Group Leader has now decided that there are questions about the Lendal Bridge trial which do need to be answered publicly. Despite voting last week against an Inquiry, he is apparently now saying that the Council’s Chief Executive should be asked to account for the mistakes at a “governance” committee meeting.
NB. The Lendal Bridge situation is also likely to be discussed at the Council meeting which is scheduled to be held on 11th December.