Decision details

The quarterly progress report of the Head of Leisure and Museums was submitted, informing Members of the issues around this major capital project.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting on 17 June 2009 and the support and comments of members were noted.

The Director Community and Environment reported that a visit by the Heritage Lottery Fund had indicated that they were satisfied that the additional works had been both unpredicted and unpredictable.

Whilst Executive members expressed strong concern at the likely additional costs on the scheme and frustration at the difficulties that had been encountered, it was agreed that the prime objective should be to complete the project. Members re-iterated the desirability of having additional independent client support and were disappointed that efforts to recruit to the post had so far been unsuccessful.

The Chief Executive referred to the difficulty of foreseeing problems on a building of this age and nature and the considerable effort officers had made over a long period to progress the scheme and mitigate problems. He urged Councillors to undertake the tour of the Museum arranged for 6pm on 7 July in order to see the problems first hand.

RECOMMENDED that:-

(1)        the additional client resource be deployed on this project;

(2)        the client team continues to take all possible measures to regain control of the project and remove as much risk as possible from the project; and

(3)        an uplift to the budget be approved for the fit out contract of £180,000 of which £90,000 is contingency.

(Report circulated to Members)