Liberal Democrat-run Bath and North East Somerset Council has come under fire from opposition councillors over recent claims its plans are ‘on-target and on budget’.
The authority’s opposition Conservative Councillors have lambasted the Council’s claim, highlighting the number of expensive major projects which are currently falling significantly behind-schedule.
Some of the projects which Conservatives have highlighted as currently overrunning include:
- The expansion of the Newbridge Park & Ride, which was originally due to be completed a year ago in November 2013, but for which work is still ongoing;
- The Rossiter Road project, which was due to be completed by the end of November, but where work recently ground to a halt for several days and for which there is currently no firm completion date;
- Keynsham town centre, which was originally due to be fully completed by end of summer, but which is still not fully occupied and where work is still on-going.
Altogether these projects add up to nearly £40 million of expenditure, and Conservatives have said they are asking the Council for assurances that these delays will not result in additional cost local taxpayers.
Conservative Shadow Resources Spokesman, Cllr Charles Gerrish, said: “I think residents will find the idea that the Council’s major projects are ‘on target’ frankly laughable.
“The Council is currently experiencing real problems with getting a number of its major projects completed in a timely fashion, not least the Rossiter Road work and Keynsham Town Centre, whilst the Newbridge Park & Ride expansion is now a whole year behind schedule.
“These problems are compounded by the fact the Council normally pauses roadworks from the end of November over the Christmas period.
“Instead of giving themselves a pat on the back, the Lib Dems running B&NES ought to be concentrating on getting these important and expensive projects back on track.”
Meanwhile, Conservatives have welcomed the fact that B&NES is to accept additional Government funding in order to freeze Council Tax for a fifth year in a row, after Conservatives delivered the authority’s first ever Council Tax freeze back in 2011.
Conservative Group Leader Councillor Tim Warren said: “Freezing Council Tax was a key Conservative commitment at the last General Election so we’re pleased to see that B&NES plans to accept the offer of Government funding so that once again residents will see no rise in their Council Tax.
“We also welcome the fact that B&NES is set to benefit from a further £25 million of Government economic regeneration funding, as well as £12 million from the Government’s Better Care Fund to support greater independence for older people and vulnerable residents.”
