The Council has been accused of attempting to ‘hide’ more than half a million pounds worth of costs associated with delivering the Lower Bristol Road traveller site.
Last week, the Council released figures which suggested that the cost of delivering the traveller site came to a total of £1.62 million, funded with £750,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency and £870,000 from Council borrowing.
However, figures uncovered by Conservative councillors have revealed that the amount quoted by the Council only take account of the cost of the contract with the housing provider, and that when additional costs such as professional fees, highway works and planning obligations are factored in, the actual cost of the project jumps to over £2.1 million – or £2.35 million if the land value is included.
Opposition Conservatives have accused the Council’s ruling Liberal Democrats of trying to ‘bury’ the additional costs and failing to be straight with residents over the amount of taxpayers’ money being spent on the project.
Councillor Tim Warren, Conservative Group Leader, said: “The Lib Dems running B&NES have been caught out trying to hide at least half a million pounds of costs associated with this highly-expensive traveller site on the Lower Bristol Road.
“As a result of their failure to budget properly for this project and keep a lid on costs, the Lib Dems are now attempting to bury bad news because it doesn’t suit them.
“Once all the costs are included, such as professional fees, highway works, and planning obligations, the price tag actually comes to at least £2.1 million.
“And this doesn’t even take account of the fact the Council’s own valuation puts the value of the land at £250,000.
“But the reality is, whether it comes to £2.1 million, £1.6 million, or £2.5 million this is an eye-wateringly expensive project to embark upon at a time of budget cutbacks.
“What’s more, the cost to B&NES taxpayers’ remains far more than in other Councils, such as neighbouring North Somerset, where they have managed to secure much better deals from the HCA and developer.”
Conservative Shadow Spokesman for Homes and Planning, Cllr Liz Richardson, commented: “We have always supported the need for the Council to find and identify appropriate sites for authorised traveller pitches.
“But the Council has a duty to deliver these sites at a fair and reasonable cost to local taxpayers. It is clearly failing in this duty.
“The Council also gives the misleading impression that it has a statutory obligation to provide these sites itself. It does not.
“The Council’s obligation is to identify land for the sites, but how they are delivered and funded could be in a number of different ways.”
A request for a comment from Bath and North East Somerset Council has not yet been responded to.
