Incompetence: CCBC (and other Public Bodies and Statutory Undertakers...)

[Hugo]

HGV depot that 'can't house trucks' costing Conwy taxpayers around £20,000 a month
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch Saunders has accused Conwy Council of 'pouring good money after bad' into the 'never fit for purpose' warehouse in Mochdre

The contract for the not-fit-for-purpose building started in May 2016, meaning the authority has, to date, spent around £2 million – costing taxpayers around £20,000 a month. The council is locked into a contract for the multi-million-pound HGV depot until at least 2031, but the structure can’t house the council vehicles it was built for.     It's just beyond belief that it could have happened



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/hgv-depot-cant-house-trucks-29824760

[DaveR]

HGV depot that 'can't house trucks' costing Conwy taxpayers around £20,000 a month
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch Saunders has accused Conwy Council of 'pouring good money after bad' into the 'never fit for purpose' warehouse in Mochdre

The contract for the not-fit-for-purpose building started in May 2016, meaning the authority has, to date, spent around £2 million – costing taxpayers around £20,000 a month. The council is locked into a contract for the multi-million-pound HGV depot until at least 2031, but the structure can’t house the council vehicles it was built for.     It's just beyond belief that it could have happened



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/hgv-depot-cant-house-trucks-29824760

It's not their money, is it? No accountability whatsoever in the public sector. No-one ever gets fired. Always the same rubbish about 'lessons need to be learnt'.

[Dave]

From memory the building in question was built on land that was once a council rubbish tip. The council gave planning permission to build on it. Surely they should know the risks of building somewhere that settlement is bound to occur over time. It was a truly incompetent decision to sign a contract that also made the council liable for any necessary changes to suit their needs.
Someone should have been fired In my humble opinion.

[Hugo]

You're spot on with your comments Dave and the decision to go ahead with the lease is inexcusable.     Sadly, it's not the first big blunder that they have made and Llandudno will bear the scars for decades to come with a number of howlers made by CCBC that affect the resort

[Hugo]

I don't know if anyone was watching the ITV  Wales news at 6 o'clock tonight but there was a bit on it about CCBC and the Mochdre Lorry Depot.   It wasn't very complimentary and exposed them for what they are.   The presenter said that £2 million pounds had been spent so far and no lorries have been able to park there because the structure won't take the weight of the vehicles.   In addition the lease is costing about £250,000 per year and is not due to expire for a number of years.   The reporter remarked that he wondered just what questions were asked about the suitability of the building before CCBC signed the lease
A meeting is being held by CCBC behind closed doors with no admission to the press or public allowed and it is to discuss the Lorry depot and the way forward.    Janet Finch Saunders also appeared on the programme and had her say about CCBC.
Anyone who has watched a live streaming of the CCBC planning committee will understand why so many mistakes are being made as the Councillors are not qualified to make important decisions.

[Hugo]

Following on from my posting above this link is well worth watching              Who are these decision makers?      Are they experts on planning matters or are they being led by a Hill Billy?

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-09-02/nearly-250k-of-taxpayer-money-spent-on-hgv-depot-that-cant-actually-house-hgvs

[SteveH]

Excerpt from Gogarth councillors news letter.........

This years council budget included significant reductions in grass cutting and pavement weed killing to once a year, it isn't right that the council cannot keep on top of this problem, especially when they approve £620,000 for a new rugby pitch at Parc Eirias, definitely out of touch with peoples priorities 

[DaveR]

Isn’t it amazing that CCBC could find £620k for a new rugby pitch, even though they claim not to be able to afford even basic public services? I also wonder about the legions of council staff riding round in expensive new vehicles - are they really needed?

[SteveH]

Angry residents brand council's plan to build 3G pitch a 'vanity project'
The council's leader has defended proposals for the new pitch

Conwy Council's leader has defended plans for a new 3G pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay. The local authority has applied to its own planning department, seeking permission for the artificial grass pitch at Ysgol y Creuddyn on Derwen Lane.

The plans will likely be discussed at a future planning committee meeting and if granted permission, the new pitch will be built on fields behind the school. But residents living nearby have written in objection to the plans, citing noise, light pollution and anti-social behaviour as reasons they are against the pitch.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/angry-residents-brand-councils-plan-29885642

[Hugo]

Update on lorry depot that 'can't house trucks' will be given in 2025
The site is costing Conwy taxpayers £20,000 per month                   


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/update-lorry-depot-cant-house-29946591

[SteveH]

Welsh Government has spent more than £200m to get people walking and cycling but activity rates have dropped or remained static. An Audit Wales report has looked into the government's ambition to increase 'active travel' in Wales.

Active travel describes walking and cycling, possibly combined with public transport, for everyday journeys like to or from a workplace or school, or to access health, leisure or other services and facilities. It is differentiated from walking and cycling solely for leisure.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-government-spent-218m-more-29963373

[SteveH]

Prospective well-qualified employees won’t apply to work at Conwy County Council because of its lack of commitment to equality and diversity, a councillor has claimed.

Colwyn councillor David Carr claimed the authority is stuck in the 1950s and not properly considering equality and diversity in its recruitment of new staff.

The criticism was levelled at Conwy during a governance and audit committee finance and resource overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Monday.

Members were asked to consider a statutory self-assessment report on its performance for 2023/2024.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24623737.conwy-council-stuck-1950s-terms-equality-diversity/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

Oh Dear !        Council's £300,000 legal fees bill for HGV depot that 'can't house trucks'
The council is also spending £20,000 per month in rent on the building



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/councils-300000-legal-fees-bill-30311808

[SteveH]

 

[Hugo]

Council defends £300K legal fees bill for HGV depot it can't use
The council is also paying £20k per month on rent for the building

How can they defend the indefendable?        Surely a survey should have been done beforehand to see if the building was fit for purpose


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/council-defends-300k-legal-fees-30326442