Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement presented the report which outlined project updates to the Committee. Works had continued to progress on schedule following commencement on site in October 2024.

The report showed the risk register had only two items which were both low and the project was running on time in line with the budget.

The Deputy Chief Executive highlighted the dashboard included the additional £500,000 which was approved by Full Council which will be wisely spent on the mobilisation and fit out from the existing site to the new site. This is due to take place in October 2025, for an operational start in November 2025.

Steels had gone up on site at the depot and the main structure was now visible. Within the next month or so, it was expected that flooring, PV panels and roofing would be installed. Utility companies were on site to undertake work on drainage.

Members of the Committee were invited to attend a site visit at Turnpike Depot prior to the next scheduled meeting of this Committee.

One Member noted that the original budget approved at Full Council for the depot was £8m and had been increased to £9.3m. An explanation was requested as to why a 16% increase of the original budget was not over-budget.

A further query was raised on ‘other costs’ of £158,000 and what they were.

The Deputy Chief Executive clarified that the budget had changed from the original £8m to £9.3m following the approvals of Full Council. The project would be delivered within the £9.3m budget.

An explanation was provided for the cost category labelled as ‘other costs’ of £158,000 which was in respect of contingencies and was standard for a project of this size in the event of any unforeseen variations within the overall allocation of the budget.

Concern was raised that the budget had been increased once from £8m to £9.3 and one Member felt the project was not on budget at present.

The Leader of the Council noted that the original figure put forward was £8m following a procurement process, where two bids were provided. One bid was significantly higher than the budget, and the other was slightly over budget but following value engineering, the contract value was reduced. The Leader of the Council was satisfied that there was sufficient budget available to meet the total costs.

A lengthy discussion took place on the term ‘on-budget’ used by the Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement during his introduction to the report. Some Members felt the project was not ‘on-budget’ due to the original budget being changed from £8m to £9.3m, which was approved by Full Council.

One Member praised Officers and Members working on the project for working within the timeframe and within the budget.

It was felt that Councillor’s could communicate with constituents the reasons behind the budget increases.

One Member noted that the Committee had not scrutinised the details of the project dashboard.

The Committee:

Noted the current progress on the construction of the new Waste Depot at Turnpike Close, Grantham