Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Huge bill for the Public
Friday 26th September 2008, 8:00AM BST.
The Public Arts centre has cost a total of £61.7 million to build and run, according to new figures released.
That figure is more than £23m above original estimates.
Calls have now been made for Sandwell Council to sell off the site in West Bromwich to the private sector, to avoid pouring more money into the building.
The total cost was revealed today by the National Audit Office in a report. The planned cost of the project when first approved by funding partners in 2001 was £38.3million.
This has increased year on year and the new £61.7million figure includes the construction cost, revenue and operational costs as well as all future commitments, including the first three years running costs.
MEP Philip Bradbourn called for a National Audit Office investigation into why the crisis-hit arts centre is two years behind schedule and millions of pounds over budget.
Officials from the audit office have now said they will be keeping the project under scrutiny.
While the arts centre itself opened its doors on June 28 the gallery is still not open to the public three months on.
The National Audit Office, responding to the calls for a review, recognised the findings of a 2006 scrutiny carried out by the council which acknowledged “problems with the original design, insufficient resources and weak governance and risk management arrangements”.
Mr Bradbourn said: “Frankly, I am dismayed that Sandwell Council having concluded for themselves in 2006 that the project was flawed continue to pour money into what has, without doubt, proven to be a bottomless pit for taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Sandwell Council was unavailable for comment.
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This is a joke–Have you seen the state of the Sandwell Area–Whoever brokered this must fail to appreciate what the area wants.
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Just one thing to say, biggest waste of money ever. Money could have been spent elsewhere where it is needed.
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The sheer arrogance of Bob Badham et al is beyond beleif. And now they want more millions to create a ‘green corridor’ between West Brom and Walsall. Does any local ratepayer actually want such a thing? But then again, when do they ever lisyen to what we want?
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What a disgrace,what a waste of public money. why not build something people wanted, a lesiure centre with a swimming pool, 5 aside football pitches,something for the young kids to do and enjoy..Whoever agreed to this art centre should be sacked..And they wonder why the country is in a state, if it was there own money they was spending maybe they would think twice about what they are building.ONCE MORE DISGRACEFULL..
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Hang on, an MEP? When do they ever actually do anything useful or positive.
Get back to Brussels son, we only ever hear of you when you’re moaning about this……
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The entire Sandwell borough is a dump. I work there. It is a grim, polluted, depressed place.
£61,700,000 could have been spent so well….and yet some idiot thought this would be a good use of those funds.
Incredible how well councillors can spend ‘other people’s money’.
What a disgrace.
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find out which councillors voted for this blancmange when the elections come round dont vote for them throw them out
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£61.7 million is an obscene amount of wasted money, yet another example of how this once fine country is going down the toilet.
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serious questions need to be asked over this fiasco heads should roll over it
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£61.7 million. For what? An empty box! A concept! The only person who likes it is Will Alsop, the architect. Oh, and Adrian Chiles, who is from either Birmingham or West Brom depending on who’s paying him to speak!
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Just like the football team, a complete laughing stock
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“The Public Arts centre has cost a total of £61.7 million to build and run, according to new figures released.
That figure is more than £23m above original estimates.”
Now, I’m not a proper maths whizz but £61.7m minus £23m is is £38.7m no? Is someone trying to spin the figures here because that’s quite a percentage increase…
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Sandwell Council was unavailable for comment.!!!!!!!!!!
Its not like Sandwell Councillors not to want to blow their own trumpet, from my experience they always like having their photos in the papers, strange non want to be associated with this abortion.
But really there is a simple answer to this problem, instead of us abused council tax payers, paying for the Part Time Councillors Private Pensions, they can be funded from the profits made out of the Public, come on Sandwell Councillors, accept my challenge and put your money where you mouth is if you think its that good, stop expecting us residents to fund your lifestyle when you have failed us.
Another thing that should be noted, Sandwell was voted the 3rd worst Borough in the UK, this doesn’t surprise me, our streets never get cleaned, our storm drains never get cleaned out, is it any wonder that people throw litter on the floor, it’s the broken window syndrome, people see one bit of litter on the floor and then think its acceptable to throw down theirs.
I am sick and tired of personally phoning Sandwell Council to report blocked storm drains that are causing roads and footpaths to flood, in this age of regular flooding, its totally irresponsible of Sandwell Council to adopt the policy of not cleaning out storm drains to save money, its not my job to report your failings, its your job to provide for us the services that we are paying for.
There has been a pothole by the Dog Pub on the Hagley Road, for about 6 months now, if Sandwell Council has money to waste, spend it on us Council Tax Payers Services, not your stupid ideas.
Jim of Bearwood
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I’ve always thought Sandwell was a very artistic place anyway. The local kids don’t need any encouragement to express themselves with their spraycans on the walls of the borough. For those of a musical bent there is the acapelo singing of the drunks in West Brom town centre and for those who like their comedy – there’s the Hawthorns.
Bringing the arts to Sandwell is like taking coal to the Geordies.
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Royal Mail brought the Public October Events leaflet this morning (Monday 13th October 2008): while I am impressed by the range of music – jazz, blues and “Free” entry – it’s too late to know about the gigs advertised for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th October (6 out of 13 of the events) due to only receiving the leaflet mid-month. Obviously, better to run events if staff are already in post and have to be paid – and it might even help ascertain the size of the audience out here in Sandwell and beyond.
I’ve asked the Public to comment on this and will share their reply if I receive one.
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