CONSERVATIVES MUST GET A GRIP AS 30% OF COUNCIL'S CAPITAL PLANS ARE DELAYED: CLLR KATH PINNOCK

6.06.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Conservatives must get a grip as 30% of Council’s capital plans are delayed: Cllr Kath Pinnock

A major report has revealed that £39 million planned council investment, including money earmarked for roads, housing, green schemes and regeneration, is delayed. This means that almost 30% of the Council's total £133.5m capital programme for this year is at risk. Schemes identified as behind schedule include the Oakes Villa Day Care development and the project to upgrade the Vine Street depot, which would boost the Council's green performance. Private housing improvements for disabled people are also held up due to problems recruiting enough staff to carry out necessary work.

Cllr Kath Pinnock, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council, will raise the issue in a meeting of Kirklees council tomorrow. The figures are included in the Financial Outturn 2007/08 report, Item 12 on the agenda: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/Secure/meetings/Preview.asp?Type=1&N_ID=2575&St=2&cCode=COUNCIL&Preview=1&Nav=True

The report written by senior council officers highlights that things could get worse and states that 'until the capacity of the council is increased to deliver these expanded programmes, there will be a high and increasing level of slippage over the plan period'.

Speaking before the meeting, Cllr Pinnock said "The fact that almost a third of all the Council plans for investment are behind schedule is really worrying. The Conservatives must get a grip on this issue. The Council is fortunate that it has money to invest, but this is meaningless without the capacity to actually deliver.

"Residents rightly want to see a real improvement in the community - having schemes continually delayed because the cabinet can't manage the investment programme is very frustrating.

"I will be asking the Conservative Council Leader to detail exactly what actions he is going to take to get the capital plans back on track.

"Empty promises must now be replaced with real action."