Majority of Plymouth's projects running to time

Bombs to blame for some of the delays

Nearly 80 per cent of Plymouth City Council’s projects which are underway within its ambitious £327 million capital programme are on time and on budget.

Another 16 per cent have minor delivery issues but are making satisfactory progress.

The figures were presented at a council cabinet meeting by city finance lead Cllr Mark Lowry (Lab, Southway) in response to opposition councillors’ criticism over projects being delayed and over budget.

The capital programme contains 285 individual projects and covers 11 primary outcomes including net zero, homes, transportation and community infrastructure.

It is financed by six different funding sources with the city council’s own borrowing making up 44 per cent of it.

Cllr Lowry said from time to time projects were affected by outside events such as oil prices rising as a result of war and unforeseen events such as bombs being discovered during digging.

He said going forward the council would be highlighting how taxpayers’ money was being spent in more detail be that on hoardings around development projects or on road signs.

At the £30 million Armada Way and £50 million Civic Centre regeneration projects, hoardings with visuals and slogans had been erected and were well read by people walking past, he said.

Equally the same thing would be happening at Mayflower House which was being demolished and new housing erected.

“We need to do more of this so any time we do anything we need to tell people what the project is and explain the reasons why we are doing it,” he said.

Ten different digital campaigns could be seen at bus stops and roadwork signs would have more information such as “new crossing coming soon”, “better roads ahead” or “smooth cycling delivered”.

“We disrupt people and do not explain why it is being done, we need to do an awful lot more,” added the councillor. “We have an ambitious programme for new jobs, homes, infrastructure, parks, play areas, community facilities and are investing in roads and transport. Some projects are very complex and take a lot of time and effort.

“The vast majority of projects are being delivered very successfully and have a tremendously positive impact on people’s lives but from time to time they do go wrong.”

Conservative and Independent councillors have been very vocal about Labour’s spending as the council debt pile rises to over £700 million. In recent years the Park Crematorium, Forder Valley Link road, Royal Parade Bus Improvements, Central Parks Ponds Scheme and city centre public realm projects have also risen in cost.

Last week the council announced that the Plymouth Guildhall revamp might not be ready for another three years and would cost substantially more than the £4.5 million budget. It followed new structural problems being uncovered and a change in remit for the future of the historic building.

Tory councillor Lee Finn (Budshead) said if the council were a private business it would have gone out of business a long time ago.

Cllr Lowry has called the council’s debt “good debt” in that much of it had been borrowed over 50 years at a very low interest rate to invest in property which would provide a “mini sovereign wealth fund” in years to come .