Those responsible for NDR nepotism disaster should resign
So, we receive final confirmation today of what I predicted on this blog nearly 4 months ago [http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/2007/10/northern-lots-of-unwanted-new.html ]: that the government does indeed firmly believe that the decision of Norfolk County Council to award the contract to build the NDR (Northern Distributor Road) to their ‘colleagues’ at May Gurney was “legally unsound” [ See today’s EVENING NEWS: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=NewsSplash&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NewsSplash&itemid=NOED07%20Jan%202008%2009%3A11%3A43%3A067 ].
I am outraged that the people of
As I say: if they had any civic pride and self-respect, those responsible would now gracefully take full responsibility – and resign.
Appendix: How Greens have been warning of this fiasco in the making for 6 months:
On July 24th, 2007, Andrew Boswell specifically raised the issue of legality and the likely challenge to the Councl from the DfT at the Norfolk County Council Cabinet Scrutiny meeting. These are the minutes of his question and the answers from the Cabinet member and officers involved (emphases added):
Dr Boswell commented that the need to seek Department for Transport (DfT) approval to appoint May Gurney raised the question that despite legal opinion, DfT might still have concerns. When would DfT give its opinion? What confidence did NCC have that legal opinion wouldn’t be challenged either by DfT or the European Union (EU) or local competition? Also, how confident was the County Council that the £61m from the Regional Funding Allocation would be available.
The Cabinet Member explained that both the Audit Commission and the Government had supported the SPC. Just because NCC was one of the first local authorities to use the arrangement, didn’t mean it was the wrong approach. NCC had already saved millions through the Partnership.
The Head of Law added that decisions were always open to challenge, but that NCC was as confident as it could be. Every avenue had been pursued to get the assurance NCC needed that it had taken the correct route.
The Director of Planning and Transportation added that he couldn’t see why DfT would have a problem as the SPC was emerging standard practice. Nevertheless, securing DfT support was critical and Planning and Transportation would be seeking an early meeting. The SPC would allow a flexible approach to the extent that there was uncertainty about the Regional Funding Allocation.
3 Comments:
NDR= Northern Distributor Road?
Yes!
Or 'Northern Development Road', as it should really be called -- if it is ever funded/built, then that will be how: by paving over huge areas of Norwich's northern 'green belt. See my earlier post, referred to in this post, for more.
or NDR = Norwich's Disaster Road! Rupert is quite right; the stated orginal rationale for the road was to reduce congestion (by improving orbital, but doing nothing to radial routes??!!). Now it is clear it is a road to increase development (leading to more estates, out of town shopping etc, more journeys, more emmissions, greater climate impact)..all at the "snip" of over £100 million, but probably closer to £160 million as current UK road schemes are on average 53% overbudget. We should improve public transport first not tie Norfolk's council tax payers into unsustainable long term commitments.
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