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Labour-Plaid to press ahead with Cathays Park refurbishment

It would seem that the Labour-Plaid Government are determined to press ahead with their controversial £42 million refurbishment of the Assembly's Cathays Park offices, despite accusations of insensitivity over the use of public funds at a time of recession,

According to the sell2wales website, "the Welsh Assembly Government, on behalf of The Welsh Ministers (The Client), requires a provider of Architectural Services to inform its development of change proposals and Outline Business Case for the modernisation of its core asset in Cathays Park, Cardiff"

The estimated cost of this 'exercise' is, according to the tender document, "in the region of £60K - £80K".

Do you believe that tens of thousands of pounds will be spent on an exercise that will not result in what Ministers and civil servants want?

No, nor do I.

Civil servants may argue that it is the correct business decision and could create some efficiencies gains, but the disproportionate cost will not resonate with the tens of thousands of Welsh workers who have lost their jobs during the last few months only to see politicians and civil servants feathering their own nests first.

At the very least, any such plans should be shelved until we come through the worst recession since the Second World War.

Comments

Anonymous said…
But isn't this precisely the time to be putting money into capital investments? It will keep a fair few people in work!

And the efficiency savings will be huge - £5million a year!

This isn't as black and white as some would have us believe...
April 19, 2009 10:44 pm
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans said…
As for the efficiency gains, that is just a figure plucked out of the air by civil servants. There is no basis in fact at all otherwise they would not be spending £80k onconsultants to "prove" this.

The whole exercise has been developed because those working in cathays Park have realised that the new offices in Mertrhyr are of a higher quality.

There is also no guarantee that any of this work would go to a welsh company.

More importantly, I can think of a few schools and hospitals across Wales that would welcome such a capital investment.
April 20, 2009 7:14 am
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