Lib Dems challenge Conservatives over fears of rising cost of new Civic

9.00.00am GMT Tue 6th Feb 2007

Sue Doughty & Cllr Merilyn Spier studying plans for the Civic

Liberal Democrat councillors have challenged the Borough Council's Conservative Executive to guarantee that the cost of the new Civic will not rise above the agreed price of £20 million, and to personally underwrite any cost over-run.

The challenge follows Conservative complaints about an article in a current Lib Dem publication, 'News Extra', which reports fears from local experts about a possible massive rise in the cost of the new Civic to £25 million, or even £30 million. Conservative Lead Councillor Tony Rooth wrote to Lib Dem Property Spokesperson Cllr Vivienne Johnson to complain about the article, and demanding full details of the local experts who held these views. In her reply, Cllr Johnson has asked Cllr Rooth to demonstrate his confidence in the cost by offering a guarantee backed up by personal commitment from him and his Conservative colleagues to underwrite any cost over-run.

Cllr Johnson says "I am amazed that Cllr Rooth was not already aware of local concerns about the possibility of a massive increase in the cost. Local people involved in the entertainment business in Guildford were on the panel of the Live Music Forum held by Eagle Radio late last year, and expressed their concerns about cost increases very clearly, as reported at the time in the Surrey Advertiser.

"£25 million to £30 million was suggested then as a more realistic figure. Cllr Rooth and the Conservative Council Leader were actually at the Forum! They didn't protest then about the suggestion that the cost might overrun. If The Conservative Executive is now totally confident that Guildford's tax-payers will not have to fork out more than £20 million for the new Civic, then I challenge them to demonstrate that by giving a public guarantee, backed up by a personal commitment to underwrite any cost overrun."

Liberal Democrat councillors have already expressed concern about the lack of a proper business plan for the new Civic, and asked for a risk assessment of the funding arrangements. They have protested at the Conservative proposal to raid the council's housing reserve if necessary.

Cllr Johnson added "The number of people on the council's waiting list for affordable housing in Guildford has risen steadily during the last two years, and now stands at over 3,700. For the Council to rely on housing money to fund the new Civic is a disgrace. It adds to the sense of disarray from the Conservatives, as they flounder around trying to repair their disastrous decision four years ago to close the Civic prematurely, in the face of huge public opposition."