A quick Google search suggests £12.5bn was invested into the Stratford regeneration scheme. So NO, they weren’t similar.
No but they approved the business case. It might have been crap but it fooled a lot of people did it not?
Savills fault too now then?
I guess where I’m going with this is that the UK is really crap at big infrastructure projects. This is another. Discusdoon for another time perhaps
Nothing unique in that. Local governments piss more money at consultancies than I can care to imagine. They are really bereft of a lot of expertise these days.
Last time I was in that field many thought it was a good idea to set up blue/white collar contracts. Company I used to work for essentially used those contracts to print money. Internally there was huge friction at the project management level. Senior management couldnt care less, and I quote, “i dont want to hear it, we’re making too much money.” I left because of it.
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Hang on a second, only a couple of posts ago you were blaming Covid for BCC’s failure to deliver the Athletes village as planned. But now it’s because the UK is crap at delivering infrastructure projects…
You state that Central Government approved BCC’s business case and were fooled, so much so, that they provided £500m+ in funding for the project.
We agree that the project was mismanaged and that the Council isn’t well run.
So do you share my concerns about Labours plans to merge/centralise authorities and give these authorities increased powers on their spending?
And no? It is not Savills fault. I have been quite clear from the offset as to who is at fault… I was just highlighting the obscene amounts of money spent on consultants, who got it wrong. But as you have brought the point up, what did the Council actually get for its £650k?
I am not as confident as you Sir Keir…
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He has to say that though.
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Do they have any jobs going???
Starmer vs Trump in negotiations.
I still am, and we are discussing the business and how that could have ALSO been flawed. Yet it was good enough to secure a lot of central hovernment funding.
Its possible to have both you know.
Regarding consultants fees I’m not surprised as I indicated. It’s become normal practice and the numbers are eye-watering and I agree its crap.
And we’re discussing this without a single eye on the business case, covid contract impacts (although we know they were significant) and what the consultants brief wash and how the overall projectvwas managed.
Taking it wider, the UK is crap at large infrastructure projects. HS2, Hinkley Point C, CrossRail and so on. All delivered or being delivered way above the initial budget and late. Projects rife with planning issues, poor cost estimates, late design changes etc.
Another one to the list is the A303 Stone Henge. I knew people working on that nearly 25 years ago. Reeves knocked it on the head late last year again.
Probably, but the pay didnt cover the shit that came with it, not even close.
Does he have to? Not quite sure why
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Fair enough.
He is the incoming President of the USA and Starmer is the Prime Minister of the UK. He has to make positive noises about working together and a strong partnership and all that. Starmer can’t say ‘I think he is a stupid fat fuck’
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Of course he cannot say that, but equally he could set out the UK’s interests and the importance of reciprocity in maintaining the ‘special relationship’
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Given that madman Boris was at the Trump inauguration and Starmer wasn’t, signs of a close relationship dont look likely
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So the Southport killer was reported to Prevent 3 times, I see.
Wondering if the mob will target the Tories for this appalling failure? I mean…they were as much to blame as the immigrants in hotels, surely? Or maybe the NHS for failing to provide proper mental health support?
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I can see from the questions the PM just had to answer that the Farage narrative of the riots is going to run.
FMD…this joint is in serious trouble.
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That would be on the Tories, too.
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Indeed.
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Spot on from Aunt Polly here:
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Could go in either thread but as he’s English:
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