Darlington
Road overspend councillors survive reshuffle
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| Coun Wallis: survives reshuffle |
A RESHUFFLE of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet has been announced - and councillors criticised for the £1.9m overspend on the new road are to stay on the committee.
Labour members Nick Wallis and David Lyonette have both been blamed for the problems on the Eastern Transport Corridor project.
Coun Wallis was responsible for the scheme until August last year, when he was moved from the transport brief and replaced by Coun Lyonette.
The cost of the road rose from £12.5m to £14.4m because of problems with the contract with the builders, a failure to take into account compensation worth £1m due to homeowners, and planning errors when it came to dealing with protected newts.
The reshuffle will be discussed at tonight's annual council meeting. Coun Lyonette is in line to keep his position, despite calls for his resignation from opposition members. Coun Wallis remains in the cabinet, although he is to be moved for the second time in a year, this time from health and leisure to environment.
Martin Swainston, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "It makes you wonder why Coun Wallis has been moved twice in the last year.
"Coun Lyonette did not come into the equation as portfolio holder for transport until August 2007, but by then most of the errors on the road project had already taken place.
"The cabinet member with responsibility at that time was Coun Wallis.
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| Coun Lyonette: "vote of confidence" |
"This is not going away as an issue and the buck has to stop somewhere."
Coun Lyonette said he considered his re-appointment to be a vote of confidence and said that the projected £1.9m overspend could be greatly reduced when work is finished.
"I have not even been in the job for a year yet so how councillors could call for my resignation is a bit ridiculous," he said.
"Problems arose on the Eastern Transport Corridor, and action was taken as soon as I found out about it. Some of the problems go right back to when the road was designed.
"We are hoping that the overspend figure that has been quoted will be almost halved when everything is finished."
Coun Wallis said: "I am really looking forward to the new portfolio - It is one of the biggest and most challenging on the executive.
"Coun Swainston is trying to reheat the old Eastern Transport Corridor story. I will be waiting for the outcome of the scrutiny committee findings as to what responsibility lay with the executive and I suggest he does the same."
Other changes see Veronica Copeland moved to adult services, and the recently elected Andrew Scott promoted to health and leisure. The rest of the committee remains the same.
The meeting takes place at the Town Hall at 6pm.
2:09pm Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: trailertrash, north east on 4:17pm Thu 15 May 08
Councillor Wallis again!! If he was in a private company, the man would have been sacked years ago. He's an absolute disgrace.
Councillor Wallis again!! If he was in a private company, the man would have been sacked years ago. He's an absolute disgrace.
Posted by: Charlie, Darlington on 9:00am Fri 16 May 08
Woeful Wallis - want a **** up on a council project?? call in this man who now has had 3 jobs in the space of a year...Obviously he cant be trusted on roads as he has proved and it looks as though health was beyond his capabilities so lets see what a mess he can make of the environment portfolio..
You wouldnt pay the man in washers would you...
Woeful Wallis - want a **** up on a council project?? call in this man who now has had 3 jobs in the space of a year...Obviously he cant be trusted on roads as he has proved and it looks as though health was beyond his capabilities so lets see what a mess he can make of the environment portfolio..
You wouldnt pay the man in washers would you...
Posted by: trailertrash, north east on 1:18pm Fri 16 May 08
Ha!ha!Woeful Wallis, I like that! Or what about Wally Wallis, or W**ker Wallis?? I await in anticipation as to the **** up he's going to make next....
Ha!ha!Woeful Wallis, I like that! Or what about Wally Wallis, or W**ker Wallis?? I await in anticipation as to the **** up he's going to make next....
Posted by: leon, darlo on 10:00am Sun 18 May 08
dear mr wallis, please employ me i am looking for a new job, i have many credentials such as being able to spell FUDGE with my exam results, building a tower using lego bricks and also being able to fit 10 marshmellows in my mouth at once, so really i have the same qualities as you. so i am sure you can find me an overpaid, ridiculous job where i do not get sacked for messing up.
i look forward to hearing from you,
best regards,
Leon
tel 0800- B-I-G I-D-I-O-T
dear mr wallis, please employ me i am looking for a new job, i have many credentials such as being able to spell FUDGE with my exam results, building a tower using lego bricks and also being able to fit 10 marshmellows in my mouth at once, so really i have the same qualities as you. so i am sure you can find me an overpaid, ridiculous job where i do not get sacked for messing up.
i look forward to hearing from you,
best regards,
Leon
tel 0800- B-I-G I-D-I-O-T
Posted by: Robbie, darlington on 4:00pm Sun 18 May 08
Coun Lyonette hopes that the £1.9M overspend will almost be halved when the project is finished - how can that be when the compensation amount quoted is £1M alone???
Coun Lyonette hopes that the £1.9M overspend will almost be halved when the project is finished - how can that be when the compensation amount quoted is £1M alone???
Posted by: Darlo Blogger on 9:12am Mon 19 May 08
The behaviour of this council with respect to the continued employment of said "Mr Wally" is nothing short of Nepotism, we are now well aware of how Labour politicians work - It's not what you know, It's who you know, and we all know "Mr Wally" has the ear of the biggest wally of them all... Mr (Scarlet pimpernel)A Milburn. We need a council that will give jobs to people based on merit rather than a nod and a wink, and the occasional back-hand.
The behaviour of this council with respect to the continued employment of said "Mr Wally" is nothing short of Nepotism, we are now well aware of how Labour politicians work - It's not what you know, It's who you know, and we all know "Mr Wally" has the ear of the biggest wally of them all... Mr (Scarlet pimpernel)A Milburn. We need a council that will give jobs to people based on merit rather than a nod and a wink, and the occasional back-hand.
Posted by: Townie on 5:13pm Wed 21 May 08
There's no shame in this lot! They don't have to worry where the money will come from. Of course the council tax payers will pick up the tab. With their attitude they should do the honorable thing and resign before they cause any more finacial disasters.
There's no shame in this lot! They don't have to worry where the money will come from. Of course the council tax payers will pick up the tab. With their attitude they should do the honorable thing and resign before they cause any more finacial disasters.
Posted by: fratia, Canada on 12:45am Thu 22 May 08
time to throw the lot out! If the Russians could have a revolution 100 years ago, what is stopping Darlington?
time to throw the lot out! If the Russians could have a revolution 100 years ago, what is stopping Darlington?
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