Inquiry to examine cost of Alderney care home extension
An inquiry into the alleged mismanagement of the extension to Alderney’s Connaught Care Home is to be launched.
The initial budget of £1.29m. for the work was approved by the States in 2020 but this has risen to nearly £2.3m.
An independent inquiry was agreed by the island’s General Services Committee, but not before it had made a few changes to the original proposal, said its new chairman Iain Macfarlane.
Mr Macfarlane, who was one of the new members of the States elected in December, said the inquiry would be led by former government lawyer Martin Thornton from Guernsey. Mr Thornton led a capital projects review over the projected overspend on the Princess Elizabeth Hospital this year.
‘I wasn’t really happy with the scope that was put forward,’ said Mr Macfarlane. ‘We’ve increased it so it’s not just a tick-box exercise.’
One of the additions to the scope was a request for the inquiry to include recommendations for future projects to prevent similar issues arising.
Mr Macfarlane also said that third party oversight was important
While the inquiry will be independent, it will not be conducted in public. The terms of reference are in the process of being finalised, he said, and he thought Mr Thornton’s itinerary would likely comprise visits to the island as well as remote interviews.
‘I’m quite happy with how it’s going so far and I hope it gets kicked into full gear soon.
‘The inquiry will thoroughly examine key processes and procedures relating to the project, ensuring that overall accountability for the perceived failings is identified,’ said Mr Macfarlane.
Its findings would be made public ‘in due course’.
‘The General Services Committee recognises the community’s frustrations over the delivery of this project and its perceived shortcomings and remains committed to transparency and responsible management of public funds,’ said the GSC in a statement.
