Leeds Throws £1 Million into Fountains and the Stage it Never Uses

12.00.00am GMT Thu 25th Mar 2004

Speaking at the meeting of Council on 24th March, Liberal Democrat Councillor Brian Cleasby (Horsforth) highlighted the failure of the Council's Executive to effectively manage major civic projects.

Cllr Cleasby confronted Cllr Minkin, Executive Member for Development, with the fact that the fountains in Millennium Square and City Square cost the City £470,000, and yet they are rarely operational. Add to this the nearly £400,000 cost of the Millennium Square stage, plus the cost of the subsequent inquiry - and around £1 million has been wasted on projects that were under Cllr Minkin's control.

Cllr Minkin admitted to Council that records have not been kept of how often the fountains are operational, that the contacts are unsatisfactory.

Cllr Cleasby said "This is yet another example of Council Tax payers' money being thrown away on schemes that have been woefully mismanaged. All too often senior Councillors have presided over projects that have blatantly failed to provide value for money. We've paid nearly half a million for fountains that don't work, and the cost of the stage in Millennium Square - that we never use - will run to another half a million when you take the cost of the subsequent inquiry into account."

"Let's hope the fountains get fixed soon, at no extra cost to the people of Leeds, but I shan't be holding my breath".

"The frightening thing is that if I hadn't drawn the matter to Council's attention, I doubt the ruling group would have said a word about it."