MINISTERS have starved States properties of vital maintenance cash and have allowed a backlog of around £100m worth of repairs to build up, according to the States spending watchdog.
The States spend less than half of the money needed to maintain their vast property portfolio even to a ‘medium level’, a Scrutiny panel heard this week.
And Comptroller and Auditor General Chris Swinson says that if the underfunding has gone on for around ten years, there are up to £100m worth of projects in the pipeline to be completed.
The current maintenance budget is £6.2m – well below the £15m that Property Holdings director David Flowers (pictured) says is needed. And there could be a £90m to £100m backlog of work to carry out.
6 Article Comments
“The States spend less than half of the money needed to maintain their vast property portfolio”, yes but does the States need a vast property portfolio? How much has it cost to maintain the empty ‘old JCG’ site over the last ten years? Shouldn’t David Flowers as Property Holdings director do a little spring cleaning before asking for more money?
Start with La Collette, Le Marais and all the tower blocks
why have they spent so little and where has the rest that has come in been spirited away too ? oh now let me see, not enough spent on accommodation, can’t spend any on preschool child care but CAN spend on underpasses, bronze trees, steam clocks shall I go on ? I think not. Oh and where is the extra we were all told about last week ? it’s about time this island stood up and took notice of what is happening here this island is going to the dogs soon there will be no green bits left and it will look like new york and will have sunk 6ft LOL and then we will need to build more sea defences !!!!!!!!!!! I think David Flowers should think about what he is saying and wake up and smell the roses ! before asking for more money I mean what are they doing with the old Fort Regent Pool it would make a fantastic state of the art gym for our up and coming stars of gymnastics but Oh now we will leave it rot like girls college and don’t get me started on the aqua splash. Bring back the old fort pool or at least do some thing with it before asking for more money to let it sit and rot more.
If Jersey is ‘Life Enriching’
How come we have social housing that is in such dire state of repair?
A prison that is overcrowded and not fit for purpose?
A need for GST when income has exceeded for 40 plus years?
A child care system that has failed our young?
An aversion to real political reform?
Voter apathy?
An assembly that espouses the need for immigration to cope with the cost of maintaining an ageing population?
An island plan that is about to be amended against the wishes of the people?
The highest population of working mothers in Europe and insufficient early years subsudised child care?
An over paid top heavy public services sector?
No millenium Town Park?
A Dandara carbunkle appearing on the Portlet headland?
Hideous amounts of bureaucratic red tape?
Over generous final pensions schemes for civil servants?
High levels of drug abuse, alcohol abuse and obesity?
Plans for a National Gallery?
An anthem?
One reason I suspect is a government out of kilter with the population and no hope of any real prospects of change in a positive direction, or is that merely a perception and all of the above can be refuted by government spin?
The States have admitted underspending on Housing for over 10 years so the island’s poorer sector and OAPs have suffered in substandard housing all these years. Look at the social flats in the centre of town (next to door to the tax office). They have not been upgraded or modenised for years!
I think David Flowers is doing a great job. The sum of money he is asking for simply flags up the years of low investment that have gone on. This investment is needed and AT LEAST SOMEONE HAS THE BRAINS to see that.Lets invest now so we don’t have to spend more later.GOOD JOB FLOWERS