Town centre project faces 'unacceptable' problems

An artist's impression of how the scheme could have transformed Birkenhead town centre

A high street regeneration that is set to run £12m over budget was blighted by "unacceptable" problems including pressure to meet deadlines, a report has found.

Wirral Council released the report following its internal investigation into a regeneration project in Birkenhead town centre, which was revealed earlier this year to be £12m over budget and a year behind schedule.

The report found the project was already about £4m over budget before work started and highlighted a lack of capacity within the council to deliver it.

In response, council leader Paula Basnett, who announced the investigation months into her leadership, said the situation was "completely unacceptable".

"Residents must be confident that public money is being managed responsibly, transparently, and with full accountability," she said.

She said the council was "already taking decisive steps" following the report's publication.

Lack of transparency

The report also found pressure to meet deadlines caused problems in the scheme's delivery, as well as a high turnover of staff in the council's regeneration department and a breach of contact rules, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It also found there was frustration among officers over the project's management and a lack of transparency over issues, which councillors and the public were not made aware of.

The department's director Marcus Shaw left the role earlier this month after the council in July said said he would be "absent until further notice".

Neighbourhoods director Jason Gooding is currently acting in the role.

Responding to the report, Mr Gooding said: "My priority is to restore confidence in the council's ability to deliver meaningful regeneration that benefits the people of Wirral.

"We are already taking decisive steps to get a firm grip on the wider regeneration programme and to place it on a sustainable and credible footing."

The report is due to be presented to members of the council's audit and risk management committee next month.