THE

Journal

has taken a look around North Devon's new £7.4million waste depot — which has been delayed by "management failure and overspend".

The Brynsworthy Environment Centre, a former meat factory, will contain North Devon Council's recycling and waste service.

The project is 16 months overdue and between £750,000 and £1.07million over budget. An independent report, by consultants RSM Tenon, which itself cost £19,000, blamed corner cutting and poor management for the overspend.

Tenon found the council wanted to move its Seven Brethren depot because it was unsuitable for modern use and councillors were motivated by Tesco's promise in 2007 to pay £7.75million for the old site.

The council, also the local planning authority, agreed with Tesco to move its depot within 13-and-a-half months of a successful supermarket planning application.

The council's decision in May, 2007, to buy a new site, in Brynsworthy, was "based on incomplete information", Tenon found, and "a number of standard processes were bypassed to meet aggressive timelines".

Tenon listed a number of other blunders, which the

Journal

reported in January.

The new premises, which measure more than 3,665sq m, are still a building site, but will soon house a fuelling and servicing area, a vehicle weighbridge and an education room.

As well as housing up to 145 waste and recycling staff the centre will also have space for 80 council office staff.

Cllr Rodney Cann (Ind), lead member for waste and recycling, said: "I've spent an enormous amount of time on this project. We will be able to increase the actual amount of recycling we carry out as well as the number of materials we can recycle."

Council leader Des Brailey (Cons) said: "Frontline staff will remain in Barnstaple. It will only be back-room staff moved to this site. We will have to look at the councils' other buildings and any that require expense will be considered for relocation. I do accept that there has been an overspend but when you look at the details it's not as bad as it sounds.

"In the long-term the centre is actually a tremendous cost-saving measure which should save the council up to £350,000 a year — that's good news for the people of North Devon."

Cllr Cann (Ind) added: "The whole project was never realistically budgeted for and the officers responsible were just not experienced enough to deal with a project of this size."

The depot is due to open in June.