After uncovering the staggering maintenance costs of the Welsh Government building in Llandudno Junction for the financial years of 2015-2018, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has dug deeper into this financial scandal, uncovering the fact that a total of £2,246,000 has been spent on maintenance and repairs since the building was opened in 2010-11.
(A breakdown of the figures can be seen in the notes).
Janet said:
“The opening of the Welsh Government building in 2010 was part of a £91.5million Welsh Government project which saw around £23million spent on the offices in Llandudno Junction.
“Unsurprisingly, the Auditor General for Wales found that the Welsh Government may have wasted millions of pounds in their relocation strategy, however, it seems that even more is now being lost as a result of the building in Llandudno Junction.
“To be precise, I have unearthed the fact that £2,246,000 has been spent on maintenance of the building since it was opened in 2010-11. Clearly, this is absolutely unacceptable, especially as £1,112,000 went on repairs and replacement.
“Going forward, I have responded to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance asking him to explain why so much money has been spent repairing a brand-new multimillion pound building, and for a review to be undertaken of the spending by the Welsh Government on its own estate”.
ENDS
Written Assembly Question
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Further to WAQ76779 will the Cabinet Secretary state how much has been spent on maintenance and repairs since the Welsh Government building was opened in 2010? (WAQ76808)
Mark Drakeford: Annual maintenance and repair costs for the Welsh Government building in Llandudno Junction since its opening in 2010 were: (see table)
Response by Janet:
Further to WAQ76808 will the Cabinet Secretary provide a list of all the repairs and replacements undertaken between 2010-11 and 2017-18, and state whether the he would be prepared to undertake a review of the spending by the Welsh Government on its own estate?
Notes
£1million “Financial Drain” in Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction: £91.5m Welsh Govt move may have 'wasted' public money
Empty rooms at new Welsh Government office block cost taxpayers more than £1m a year
