Colwyn Bay's Porth Eirias repair bill reduces by £570,000

The initial request for capital funds to repair the roof and change an area inside  Colwyn Bay’s Porth Eirias attraction totalled £682,000.

It transpired around £140,000 of the cash was to “reconfigure” underused learning space inside the building.

The rest was to replace a faulty membrane in the roof which had been causing leaks since its opening in September 2013.

In a report to the finance and resources scrutiny committee, it emerged leaving the leak was not an option because “eventually, the roof structure will fail” – and patch-up work was being conducted as necessary.

It caused consternation in the meeting last month when members were told the council couldn’t claim any of the costs back from contractors or the architect of the seven-and-a-half year-old scheme.

Councillors were assured legal avenues for recovering costs associated with the works had been explored by officers and promised to share the details with members.

At the time Cllr Andrew Wood (Gele ward) said the public would “not be too chuffed” about spending so much ratepayer cash on the defective building.

Colwyn county councillor Brian Cossey. Picture: CCBC

There was a public backlash after the figure was reported and, when the  proposal came to Conwy county’s full council meeting on Thursday, it emerged the cash required had dropped to £73,600 for the “internal reconfiguration” – with no amount set aside for roof repairs.

Cllr Brian Cossey (Colwyn ward) asked for “clarification” on the differing sums.

He said: “When it came to finance committee, the cost was £682,000, spread between supported and unsupported borrowing.

“Instead of £682,000, it’s dropped to £73,600. I want to know the reason for that – there’s no explanation anywhere at all.”

Leader Sam Rowlands explained the decision was made at the February 23 cabinet meeting.

He said: “We were not comfortable the level of spending was necessary.

“Scrutiny wasn’t happy there was an identifiable need to spend that money on the roof.

“We have asked officers to go away and look at an alternative, as we understand there may be a much cheaper, and just as sustainable, solution to what was proposed in the initial business case.”

He said the £73,600 figure was the full cost of the revised “internal works” and it emerged cabinet passed the draft capital budget, minus most of the cash for the roof repairs.

Cabinet member for economic development, Cllr Goronwy Edwards, said he would have liked the “Rolls Royce fix” for the roof but agreed it would be “prudent” to look at the works again.

Cllr Sam Rowlands, leader of Conwy county council Pic: Conwy county council (clear for use by all partners)

Cllr Wood said he was “concerned” at Cllr Edwards’ comment about wanting a “Rolls Royce fix” yet only £73,600 had been identified for the internal work.

He said: “I just don’t see how it’s signed off as £682,000 but we have no real idea how much (the repairs are) going to cost at the moment.

“I would like to see (the issue) go back to finance and resources scrutiny committee please.”

Cllr Cossey suggested holding back an additional £240,000 allocated for street lighting from the saved cash to cover repair work on the roof.

Cllr Rowlands said “initial indications” showed the cost of the alternative fix would be “around £40,000” which could be dealt with from existing budgets.

Cllr Anne McCaffrey supported Cllr Wood’s amendment calling for the business cases and approval of £11.063m in unsupported borrowing be passed, with a guarantee the Porth Eirias roof issue would be investigated further by scrutiny committee members.

Councillors backed the proposal, with two voting against and one member abstaining.

*Porth Eirias was home to a now defunct watersports centre and still houses celebrity chef Bryn Williams’ Bistro restaurant, a cafe and bike shop.

There were complaints about money spent on the £3.7m development when it emerged in 2015 kitchen and infrastructure works, including a half share of a £38,000 upgrade of the Porth Eirias electrical supply for the Bistro, cost the council around £164,000.

The development was funded with the aid of European and Welsh Government cash as part of the wider redevelopment of Colwyn Bay waterfront.