More funding requested for new bereavement centre

4 hours ago

Hannah BrownLocal Democracy reporter

News image — An artist's impression has shown how the Lake View bereavement centre will look

East Cambridgeshire District Council An aerial view artist's impression of a car park, a burial ground and buildings. A lake is to the right with a ploughed field to the left. — An artist's impression has shown how the Lake View bereavement centre will look

An extra buffer of £300,000 has been requested after the cost of building a new bereavement centre increased.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is developing the site of the former Mepal Outdoor Centre, between Ely and Chatteris.

A council committee this week was told that "unforeseen" extra work had been needed on the scheme.

But members were also told that the Lake View bereavement centre was on schedule to open in the summer.

The council had approved a budget of £12.9m for the project, from money given to the authority by developers through the community infrastructure levy.

A further £419,000 had been set aside as a contingency fund to cover any additional costs.

But a report for the council's finance and assets committee said all that contingency money had now been allocated.

Officers told the committee on Wednesday that the project was moving at an "exceptional pace" and was on track to finish on time this summer.

However, they said that although surveys had been undertaken by both the council and contractors Kier, unexpected things had been found. These included underground structures that were not on any maps of the site.

Liberal Democrats Two women facing the camera. They are standing in front of a gate that says "Keep out" There are trees in the background. — Charlotte Cane (right), pictured alongside Lib Dem leader Lorna Dupre, had already criticised the cost of the project

Opposition members raised concerns that the surveys had not picked up on these issues.

Liberal Democrat Charlotte Cane, who is also the area's MP, said: "I have not heard anything that properly explains the cost increases based on what we were told at the time of the budget.

"We were told it included extra for groundworks. We were told it included extra for surveys."

She said it would be "irresponsible" to put aside more money for the project based on the information they had been given.

However, Conservative council leader Anna Bailey said the new contingency budget was needed to prevent any delays. She said it would be "catastrophic" and "irresponsible not to go ahead".

She added that she "wholeheartedly" believed the council was getting value for money from the scheme, even if the additional money being asked for was used.

A decision on whether to set aside the additional £300,000 will be made by the full council, which is next scheduled to meet on 24 February.

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