Highways Havoc

1.05.56pm GMT Fri 19th Dec 2008

Tory-run Hertfordshire County Council have found they have not costed their Highways re-organisation correctly. There is a shortfall on the budget of half a million pounds. This will directly impact on service delivery. No local county councillors were informed of this mismanagement: it took enquiries from the Liberal Democrats after local front line staff told them to find out the truth.

Highways officials have been left reapplying for their own jobs. Even now after a week of asking questions as to how this occurred, no proper explanation has been forthcoming from the County Council.

County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Lib Dem spokesperson on Highways and the Environment said on hearing about the mess:'This smacks of total ineptitude by Tory controlled Herts Highways which seems to be reorganising for the sake of it.

It is very worrying that experienced officers are having to reapply for their own jobs. I am seriously concerned as to what impact this will have on service delivery.

Stephen continued: 'We were already concerned about the redundancies in front line delivery and the top heavy structure - this will make matters worse.'