Cost of building new community hall to be £33,000 over budget

A prospective overspend of more than £33,000 on the new Whittington Community Hall project has been reported to parish councillors.

Members of Whittington Parish Council heard that the overspend was currently running at £33,271.18, although grant funding totalling £16,286 had already been received to cover project elements relating to the garden and landscaping.

Other additional expenses included items which had not been budgeted for, such as a pump alarm, lock suiting, a CCTV drainage survey, agreed at a previous meeting, doors, fencing and cycle shed provision.

Further extra costs related to a change to the specification for the roofing finish, made necessary by the unavailability of the original specification, although it now has the advantage of a 20-year warranty whereas the original specification had no warranty.

Further additional costs related to the foul and surface water drainage arrangements as approved by Severn Trent Water.

Parish councillors felt that the additional instructions were necessary and resolved that they would be acceptable in principle.

It was noted, however, that negotiations were taking place to reduce costs where possible and parish councillors and members of the community hall committee had made provision for such contingency costs within their budgeting.

It was anticipated that additional expenditure would also be necessary to fit out the kitchen and kitchenette, with those items subject to further negotiation.

Parish council chairman Steve Burrows said that the parish council had put money aside for the new hall over recent years and as long as additional costs were reviewed and kept under control they could be covered.

Malcolm MacLeod, chairman of the community hall committee, told parish councillors it was anticipated that construction of the new hall was on track to be completed by mid-July, with an official opening event earmarked for Saturday, September 4.