Council reviews £4.3m bill to repair Bath Spa

Costs for rectifying the flaking paint on the £26m Bath Spa project are the focal point of an internal review being carried out by Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) Council.
The review group will assess work carried out by Mowlem between August 2003 and the present date and will also look into why the final bill to correct the condition of the newly applied paint on the spa's four pools rose from an original figure of £339,000 to around £4.3m. Its findings are expected to be complete by 15 July.
Although BANES has revealed that Mowlem did not submit monthly work claims, "an analysis of those which have been received as part of the internal review will be reported along with other findings".
The council review follows the publication of a report by Gardiner Theobald Management Systems (GTMS) that revealed costings for the project had spiralled out of control.
Removing the foam concrete fittings in favour of a stainless steel option to accompany the new Krautoxin paint had added around £158,000 to the costs of remedial works, although that figure could rise further.
GTMS also revealed that an additional £277,000 was needed for unidentified engineer and architect fees, with a further £93,000 to £100,000 in underestimated funds needed for the quantity surveying resource to conclude the project.
Additional legal fees are more than anticipated, although the new undisclosed estimate remains within the overall provisions.
Sources believe the findings of the GTMS report will be used by BANES when it makes a legal claim for incurred costs after the project is completed.
Meanwhile, resurfacing of the four pools by subcontractor Bovitec is on schedule and is expected to finish in July. All other work is due to finish in time for an autumn opening, albeit two years late.
However, a BANES spokesman has admitted that the council is still "very conscious" that other snags could be found in the spa's water system before it can be reopened 12 months after it was closed down.