New CLM boss to stop ODA 'meddling' in 2012

The new head of London 2012 delivery partner CLM is demanding showdown talks with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as tension between the pair continues to grow.

CJ understands that the move comes as bosses at the Laing O’Rourke-led CLM consortium are becoming increasingly frustrated by the ODA’s “constant meddling”.

New CLM programme director Ian Galloway took over the role from Ron Brooks last month.

He is currently on holiday, but is expected to attempt to resolve the growing friction when he returns next week.

Both organisations are based in the same offices at Canary Wharf, east London and relations between the two are understood to be fraught.
One senior office source said: “CLM just wants to be left alone to get on with what it has been brought in to do, and what it is good at – delivering construction of the Games.

“The problem is that ODA officials are always standing over their shoulder and constantly meddling in things that they don’t really know about.

“Every day there is something different they are checking and re-checking. There’s definitely a feeling there that the ODA are the bureaucrats almost standing in the way of CLM who are trying to get on with things despite them.”

At the time of Galloway’s appointment, Ray O’Rourke, chairman of the CLM board, said: “He will lead the CLM team and utilise his considerable experience of large-scale infrastructure projects as we work with the ODA to focus on delivery and the start of construction on site next year.”

The source said: “This new guy Galloway is a different kettle of fish and he’ll be looking to change the relationship between the ODA and CLM.

“There needs to be some sort of separation of power there rather than the ODA thinking it can constantly tell CLM what to do.
“The new man won’t stand for any nonsense. He’s ex-Bechtel and was in charge of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link so he’ll have firm ideas about how a major project should be run.

A CLM spokesperson played down suggestions of a rift. “The ODA and CLM are one team and continue to have a strong and close working relationship.

“The two organisations are fully integrated and co-located at the ODA headquarters.

“It is a reflection of the effective partnership built during our first year that we have together met all major delivery milestones to date.”

An ODA spokesperson said that the pair were “working well” together.