South Wales Evening Post - 7 December 2007
Swansea Council's leader has hit back at his opponents in the row over the authority's controversial multi-million pound IT scheme.
Chris Holley reacted angrily after claims there are flaws in the finances of the authority's £83 million eGovernment deal.
Conservative councillor Rene Kinzett maintained the programme was not checked to see how much taxpayers' money it would actually save.
But Councillor Holley believes other parties are trying to create controversy in the run-up to next year's local elections.
He said: "I will look into these claims in detail and respond accordingly.
"What I will say is that other parties are trying to make themselves appear electable."
The council's £83 million IT deal with technology firm Capgemini has caused controversy since it was first announced in 2004.
The council's technology workers went on strike over the proposals because of fears over job cuts.
But officers insisted the scheme would improve the council's computer systems and save hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money in the long term.
It was expected to reduce IT bills by £711,000 in its first year, but the council later admitted it missed the target by almost £500,000. This week it was revealed the new system had achieved barely 30 per cent of its original savings target.
Councillor Kinzett claimed the problem was caused because council-employed consultant Deloitte was not asked to find out if the savings were achievable.
Speaking at an audit scrutiny board meeting, he said: "Deloitte was taken on by the council to ensure the final deal with Capgemini delivered value for money.
"To be told cabinet members and officers were happy to sign off on a contract without proper external scrutiny of the savings figures is staggering."
Councillor Holley said he still had faith in the new IT system, but added he would not issue a full comment on the matter until he had read the full report of Monday night's scrutiny meeting.
He said: "I was not there because I am not on that committee."
However, Councillor Holley said he was taking the claims of political rivals - the Conservatives, Plaid and Labour - with a pinch of salt.
"It's silly season at the moment in the run-up to the elections," he added
