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Website probe plea is rejected
GOVERNMENT officials have turned down a request by Sheffield MP Clive Betts for a further review into how a community group decided to splash out £360,000 on a website.
The move was made without tendering and used a company recommended by a board member who was one of its employees and due to receive commission.
Beighton Villages Development Trust was criticised over the matter in a report by the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, which followed an investigation into concerns raised in The Star and by Mr Betts.
Sheffield South East Labour MP Mr Betts wanted an assessment of whether the venture had been value for money after his own research found the project could have been carried out for a tenth of the amount spent.
The website, Beighton4Life.co.uk, was set up to give businesses and community groups their own internet pages. Its 362,751 cost included paying Vantage Technologies, based in Holbrook, to build the site and provide technical support and training for BVDT staff.
The internet portal has been so little used that the cost worked out at 3 per hit.
The GOYH said failure to shop around was an "irregularity." It fined BVDT 5,000 for the failure to tender.
After the report last October, Mr Betts wrote to The GOYH calling for a full financial audit of the website.
At the time, he said: "I simply do not understand how a project of this kind can possibly cost 362,751. It is imperative IT expertise be obtained to evaluate value for money of this project."
But Felicity Everiss, director of the GOYH, has now replied. She said: "We asked a CLG IT procurement officer to look at papers relating to the project including the business plan.
"The initial view was that the project costs involved might be higher than expected but there was insufficient detail to form a proper judgement. A complicating factor is the difference in the market costs since the contract was let in 2003.
"We have considered whether to commission an external review of the value for money aspects and we have decided on balance not to do so. Such an exercise would cost public money and might prove inconclusive given passage of time and lack of detail in the papers.
"In any case it is difficult to see what further action Government Office could take."
Mr Betts said: "I'm disappointed. I may now ask the Audit Commission to look into the matter. I am not convinced about GOYH's explanation - this is a serious matter involving public money."
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