Councillors updated on Picturedrome costs

An artist's impression of the proposed south elevation of the Picturedrome including the new screen SUS-150603-091224001

Monday’s policy and resources committee meeting saw town councillors updated on work, including on the fourth screen project, asbestos work and electrics.

The last two are the latest expenses, with an asbestos management report costing £950 and £3,300 was for an ‘electrical safety certificate’.

The town council insist these are not part of the ongoing expansion work, stating: “Granted, the most recent [asbestos] discovery was made during construction, but it could just have easily been discovered during works carried out as a result of fire/flood, for example.”

The expansion project was originally set to cost £850k when it was granted permission in July 2015.

However a series of costs have been announced since, including the announcement last March regarding £21,550 in interest.

A meeting in September also saw asbestos work detailed which meant just £1,000 was left of a £15,000 ‘continguency fund’.

Asked why the latest costs were falling to the council rather than the tenant business, a spokesman for the town council said, due to the fact the ongoing work could disturb asbestos, it was the ‘council’s responsibility through the Bognor Pier Company Ltd’ – the company it purchased in 2010, of which the Picturedrome was an asset.

The electricity certificate was said to follow ‘on from the schedule of works’, which it said was ‘previously agreed’ with the tenants would be ‘completed by the council at its own cost’.