Inquiry to look into care home overspend

An independent inquiry will look at a £1.3m overspend and delays in building an extension to an Alderney care home, the States of Alderney has said.

The inquiry into the soaring costs of the 13-room extension to the States-owned Connaught Care Home will be led by Martin Thornton, a judge from Guernsey Magistrates' Court, said the States.

Last December the States of Alderney approved an extra £340,000 for the extension costs.

In 2021 an extra £737,000 was requested for the project, following on from £280,000 granted the previous year.

Planning permission was granted for the extension in St Anne in 2019 and £1.29m was approved for the project in March 2020.

Overall the States has approved £2.367m for the project, said a spokesperson.

Iain MacFarlane, chairman of the general services committee, said: "This will not be just a tick-box exercise.

"The inquiry will thoroughly examine key processes and procedures relating to the project, ensuring that the overall accountability for the perceived failings is identified."

He said the findings would be made public and the committee asked for recommendations to prevent "similar issues from occurring".

The committee recognises "the community's frustrations over the delivery of this project and its perceived shortcomings and remains committed to transparency and responsible management of public funds", he added.

Deputy Kevin Gentle told a States meeting in December the work was finished and checks were under way for the extension to open in the "early summer".

Deputy Lin Maurice told the meeting: "Connaught Care has been the worst headache that we have ever had to put up with."

Members had called for the inquiry to be held in public but it will be held in private and the "key findings will be made public", said the government.

The inquiry is scheduled to run for six weeks, according to the States of Alderney.

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