Sir – In August 2010 the growth and infrastructure scrutiny committee were asked by the Oxfordshire County Council cabinet to support a contract to build a waste incinerator at Ardley for which planning was refused in October 2009.
That refusal was supported at Viridor's appeal in July by barristers representing the OCC itself, the Cherwell district and Ardley parish councils, as well as by many local residents and councillors.
The scrutiny committee were unable to exercise their duty of scrutiny since they were not given full financial details of the contract, not even the total cost (£634m), but agreed (by five votes to three) with the cabinet which is now about to sign the contract even though the Secretary of State will give his appeal decision by 14 January, 2011.
The cabinet is committing Oxfordshire to a £634m contract on a 25-year project that is still without planning permission. If planning permission is not granted, the OCC is liable to pay £6m compensation to Viridor for breach of contract.
The cabinet is determined to spend £634 m that has not been subject to financial scrutiny and to gamble £6m on the appeal outcome. No wonder, at this time of austerity, that the county council has to dismiss staff and cut services.
Brian Wilson Weston on the Green
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