Dundee City Council leader John Alexander says there are no hidden mysteries behind £6 million of repairs needed at the Olympia Leisure Centre.
The SNP member for Strathmartine is not satisfied with the situation but says he is “reassured” that root causes have been established.
Mr Alexander offered his views on lingering questions about the multimillion-pound costs during a year-end interview.
He outlined why an independent review of the council’s £4.4 million roofing blunder was signed off, but not one for Olympia.
He said a “focused overview” and a “kind of” independent review were conducted.
Swimmers in Dundee and the surrounding area have struggled to find places to swim after the centre was shuttered in October 2021.
Mr Alexander emphasised Olympia will open “as soon as the work is finished; there are no qualms or questions about that.”
It’s currently “on track” to reopen after two years in October 2023.
‘No skeletons in the closet’
He said: “I don’t think there are any skeletons in the closet.
“And I would be gobsmacked if anything came forward that hasn’t already been reported through the significant and vast amounts of information that have been provided to all elected members. And to the general public.”
‘Significant design issues’
Asked why there was an independent review for the roofing failures, but not for Olympia, he replied: “Not only was it (the review) about hundreds of homes across the city, there was private sector tenancy, there were legal obligations, there were frameworks, and there was a process in terms of contractors.
“On the Olympia – that was a slightly different situation in terms of being ten years down the line (from opening in 2013) and then apparently finding there was some significant issues with the original design.”
Dundee City Council’s architectural services division provided the original design for the leisure centre.
Senior council officers have previously listed the areas which they believe may have contributed to the pool’s poor condition, despite it being so young.
Among these are question marks over the “initial workmanship and detailing” and “operational management of the pool.”
But so far there has been nothing publicly released comprehensively detailing the exact cause, who was responsible, who may be liable, and how a repeat could be prevented.
‘A focused overview’
Pressed that it “stands to reason” to have an independent review he said: “I would contest that we’ve not done any sort of audit or investigation.
“There very clearly has been and that has also been considered as part of the audit process by our independent auditor (for the roofing blunder).
“There has been a very focused overview on what the problems were; what the issues were in terms of process, individuals involved, and all of that detail.”
‘A kind of independent review’
He continued: “There is nothing that has been hidden in any way.
“Opposition members have been provided with all the information that has been required, to give reassurance…there has been an adequate response from council services..
“But (there has) also (been) a degree of a kind of independent overview to say what were the scale of the problems we’re dealing with.”
Mr Alexander added: “I am reassured that answers have been provided as to what happened, where it happened and what the issues were.”
Another question is whether any of the millions for repairs can be recouped. The council maintains it would be “inappropriate to comment on questions surrounding legal liability”.
‘Lessons must be learned’
Mr Alexander concluded: “The chief executive (Gregory Colgan) has already taken actions to ensure there are mechanisms in place, so that this is never repeated.
“We’ve got clear lines of accountability in a way that perhaps wasn’t there for both of these programs (roofing and Olympia) and should have been there.”
