XN000022-1985-09-10 — Page 6

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1985

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+THE CHANGES CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE REORGANISATION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR WERE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE, HE POINTED OUT.

+ THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH TOOK OVER POLICY ON ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND FOOD HYGIENE MATTERS FROM HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND POLICY ON RECREATION AND CULTURE FROM HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH,

+ON POLICY MATTER THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES STANDS IN THE SAME RELATIONSHIP TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AS DID THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.+

ALTHOUGH CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE GRADES WHICH ARE COMMON TO BOTH THE URBAN SERVICES AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WERE PASSED TO THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, DR CHAM SAID, THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY DIMINUTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S POWERS.

CAPITAL WORKS EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED AT $280 MILLION

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THE EXPENDITURE ON THE URBAN COUNCIL'S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $280 MILLION AGAINST THE APPROVED PROVISION OF $330 MILLION.

THIS WAS STATED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON UC CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME 1984/85 - 1988/89 TABLED FOR MEMBERS' INFORMATION AT THE COUNCIL'S OPEN MEETING TODAY.

THE REPORT STATED THAT THE DECREASE IN EXPENDITURE LEVEL IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:

SLIPPAGES IN SOME PROJECTS DUE TO DELAY IN THE PREPARATION OF WORKING DRAWINGS AND TENDER DOCUMENTS, CHANGES IN DESIGN, REVISION OF COST ESTIMATES, SLOW PROGRESS ON SITE, INCLEMENT WEATHER AND OTHER UNFORESEEN SITE PROBLEMS.

GENUINE SAVINGS ACHIEVED DUE TO LOWER TENDER PRICES, RECEIVED ON CONTRACTS LET IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

CLOSER MONITORING OF THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE HAS ALSO RESULTED IN A REDUCTION FORECAST EXPENDITURE LEVELS FOR SOME PROJECTS WHICH HAVE THEREFORE BEEN REVISED DOWNWARDS TO MORE REALISTIC LEVELS, THE REPORT ADDED.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE SAME FACTORS WHICH AFFECTED EXPENDITURE IN THE PAST, THE REPORT FORECAST THAT THE EXPENDITURE ON CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS IN 1986/87 WOULD BE AROUND $300,

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