Swindon may have been too ambitious in taking on major roads projects over the last decade or so.

And it could even have been too successful in getting funding from government grants – because of the stringent conditions thes bring.

That’s the implication of two reports into significant roads projects commissioned by the borough council’s chief executive officer Susie Kemp and produced by Euclid Street’s auditors.

Ms Kemp asked for reports into the work on the Moonraker’s junction - which started in the summer of 2020 and finished last year, suffering a six-month long over-run - and the New Eastern Villages Southern Connector Road - which is currently being built, but which might go £10m over the £30m budget.

As at June 30, 2021 the scheme projected an overspend of £661,000 against a budget of £2.8m. Construction works were due to start on June 20 2020 but there was a one-week delay due to traffic management complications. The scheme was programmed to complete on January 21, 2021, but substantial completion was achieved on July 31, 2021. Works were delivered during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This consultancy review has identified fundamental weaknesses in project and financial governance arrangements for the Moonrakers scheme which have contributed to unforeseen costs and attributed to delays. Project management practices used in this scheme do not follow best practice.

Ms Kemp told the committee: “We should remember just how big Swindon’s major highways programme is – it’s £226m, nearly a quarter of a billion pounds.

“Half of that has come from the government or its agent the Local Enterprise partnership, some of that money comes from Section 106 contributions, some from the council’s capital programme.”

She continued: “Ten years ago this council made hugely ambitious bids to government programmes to support our ambitious programme to see Swindon as a place of growth.”

Those grants from government often come with strict deadlines on when the money must be spent.

Ms Kemp said: “The learnings from these projects is to be more mindful about what we are bidding for, especially if we get funding with stringent strings attached.”

She said she hoped the lessons of the Moonrakers p[project where she said there “is much to improve on” had been learned by the start of subsequent schemes.

Also present was the Conservative cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport and planning Gary  Sumner.

He pointed out that the cluster of major schemes  brought disruption, but it meant Swindon would be prepared for growth.

He said: “Normally houses are built and then you have to improve the infrastructure and everyone says ‘why didn’t you do it before?’.

“We have done these projects before the first house of the NEV is built. It means we are ready for the houses."