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VOYAGER: BAILIFFS THREAT TO THE COUNCIL HOUSE

26-01-2008

Birmingham City Council has been threatened with bailiffs because of late payments to suppliers – with critics blaming the new Voyager IT system. A former councillor has also told us he’s owed hundreds of pounds for work carried out last year. The news follows our revelation that supplies of daily papers to city libraries have been stopped by newsagents who are still waiting for their dosh.

The Stirrer’s sources have confirmed that since Christmas a number of companies have used the threat of debt recovery in pursuit of a range of debts, for amounts running into several thousand pounds.

Former Labour councillor and cabinet member John Tyrrell is also waiting for a £700 cheque after carrying out education work last year – his first invoice dating back to October remains unpaid.

Council Chief Executive Stephen Hughes wrote to Tyrrell earlier this month saying, “The settling in of our new system is taking a little longer than anticipated and I am sorry this is causing delays in getting invoices paid.

“Certainly as a City Council, we do fully recognise the importance and value of the service provided by contractors such as yourself and we are extremely grateful for the patience displayed during this stabilisation period.

”A great deal of consideration and contingency measures went into the planning, design and construction of our new system and our prime concern was to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

“Whilst this has been achieved to some extent, clearly we have fallen slightly short in some areas because of the complexities involved.

Tyrell told us there “seems to me to lack concern about the effects of non-payment on businesses and individuals.

“It’s all very well asking us for patience, but I don’t think they’d be patient with me if I owed them that much money.”

The Stirrer Forum is also teeming with tales about the failures of Voyager. Among the allegations on our Message Board is a claim that staff at children’s homes are having to buy food and other supplies for those in their care; and that Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Office was recently visited by bailiffs because the rent hadn’t been paid.

Birmingham City Council is still considering its response to our enquiries.

If you know any more, email adriangoldberg@hotmail.com (discretion assured) or join the discussion on The Stirrer Forum.