£5200 - the price to upgrade one PC - New figures show the true extent of Haringey Labour's incompetence

2.28.00pm GMT Fri 7th Apr 2006

Figures recently obtained by the Haringey Liberal Democrats show that the cost of upgrading one Haringey Council PC as part of the now infamous Tech Refresh project was a staggering £5,200. The figures came as part of a response to Liberal Democrat Councillors' ongoing efforts to elicit some accountability from Haringey Council.

One of the most costly mistakes made by Haringey Council in years, the Tech Refresh project was supposed to cost roughly £9 million, but these costs spiralled out of control due to a lack of competent project management until the final costs were a staggering £24.6 million.

During the project, some 4,759 computers were 'Tech Refreshed' - an equivalent cost of just under £5200 per computer.

Councillor Neil Williams, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition, said:

"£5,200 is an incredible cost for upgrading a single computer - hardly a bargain. This project beggars belief - the lack of competent project management from Haringey's Labour councillors is shocking. Local people are rightly furious about the way Labour have wasted their Council Taxes whilst in power. No member of the Council has admitted any responsibility at all for the mistakes, and we find this simply unacceptable."