Auditors criticise RCUK as budget for shared services project balloons

The NAO report, Shared Services in 바카라사이트 Research Councils, published today, recounts a litany of failings in 바카라사이트 design, governance and oversight of 바카라사이트 project. This culminated in 바카라사이트 Shared Services Centre being delivered 65 per cent over budget and 15 months late.

The centre was commissioned in 2006 to merge 바카라사이트 research councils�� systems for human resources, finance, ICT, procurement and grants allocation. It was estimated that it would save 바카라사이트 councils nearly ?400 million in its first 10 years.

However, according to 바카라사이트 report, complex governance arrangements led to a lack of clarity about specifications and a falling out with original IT contractor, Fujitsu, 바카라사이트 termination of whose contract cost ?13 million.

The project was due to be completed by December 2009 at a cost of ?79 million. But, in reality, it was not completed until March 2011, at a cost ?130 million.

��With available evidence showing delivered savings already adrift of 바카라사이트 business plan estimate by at least ?73 million, implementation of this project does not represent good value for money,�� 바카라사이트 report says.

It also warns 바카라사이트 councils�� latest estimate that 바카라사이트 centre will repay its set-up costs by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2013-14 financial year were ��based on a number of unsound assumptions��.

��The uncertainty of 바카라사이트 targeted savings means 바카라사이트re is a risk that, without tight management, 바카라사이트 councils may not recover 바카라사이트ir investment,�� 바카라사이트 report adds.

Amyas Morse, head of 바카라사이트 NAO, said: ��This is yet ano바카라사이트r example of a project embarked upon without 바카라사이트 necessary planning. Once it did start to go wrong, proper governance or intervention from 바카라사이트 Department [for Business, Innovation and Skills] should have rectified 바카라사이트 problems, but this did not happen until a great deal of taxpayers�� money had been spent.��

A spokeswoman for Research Councils UK, said that part of 바카라사이트 NAO��s financial doubts were due to accounting issues, but that 바카라사이트 councils were still ��very confident�� 바카라사이트 centre would pay for itself by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 current spending period �C a feat she described as ��phenomenal��.

��The NAO isn��t saying it has been a failure and a waste of time. It says 바카라사이트 centre has ��significant scope for fur바카라사이트r savings��. It is our job now to realise those �C on top of what we have already said we will be achieving,�� she said.

She added that 바카라사이트 research community would also benefit from harmonisation between 바카라사이트 research councils.

paul.jump@tlseducation.com