BASINGSTOKE council's joint Liberal Democrat/Labour administration came in for heavy criticism at Thursday's council meeting over the £1million-plus overspend on the Aquadrome swimming complex.

Councillors were told that the final construction bill had been settled for £11,795,000 - contractors Willmott Dixon agreed to accept this sum in full settlement although they had been asking for £13million.

But to this had to be added a further £1.2million in professional fees and other project costs, making the final bill £12,989,500 - one-and-a-quarter million pounds over the original budget.

Councillor Harry Robinson told the meeting: "I congratulate the borough council on the outstanding facility we have ended up with. However, I would also like to congratulate them on the management of that contract but I find it impossible because we have shown how inept we were.

"We were asked in September 2001 for a one-off payment of £363,000 but then, in July 2002 and October 2002, we were asked for more money.

"We now end up with an out-of-control contract approaching £13million when the original project was supposed to cost £11.7million - and with no explanation.

"The portfolio holder seemed not to realise that this was going hopelessly out of control.

"Will they give an assurance to us and the taxpayers that they will learn from this experience? If this council was a company and a contract went 10 per cent over budget, heads would roll."

Cllr Phil Heath added that when the project was first envisaged, swimmers in Basingstoke wanted competition lanes but were told this would cost £12million and the council could not afford it.

"We now have something that has not satisfied their needs - but it has still cost us £13million," he said.

Cabinet member for recreation and culture Cllr John Shaw told the meeting: "The fundamental point is whether the Aquadrome represents good value for money.

"We have built one of the cheapest swimming complexes per square metre in the country.

"The figures in the paper show that it is better value for money than Southampton's swimming pool and diving complex and Manchester's Commonwealth Games pool and a number of others throughout the country."

He told members that the old lido and ice rink complex cost the council in excess of £400,000 a year to run.

The Aquadrome produced an income of £160,000 - an improvement of more than £500,000 a year. On the eight-year running contract, that would mean they were more than £4million better off.

Councillors noted the £496,000 taken from reserves to pay off the final construction bill.