DCC refuse to provide risk facts

A fortnight ago the Sentinel revealed how Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Mike Nesbitt had been taken aback by the risk matrix for another ambitious Londonderry scheme, the One Plan.

The UUP chief pointed out that OFMDFM had defined four risks and that both the “probability of risk occurring” and the “impact of risk” scored five - the highest score possible on a scale of one to five.

Mr Nesbitt stated: “The impact of risk also scores five, so you are saying that it is almost certain to happen, and, when it does, it will almost certainly be catastrophic. I have never seen two scores of five on a risk matrix.”

The Sentinel asked the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) - which is pumping most money into Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 - for a copy of the risk matrix for that scheme.

But DCAL referred us to Derry City Council. Whilst the idea for entering the running for UK City of Culture 2013 was that of departed Ilex boss Aideen McGinley, Derry City Council is the lead partner.

A spokesperson for Derry City Council said it would consider the release of the project risk register detrimental to the effective management of the risks as it is an internal management document.

Last year the Sentinel reported how wages must rise, jobs must be created in poorer areas, the city must be more equal, there must be better relations between Protestants and Catholics and people must be happier to live here otherwise Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 will have been a failure.

Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the impact of the first ever UK City of Culture 2013 will be measured between 2013 and 2020 and that a specific set of targets will need to have been met otherwise the whole thing will have been a waste of time and money.

But Derry City Council merely stated: “A Risk Management Strategy, System and City of Culture Project Risk Register are in place which identifies all risks which may impact on the successful delivery of the project.

“The risks currently being managed in the project risk register, are similar to other projects of this scale and include the following: Accountability and Governance Requirements; Funding; Income Targets; Marketing; Event Management; Legacy; Accommodation; Strategic Planning & Project Management; Transport Arrangements; Financial Management; Management of 3rd Parties; Health and Safety; Community Engagement.”