The recent critical report from the public accounts committee about the Government's handling of the huge Thames Gateway regeneration project has been a publicity bonus for the Thames Gateway Forum, which takes place this week in Excel, in London's Docklands. The public accounts committee claimed the DCLG was not up to the job of handling regeneration of the 40-mile stretch from Canary Wharf to the mouth of the River Thames. Its chairman, Edward Leigh, said: ‘The department has not yet established the basic arrangements for controlling the programme including – incredibly – a budget. ‘Crucial to the enterprise's success will be a full and co-ordinated contribution by Whitehall departments but, like a child clamouring for the attention of bigger classmates, it does not have the influence to make this happen.' The MPs' report, which follows a highly critical review by the National Audit Office, found the scheme was made up of disjointed projects, rather than a coherent programme. Failure to motivate partners, a lack of co-ordinated objectives and progress measures were all putting the programme at risk. The committee has told the department it must produce a properly costed plan, and target marketing at potential private investors, employers and new residents. Its report warned: ‘Without significant improvement in the overall management of the programme, it will remain a series of disjointed projects, and is unlikely to achieve its potential to make a major difference to economic regeneration and sustainable housing.' But a DCLG spokesman said the report was ‘already out-of-date', adding: ‘Following the recent spending review, we will shortly be publishing our delivery plan for the Gateway in which we will set out fully-costed plans to continue regenerating the area. ‘We have clear targets to create 160,000 new homes and 180,000 new jobs by 2016. And we are on course to meet, if not exceed, those targets.' Doubtless, this discussion will form a key part of the forum event on 28-29 November, which includes the launch of the Thames Gateway Plan. It will be the first opportunity to examine the plan, as well as a welcome address by housing minister, Yvette Cooper. And there is also the new Thames Gateway model, the size of a swimming pool.
