A cross-party review into the Lendal Bridge closure was blocked tonight despite the emergence of a damning new report into the botched trial.

A review of the controversial trial was requested by Lib Dem councillors in June, but blocked by Labour members.

However Cllr Andrew Waller, the new chair of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee, made a fresh review proposal. This proposal was defeated tonight by 4 votes to 3 with Green and Labour councillors voting against. Westfield Councillor Stephen Burton again voted against holding an inquiry

Lib Dem, Conservative and Independent Labour Group members supported the review proposal.

The issue is now likely to be discussed at the December Council meeting when opposition Councillors are expected to press for all drivers, who had been fined, to be written to and advised of their right to claim a refund. The December deadline for claims is also likely to be extended.

Whether we will see a proper inquiry into the failings before the May elections remains to be seen. However, the content of the independent report means that questions will have to be answered sooner or later

At the meeting Cllr Waller revealed that the council had commissioned a report earlier this year which had been highly critical of the Labour run authority’s handling of the trial. The report, from Crown Management Solutions, said the trial suffered from “inadequate governance, poor project management and unrealistic deadlines”, the framework for the trial was “disparate and uncoordinated” and responsibility was passed from one senior officer to another. The report said that there was a “significant loss of control” as the trial progressed.

The report is highly critical of the Labour Cabinet. It said the scheme was “driven by political ambition” and the Labour Cabinet Member (Cllr Dave Merrett) “effectively behaved as the project manager”. This led to a “culture of pressurised and directive decision making”. The review said that council officers were “highly nervous” and raised “legal and political concerns” which were ignored.

Cllr Andrew Waller commented:

“I am disappointed that the scrutiny committee voted against holding an investigation into the Lendal Bridge fiasco which has cost the city dearly in terms of reputation. However, the report that I have unearthed into the aftermath of the closure has shown much of what went wrong within the council. I am sure that the public will be fascinated by the content, and wonder why some councillors tonight did not press harder when they had the chance. It is clear that in light of this report we can not let the matter lie.”

Commenting on the contents of the new report Cllr Waller said:

“The report was kept secret and yet contained a catalogue of recommendations which need to be implemented. There was no named and agreed senior officer for the scheme, confusion reigned due to poor record keeping, and the Labour Cabinet Member was called the ‘effective project manager’. The project was rushed, had no agreed objectives, poor consultation, and professional officer advice was ignored by a fear that this would lead to a legal challenge. This report is a damning indictment of Labour’s handling of the botched Lendal Bridge trial and I still believe that a scrutiny review is essential.”