Procrastination, procrastination, procrastination...

Perhaps the greatest of all the Duckworth/Pugh contributions to the Island - greater even than the Big Green Picnic In The Car Park, or the Yarmouth (IW) International Climate Change Conference - was the Newport East regeneration scheme. Although it was RSM Sutton who first ran the idea of demolishing County Hall up the flagpole back in 2005, it was Duckworth/Pugh genius that translated this into a bold plan for a complete redevelopment of the entire site into a world-class high-rise conference and hotel facility, with luxury penthouse developments and top quality retail and leisure facilities. Feelers were put out to top architects and developers to tempt them away from less attractive commissions in Dubai, Shanghai and Moscow.

So after four years of discussion, with enough hot air to float a fleet of Zeppelins, several acres of rain forest converted into recyclable paper waste, and the inevitable large wodges of cash handed over to consultants in return for reams of stunning word-processed insights, how are things going? Well, it now transpires that the "most business-like option" is to slap a bit of paint on the old eyesore, and leave it at that.

Also appearing to suffer from chronic procrastination is the Council's "Asset Management Strategy" which too has been four years in gestation (so far). Unfortunately that delay has meant that what would have sold for £5m last year, is now worth only £1m this year, thereby adding to the Council's budget mess. Whilst admitting in last week's County Press that he "probably" hadn't reduced the Council's building stock at all (despite manifesto promises), Pugh attempts to turn this into a virtuous refusal to flog of the family silver at economic recession prices.

The main conclusion reached so far seems to be that the Council lacks buildings which are "truly fit for purpose". It's worth remembering that the three major bureaucratic edifices built by councils on the Island in recent times, County Hall, Seaclose Park and Sandown Barracks, were all erected by Tory councils.

Perhaps total inactivity isn't such a bad idea after all......