An audit of the construction of the Campo das Eiras Multi-use Complex, detailed in a report dated the 3rd of this month, has been delivered to the Lusa news agency. The report from the Court of Auditors (TdC) concludes that the municipality’s conduct “indicates illegality in awarding additional works.”
The public accounts oversight body noted that on December 29, 2020, the local government entered into a direct contract with the contractor for the complex’s construction, valued at 1,460,000 euros.
Additionally, the city council awarded “eight supplementary contracts totaling 579,757.42 euros, representing a 39.71% increase over the initial contract price,” with “a total of 126,961.03 euros in works being eliminated,” the report states.
The tribunal highlights that the municipality, managed by the PS party, characterized the work under the eight additional contracts as supplementary.
“However, the works under the 3rd to 8th additional contracts, totaling 462,093.18 euros, were approved following changes to the initial project to align with a change in the project’s purpose and function, at the municipality’s behest during execution,” it emphasizes.
Accordingly, the TdC believes that the awarding of these works “was not necessary for completing the project as initially designed and contracted,” therefore “they do not constitute supplementary work.”
The audit argues, “Their award should have been preceded by a public tender or limited tender by prior qualification, which did not happen, leading to illegality.”
The oversight entity states that alterations to the initial project “also caused a partial suspension of the work and a request for financial balance restoration amounting to 77,790.00 euros.”
The report contends, “The identified illegality could imply the practice of a continued financial infringement, potentially incurring financial liability sanctions,” attributing potential responsibility to the Head of the Division of Works, Urban Services, and Territorial Management of the municipality.
In its audit report, the tribunal recommends that the Almodôvar City Council “strictly comply with all legal regulations regarding the awarding of supplementary works and public contracting.”
The TdC also imposed an administrative fine of 1,716.40 euros on the municipality and forwarded the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
