2.31 One particularly adverse aspect of the quality review process was its application to reports from the project manager to the Project Board documenting anticipated delays and cost overruns. In October 1996, the new project manager foresaw that the decision to found the partnership on a joint venture company would increase the requirement for expert advice. He raised a report to this effect in November 1996 and submitted it for a quality review. It was returned with a request to address quality related comments. The subsequent exchange between the procurement team and those reviewing the document continued until October 1997. Eventually, the project manager, outside of the agreed process, approached the Agency's chief executive for authorisation to increase the procurement budget.