Taipei's plan for eight luxury shade umbrellas in the Xinyi district has slipped from summer to next winter, an embarrassment for Mayor Chiang Wan-an and a waste of public money in the eyes of city councillors.

• Each "fashion mushroom" umbrella costs NT$7.44 million, with the whole project running near NT$60 million.
• Chiang promised the shades would be finished in August; they are now expected in January, long after the heat has passed.
• Councillor Chien Shu-pei says the contract was awarded in March, a month before the city even applied for the funding — accusing officials of dodging normal budget rules and council oversight.
• Welding on the steel frames failed the contractor's own ultrasonic checks, which the city says is why the work stalled.
• Councillor Li Chien-chang wants the money clawed back and the whole project reviewed.

Outlook: The city insists the shades will still be built once safety checks pass, but pressure is building in the council to cancel the budget outright.