I used to describe such things as 'NIMT' programmes - Not In My Tour. In other words, issues squirrelled away until sprung on the next incumbent when the previous post holder escaped. - BEagle
Very similar to the alleged practice in the former Ship Department in Bath whereby civilian members of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors would wait until uniformed colleagues were shipped out before dusting off their own in-house ideas once more. They also were claimed to have a big rubber stamp embossed with "NIH", standing for "Not Invented Here".
Of course I could not possibly comment on whether either - or both! - of these practices transferred to Abbey Wood....
Jack