Opposition councillors in Wolverhampton have accused the city’s Labour-run authority of avoiding scrutiny over a new Civic Halls refurbishment contract expected to be signed off this week – but behind closed doors.
The Conservative Group believes that a major multi-million pound contract such as this, the details of which are being kept under wraps by Labour councillors, should be subject to full disclosure and public scrutiny.
The new procurement contract comes after Shaylor Group went into administration in June, leaving the £38 million Civic Halls refurbishment project in limbo. Council officers have sped up the process to secure a replacement supplier in order to avoid any more delays to the scheme.
The refurbishment has been blighted by setbacks and cost overruns. Last month the Council’s external auditors Grant Thornton condemned their project management and oversight of the scheme, and issued a “qualified” verdict of the authority’s accounts in what is believed to be a first.
Under the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, contracts that are awarded under a so-called ‘single supplier framework award’ can be approved by only the Cabinet Member and relevant Director, without being subject to scrutiny by backbench councillors. But Conservative councillors have now criticised the secrecy over this major new contract, given the previous problems.
Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Wendy Thompson said: “It is appalling to see that Labour councillors are avoiding scrutiny over this huge contract regarding the Civic Halls refurbishment. They are deliberately trying to hide details from the public, who rightly want to know just how their money is being spent.
“The council’s management of the Civic Halls has been a complete shambles, so it’s not right that contracts of significantly high value can be signed off by just a single councillor and senior officer. How are elected representatives meant to do their job and scrutinise these decisions if they are prevented from doing so by the Labour Party?
“Frankly I have no confidence in Labour’s ability to oversee major projects like this, and neither do Wolverhampton residents.”
