Ian Brookfield: Council will learn lessons over Wolverhampton Civic Hall revamp

Ian Brookfield said the authority had sought all the assurances it could around the financial health of the Shaylor Group and that its sudden collapse could not have been predicted, but suggested a closer eye would be kept on the new contractor.

The leader said a deal with a new contractor to complete the £38m Civic Halls restoration was close and that work was being done to tie up "loose ends".

It is hoped the new firm will be announced next month and that work will resume shortly after.

Councillor Brookfield said he had been "assured" the project would be delivered within the existing budget and timescale, despite having to bring in a new contractor.

'Mistakes'

He said: "It's an iconic building. A lot of people love it, value it and treasure it. I think the council did the right thing in bringing forward its restoration.

"Have there been mistakes over the last few years? I'm sure there have been because we're all human."

Asked about the collapse of Shaylor and whether the city council would aim to learn lessons to ensure it doesn't happen again on other major projects, he added: "If there are issues or problems then we should do that.

"Yes of course we checked, as per law, the three-year accounts and they looked fine.

"Perhaps there will need to be a closer oversight of the process, even talking to local sub-contractors about any upcoming issues.

The leader acknowledged there would be some lessons from the Shaylor fallout but added: "We're not unlike any other organisation that suffered under the Carillion loss."

Council bosses have come under fire from opposition councillors in the city over the Civic Halls project.

The Conservative group questioned the decision to sign off on the main works in May, just weeks before the collapse of Shaylor, when sub-contractors had reported issues with payments at the start of this year.