Liverpool Council awarded a major demolition contract to the son of former mayor Joe Anderson — despite his firm allegedly having no background in the safety-critical work.
That was one of the findings of Max Caller's report into Liverpool City Council that prompted Local Government Minister Robert Jenrick to appoint external commissioners to take over the administration earlier this week.
"SSC had no previous relationship with the council or the Highways team or their professional technical consultants," the Caller report read.
"Not only was this in contravention of the Construction Design Management regulation but also this action exposed the site teams to considerable Health and Safety risk," it added. "It also increased the commercial risk to the council of budget over run and additional compensation event claims."
David Anderson's Site Safety Consultants (SSC) firm won a council tender to oversee the demolition of the Churchill Way flyover in the city.
"I feel I am forced to comment at this point due to false accusations which are slanderous, unfounded, biased, tactical and politically motivated," he said. “I refute strongly the claims made regarding the experience, payments, contract and work facilitated by SSC on the dismantling of the Churchill Way Flyovers for Amey plc."
David Anderson said he was considering libel action over the report’s allegations, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Both men were arrested last December, along with famous former deputy council leader-turned property developer Derek Hatton and two others, following a three-month police investigation. Joe Anderson resigned as mayor days later.
None of those arrested have yet been charged.
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