Row breaks out at North Lincolnshire Council over £2.83m bill for consultants
A COUNCIL row has broken out over a £2.83 million bill for consultants on projects including the Lincolnshire Lakes, Building Schools For The Future and the town centre master plan.
The Conservative group called in a report on the consultants' bills, which leapt £760,000 between 2008-09 and 2009-10, asking for the issue to be reassessed.
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The start of work on Melior College in Scunthorpe as part of the Building Schools For The Future project
But the request was thrown out, with the Labour group saying the meeting to debate the issue was "unnecessary" and "a waste of money".
The fight is over a document produced by North Lincolnshire Council which reveals the amount of taxpayers' cash spent on bringing in outside advisors for major schemes.
The annual report shows almost £1.2 million was spent on "asset management and culture" alone – an area that included spending on The Pods, architectural and structural advice, the Baths Hall and conservation projects.
Conservative councillor Rob Waltham said: "The amount spent could have been equal to a nought per cent council tax rise, which I'm sure taxpayers would have preferred.
"Not only has this money been spent unnecessarily, it undermines the experts we already employ within the council. I strongly feel the amount needs to be reduced and should be examined immediately."
A spokesman for the Conservative group said: "The report notes the council spent £13,500 consulting the public on budget and council tax levels. The public's priority was the highway network, with money spent "supporting culture" an area where reductions would cause least concern.
"It is not effective to spend £13,500 consulting the public, if you are then going to ignore what they want."
But Councillor Andrea Davison, chairwoman of scrutiny, said the Tories had wasted money in calling the issue in.
She said: "The Conservative group set up an unnecessary meeting, wasting taxpayers' money. I certainly wasn't going to allow them to waste a penny more in what was a blatant political point-scoring process, hence the meeting was over very quickly."
Councillor Steve Swift, cabinet member for corporate services, said: "The report presented to me had been discussed with officers, it was debated at cabinet briefing and all appropriate questions asked.
"The term consultant is generic, it covers items such as architect fees and construction – given the amount of investment going on, of course the use of consultants would go up."
19 Comments
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by Dinodog, Scunny
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 1:28PM
“The Scribe, and Socialist Fool,
What excellent comments you both have made regarding this issue. I could not have said anymore on the issue. How come these people are not held to account for this reckless spending, and blaise attitude when questioned about it!! It is absolutely mindboggling.”
by Dan, Scunny
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 12:15AM
“I went to university and was told by the lecturer there that a council in Wales employed him to tell them what they already knew. He said this was quite common. I am therefore offering this free piece of advice. Stop wasting money employing people who can do the job only to get someone else to do it. We elect councillors to make our decisions not consultants. Stop trying to blind us with cheap tricks (and short term thrills) and instead sort out the underlying problems in the area.”
by Any Old Iron, North Lincolnshire
Monday, August 23 2010, 11:07PM
“The Scunthorpe Telegraph really know how to provoke the local people - run a story about the council.
Then - ALL the experts creep out of the woodwork and tell us all what is wrong with the town - me too at times!
If we are so good at spotting where the current council are going wrong we should stand for election next May.
All in favour say 'Aye'!
If not let's keep quiet and let the professionals do their work and the councillors take the glory - they just enforce and approve central government policy.”
by Tracey, Brigg & Wolds
Monday, August 23 2010, 6:13PM
“The Scribe, As always, I doff my bonnet to you and your far superior insight of the facts and exposure of their motives and tactics.”
by kno it all, barton-upon-humber
Monday, August 23 2010, 6:13PM
“Judas,having read Grants blog I am even more convinced that Captain Kirk and dictator Grant need to be got rid of at the next election,they think they know better than anyone what is good for North Lincs.They have spent millions of £s on ridiculous projects convincing themselves that its right,spend 000's on consulting the local electorate and completely ignore their views”
by BC, Brigg & Wolds
Monday, August 23 2010, 5:56PM
“Is it not high time the local Tories woke up and in their interests, also sidelined Liz Redfern and that she stood aside as their NLC Tory group leader?
Rob Waltham is clearly a far more effective, astute and credible political operator and opponent, both in the council chamber and local media, to inflict even more pressure and election jitters upon Liebor's local disciples?!”
by Socialist Fool, Ashby
Monday, August 23 2010, 5:40PM
“People have to understand the mindset of your average politico. They consider themselves an elite. They think they know best. They think the world owes them. Spending our money makes them feel important. They are the very definition of a parasitic class, and no lie is too big to retain the trappings of power, up to and including war. The cockroaches infesting Pittwood House are just the foot soldiers of a parasitic class that leads to Whitehall and ultimately to that holy grail of bureaucracy, Brussels. Do not be conned by bogus debates around party politics and sloganeering. In the words of Thomas Jefferson " A government big enough to give you everything you need is big enough to take everything you have".”
by Judas, Sunny Scunny
Monday, August 23 2010, 5:21PM
“Would be interested in others' slant on this perception of events and the local media and public reaction?!
http://www.visitscunthorpe.com/Scunthorpe-News.asp?Headline=Give+it+a+rest+guys+and+get+on+with+the+job+eh%3F&Article=126”
by john, Crosby
Monday, August 23 2010, 3:58PM
“This has nothing to do with politics
decisions are made by Directors, Managers & Officers.
The decision to spend £120k of YFs money on the Town Centre Masterplan was made by Jenny Couch & Jackie Wass, both managers not councillors.”
by kno it all, barton-upon-humber
Monday, August 23 2010, 3:29PM
“Wilf the conservatives did not spend the local taxpayers millions£ for ridiculous projects like the baths hall,pods,Lincolnshire lakes,make a complete dogs dinner of the traffic problems at Berkley Circle,barriers for drunks at Brittania corner,fail to keep our roads in good repair,decimate Scunthorpe town centre etc.
Anth spot on once again in fact the Policy DS16(flood risk) states that "building will not be permitted where it would increase the number of people or buildings at risk or reduce the capacity of the flood plain",so therefore allowing the building on the flood plain behind Tesco's should be refused,but you can guarantee Captain Kirk and his band of idiots will grant permission.As for the proposed Lakes projects why flood 000s acres of good agricultural land when there are already good established lakes a few miles away at Ealand (7 lakes)”