Issue - meetings

To scope out the terms for the Overview and Scrutiny Review of the appointment of consultants across the Council.

The Committee considered the scope of a potential review into the Borough Council’s use of consultants. 

Members welcomed this review and felt that a focus on consultancy work providing knowledge, techniques and assets to improve performance outside of the Borough Council’s expertise and ‘business as usual’ was appropriate.   In addition, procurement and value for money considerations should be part of the review.

To consider the issues raised it was suggested that a summary of the Borough Council’s use of consultants over the past 4 years be presented as part of the next stage of this review.  This to include who the consultants are, what the consultants provided, the cost of the appointment and the outcome of the appointment.  Members also suggested that, for comparative purposes,  neighbouring authorities be asked about their use of consultants and consideration should be given to utilising member expertise.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)             the scope of the review to focus on consultants providing third party expertise not available in the Borough Council and not persons employed to provide day to day operational resource be endorsed; and

(2)             the next steps of the review, looking at the engagement process, value for money issues  and a summary of consultants used over the past 4 years, be agreed.