Document Cost of Consultants Task and Finish Group Report

The objective of this Task and Finish Group was: - · To investigate the reasons for the use of consultants at Northampton Borough Council · To investigate the reasons for the use of agency labour at Northampton Borough Council · To consider the alternatives to using consultants · To consider the alternatives to using agency labour · To assess the risks involved in implementing these alternatives · To evaluate the effectiveness of the work undertaken by consultants within the authority and determine the impact on the existing staff base · To consider the costs involved by the Council in using consultants and to compare these costs to other similar local authorities, department by department, for the years 2005/06 and 2007/08 · To consider the costs involved by the Council in using agency labour and to compare these costs to other similar local authorities, department by department, for the years 2005/06 and 2007/08 · To examine the procurement arrangements associated with consultants department by department, for the years 2005/06 and 2007/08 · To examine the procurement arrangements associated with agency labour department by department, for the years 2005/06 and 2007/08 · To examine the procedure for the procurement arrangements associated with consultants and how this is budgeted for and financed · To examine whether the use of consultants is a skilling or de-skilling process The Task and Finish Group was made up from members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Improvement, Performance and Finance: - Councillors Matthew Golby, Jamie Lane, together with other non-Executive Councillors Joy Capstick, Jenny Conroy and myself. A previous Overview and Scrutiny Review into Historic Buildings and Regeneration was undertaken which noted the engagement of consultants in Planning Services. When Overview and Scrutiny Committee finalised its work programme, the issue of the employment of consultants by the Authority was raised and it was requ