Council boss quizzed over £17k costs
CONSULTANTS’ FEE QUESTIONED
A COUNCIL spent £17,434 on consultancy support to develop its economic strategy.
Calderdale Council’s Inclusive Economy Strategy report helps the council develop its strategic approach, and delivery of support, to the local economy.
At a questions-to-Cabinet section of a meeting of the full Calderdale Council, Coun Brenda Monteith (Con, Brighouse) said she understood the council was currently employing consultants to help with the strategy.
“I would like to ask how much are we paying for these consultants and where they are based in this country?” she said. Council Cabinet member for Resources, Coun Silvia Dacre (Lab, Todmorden), said the council had commissioned consultants, a national independent think tank of which Calderdale was a member, with the support costing £17,434.
This was funded by external “gainshare” funding secured by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
“It was levered in with the specific purpose of helping us to develop our strategic approach and delivery of support to our local economy.
“We do not have internal capacity to do this work and it can be more costeffective to buy in expertise for specific projects like this,” she said.
The strategy came under fire from
Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) who said it as “disappointing the report fails to mention some of the obvious and simple mechanisms the council has at its disposal to impact the local economy.”
Coun Blagbrough said it overlooked the impact of Council Tax, including the council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme, charges, including for parking, and fees, such as market stall hire costs, which he said all impacted the money in people’s pockets.
“Why weren’t these considered?” he said.
Coun Dacre said the strategy provides the council and key partners with high level strategic goals for co-ordinating action towards its vision for an inclusive economy to which all could contribute to and from which everyone benefited.
It was informed by feedback from businesses, communities and employers and regional level analysis, she said.
“It is focused on the key drivers that this told us are critical to the success of our local economy.
“It recognises the distinct role of the local authority as an enabler of growth, for example by working to get better digital and transport connectivity, securing and delivering more investment in our towns as a driver of our economy, and supporting entrepreneurs to start up new businesses and grow them,” said Coun Dacre.
“It complements other plans, particularly the council’s work addressing the impact o the cost of living.”