Criticism of £2m spend on consultants

OPPOSITION COUNCILLORS have criticised moves to spend about £2m on a pay review and job evaluation scheme using external consultants.

Liberal Democrats said “splashing out” on consultants to deliver a “total pay and reward strategy” for up to 10,500 East Riding Council staff was a “slap in the face” for taxpayers.

The approval of the council’s Cabinet is being sought for the 18-month project to allow for “meaningful consultation and negotiation with trade unions due to potential changes to terms and conditions”. Officers want to hire consultants due to “limited internal capacity” and aim to complete the work as quickly as possible to reduce uncertainty for staff.

A council report added that the review “could be disruptive and emotive for staff and whilst it is important that the workforce is effectively engaged in this activity, it is equally important that this programme of work is undertaken efficiently and speedily to minimise disruption and staff uncertainty”. The strategy will consider leave, sick pay, allowances, performance related pay, bonuses and overtime as well as salary.

Opposition leader Coun David Nolan said: “To splash out £2m on consultants during a pandemic when businesses are under pressure and employees are losing their jobs is a slap in the face to our taxpayers. Why on earth isn’t Human Resources and the council’s own senior management carrying out this work internally?”

The money is coming from budget savings already set aside in reserves.

The director of corporate resources, Darren Stevens, said the move would put the council “on the right track to meet future challenges and demands, recruit and retain quality staff and ensure it is a forward thinking and progressive employer”.