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Councils' millions on hired help | Councils' millions on hired help |
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The public sector union Unison has criticised local authorities in Wales for spending millions of pounds on management consultants. | The public sector union Unison has criticised local authorities in Wales for spending millions of pounds on management consultants. |
Conwy Council was the biggest spender last year at £3.1m, Flintshire spent nearly £2.2m and Merthyr Tydfil, Wales' smallest council, spent nearly £2.3m. | Conwy Council was the biggest spender last year at £3.1m, Flintshire spent nearly £2.2m and Merthyr Tydfil, Wales' smallest council, spent nearly £2.3m. |
Unison said: "They seem to be eating up scarce resources." | Unison said: "They seem to be eating up scarce resources." |
The Welsh Local Government Association said councils did not always have consultants' expertise in-house. | The Welsh Local Government Association said councils did not always have consultants' expertise in-house. |
The figures were obtained by a Freedom of Information request by BBC Wales', Wales at Work programme. Of the 22 councils in Wales, 17 responded within the time limit. | |
The total amount councils spent on management consultants varied greatly, with Conwy, Flintshire and Merthyr Tydfil each spending more on outside advice than the Welsh Assembly Government. | The total amount councils spent on management consultants varied greatly, with Conwy, Flintshire and Merthyr Tydfil each spending more on outside advice than the Welsh Assembly Government. |
The short-term use of the right management consultants can be a cost-effective alternative The Welsh Local Government Association | The short-term use of the right management consultants can be a cost-effective alternative The Welsh Local Government Association |
On the other end of the scale, Carmarthenshire Council did not engage the services of any external consultancies last year. The local authority said it had not identified a need. | On the other end of the scale, Carmarthenshire Council did not engage the services of any external consultancies last year. The local authority said it had not identified a need. |
In 2007/2008, the Welsh Assembly Government spent nearly £2m hiring the services of consultancy firms like Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Bravosolutions and Elan. | In 2007/2008, the Welsh Assembly Government spent nearly £2m hiring the services of consultancy firms like Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Bravosolutions and Elan. |
Paul Elliott, head of local government for Unison in Wales, expressed deep concern about the public sector's use of consultants. | Paul Elliott, head of local government for Unison in Wales, expressed deep concern about the public sector's use of consultants. |
He said: "There's only a certain amount of money available for public services." | He said: "There's only a certain amount of money available for public services." |
SPENDING ON MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Conwy £3,120,000Flintshire £2,183,510Merthyr Tydfil £2,276,000Torfaen £2,083,267Swansea £1,449,066Bridgend £946,740Neath Port Talbot £781,457Caerphilly £675 411Wrexham £666,470Blaenau Gwent £613,812Gwynedd £549,964Ceredigion £433,112Powys £396,911Monmouthshire £305,919Denbighshire £213,257Vale of Glamorgan £50,224Carmarthenshire NoneCardiff, Newport, Anglesey FoI requests out of timeRCT, Pembrokeshire FOI costs 'exceeded'Welsh Assembly Government £1,964,365 Source: Freedom of Information request by BBC Wales | |
Conwy Council said a substantial amount of the council's expenditure was supported by Welsh Assembly Government funding and other grants, and did not directly impact council taxpayers. | Conwy Council said a substantial amount of the council's expenditure was supported by Welsh Assembly Government funding and other grants, and did not directly impact council taxpayers. |
A spokesman said: "We don't have spare capacity and therefore when we need specific expert advice on capital schemes or on large flagship projects, we buy in the expertise as and when required." | A spokesman said: "We don't have spare capacity and therefore when we need specific expert advice on capital schemes or on large flagship projects, we buy in the expertise as and when required." |
In a statement the Welsh Local Government Association said: "The use of management consultancy is commonplace in all sectors. | In a statement the Welsh Local Government Association said: "The use of management consultancy is commonplace in all sectors. |
"Local authorities are multi-million pound businesses that offer hundreds of everyday services to communities. | "Local authorities are multi-million pound businesses that offer hundreds of everyday services to communities. |
"However, there is a limit to the specific professional expertise that is available to them within their authority. | "However, there is a limit to the specific professional expertise that is available to them within their authority. |
"The term 'management consultants' covers a plethora of professional and technical expertise, advice and support that can help local councils to deal with a particular issue at a given time. | "The term 'management consultants' covers a plethora of professional and technical expertise, advice and support that can help local councils to deal with a particular issue at a given time. |
"It would be very difficult and expensive for councils to permanently employ all the detailed experience and expertise they might ever need. The short-term use of the right management consultants can be a cost-effective alternative. " | "It would be very difficult and expensive for councils to permanently employ all the detailed experience and expertise they might ever need. The short-term use of the right management consultants can be a cost-effective alternative. " |
Rhondda Cynon Taf and Pembrokeshire councils refused to supply the information because they said it would exceed the cost limit of a Freedom of Information request. | Rhondda Cynon Taf and Pembrokeshire councils refused to supply the information because they said it would exceed the cost limit of a Freedom of Information request. |
Cardiff and Newport councils did not supply the information requested within the time limit. | Cardiff and Newport councils did not supply the information requested within the time limit. |
The issue of the use of management consultants in the public and private sector is discussed on Tuesday's edition of the programme. | The issue of the use of management consultants in the public and private sector is discussed on Tuesday's edition of the programme. |
Wales@work, Radio Wales, on Tuesday at 1830 BST. | Wales@work, Radio Wales, on Tuesday at 1830 BST. |