WOLVO COUNCILLOR SLAMS CONSULTANTS "CRIMINAL" CHARGES

20-02-2008

Fees paid to consultants are "criminal" according to the Wolverhampton councillor in charge of transforming the city’s IT database – but he says they have "no choice" because of government red tape.

Milkinder Jaspal is in charge of the Transformation programme which aims to save £14 million over the next three years, and tomorrow the local authority is meeting with possible partners.

“The cost of getting consultants in place will come to more than £500,000,” said Jaspal. 

“It’s criminal but we’ve got to do it. 

“The Audit Commission recently estimated that the average cost of bringing in consultants is £1million.”

Jaspal revealed that Wolverhampton is likely to team up with more than one IT partner, partly to reduce the risk of legal action from failed bidders under the government’s complicated procurement legislation.

He explained that the city’s payroll management needs to modernised, and that in the process around 160 jobs will be lost – all through natural wastage.

“The payroll system is totally out of date,” he said. 

“We can’t get details of wages and absences and holidays in one place at the moment.  We have to go to three different places”.

Wolverhampton has just announced plans for an above inflation 4.9% Council Tax increase.

“If we reduced it any further there would be compulsory job losses or cuts in services” he said.

“The public don’t want either.”

Is the cost of consultants “criminal”?  And can Wolvo justify a 4.9% Council Tax increase when Brum is just 1.9%.  Leave a comment on the Message Board.