Labour Council spent £19million on consultants in just 3 years! (Marc Ramsbottom)

Labour Council spent £19million on consultants in just 3 years!

October 25, 2012 12:06 PM

men 251012 Recently uncovered figures show Manchester Council spent a staggering £18.9m on Consultants' fees in the last three years.

Marc Ramsbottom who is standing to be the first Lib Dem MP for Manchester Central in next month's By-Election slammed the Council: "It is an insult to residents that our arrogant Labour Council is cutting frontline services whilst handing over vast sums to Consultants.

It is simply wrong for the Council to be cutting lollipop wardens and putting Surestart centres at risk so they can line the pockets of well off consultants."

The figures requested by Chorlton Lib Dem Councillor Victor Chamberlain in June have only just been released: "Last year the Council said it had to lay off 2000 employees; how many jobs and services could have been saved if this money was used?

The Council is obviously embarrassed by these shocking figures because it has taken them nearly four months to release this information; despite having a legal obligation to release the information after 28 working days. This is not the transparency Manchester residents expect."

The figures also show that over the last three years the Council has spent £106k on Foreign Travel for Councillors and officials; including to exotic destinations such as Barbados, LA, New York, Nice and Venice.