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Council hits out over Tory claims of over-spending on consultants

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date12 April 2024
Publication titleEvening Chronicle
The Conservative Party attacked Newcastle City Council last week for allegedly pumping "vast sums of money" into hiring external transport consultants and scrapping contentious bollard schemes "just months later"

However, furious civic centre bosses say that they did not spend a single penny on consultancy services relating to any of the low traffic measures across the city.

While a freedom of information request shows the council did spend more than £1.2 million in 2022/23 on transport consultant fees, almost £1 million more than in the previous 12 months, the Labour-run council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the increase was at least partly down to the planning of two big projects that required specialist expertise - the introduction of the city's Clean Air Zone and the restoration of the Tyne Bridge. A council spokesperson called the

Tory claims "inaccurate" and said the use of consultants was "standard practice".

They added: "Out of the £1.2 million quoted, spend on consultancy services relating to low traffic neighbourhood schemes, such as Jesmond, was zero. Consultancy services were primarily used for major transport projects, which required specialist knowledge and expertise, and is standard practice for local authorities. This included the restoration of the Tyne Bridge and the Clean Air Zone which was introduced in 2023."

Across all of its departments, the council...

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