Nottingham's Labour council has sought to explain just why it has been paying significant sums of cash to experts and consultants as it looks to meet its legal duty to balance its books. A Conservative councillor however argues it "just shows the level of financial cost the Labour group has brought on the council".
The council recently set aside up to £100,000 to pay for an extension of the role of corporate director of finance, which belongs to Clive Heaphy. Mr Heaphy is also the council's section 151 officer, a legally-required role through which the proper administration of finances is conducted.
This extension, to June 30 this year, comes on top of a £139,000 sum paid between April 1 and September 31 2021, and additional £134,000 granted for an extension to the post between October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. It brings the total which could be paid out for a single role in just over a year to £373,000.
