£50,000 on recruitment fees!

We have just heard Mr Osbourne telling us about all the huge cuts we are facing. "Cut waste, save money!" It is surprising then to read that Barnet Council are to pay recruitment consultants Martin Ward Andersen at least £50,400 to help recruit new finance people. The restructure of the finance department was passed in a delegated powers report in August but at that time no mention was made of having to spend £50k + on recruitment consultants. Don't Barnet Council have an HR department - with so many good people being made redundant in the public sector then surely a few well placed adverts would draw hundreds of replies. No, we have to use expensive recruitment consultants. What a waste!!!