Barnet Council Supplier Payments It's nice to see old friends!

Barnet Council have just released the April supplier payments. A few payments stand out this month as being particularly large.

• The Barnet Group, the local authority trading company for Barnet Council's housing and social care services received £9,631,916.60. Now I am sure all of that money is warranted but it is a great shame that it falls outside the scrutiny of the council.

• Logica submitted only 6 invoices but they amounted to £1,135,786.30. I wonder what that was for, possibly for the continuing work on the wonderfully expensive SAP system.

I also came across a supplier called Hurria. Not recognising this company I looked up the company director on line who was named as one Irene Paterson-Hesford. Formed in September last year this is a very new company which always raises suspicions. Anyway, the power of the internet reveals that Mrs Paterson-Hesford is none other than Irene Findlay, formerly Director of Health Integration and Director of Adult Social Services at London Borough of Barnet. Ms Findlay is an Executive Coach so clearly the senior managers at North London Business Park were missing her. The invoice is for a very modest £4,000 but it would be fascinating to know which of the highly paid Barnet Council executive felt the need to employ her services.

Further analysis of the supplier payments will, I'm sure reveal a few more gems but I will leave that for another day!

IT Costs - £2 million spent with Logica CMG

Reviewing the October to December supplier payments I notice that during this three month period LogicaCMG UK Ltd have been paid just over £1.2m (£302,558 on consultancy fees,£12,689 on IT Services, £19,000 on software purchases and £867,672.02 on software licenses and support). Looking back through the previous supplier payments it appears that they were paid £52,470.93 in the period July-September and £791,744.98 in the period April-June. In total, for the first nine months of the financial year that comes to the princely sum of £2,046,134.93. Just what are Logica doing at Barnet that is so expensive and why aren't councillors at least asking the question.

I suppose this makes the £150,625 replacing the air conditioning units in the data centre at NLBP seem quite modest by comparison. I know that a decent IT system can be essential tool for running a successful business but staying solvent also helps. Given budget pressures we face are we absolutely sure this cost could not be reduced?