PR firm's £11k bill for Kent County Council central London summit 'was cheap'
Kent County Council paid
Westminster Advisers to arrange the summit
by political editor Paul Francis
Kent County Council paid a Westminster-based public
relations company more than £11,000 to stage a conference in London
– saying it was less expensive to hold it in the capital.
Internal auditors investigated after questions were asked about
how the contract for organising the event came to be awarded.
Kent County Council paid Westminster Advisers to arrange the
"Action for Growth Summit" at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference
Centre in central London last September.
It did so after the company, which was retained as a paid
adviser by KCC between 2007 and 2008, approached the authority with
a proposal for the summit.
The county council accepted the idea, but did not seek quotes
from other companies to see if it could be done more cheaply.
According to KCC, the conference was designed to consolidate and
co-ordinate a range of work on transport infrastructure and housing
delivery, deregulation and finance.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, it said: "The
event was based in London to secure appropriate attendance from
government departments and representation from East Sussex and
Kent. Cost estimates compared to a Kent-based venue were less
expensive."
The company was considered as the best option because, said the
council, it brought international infrastructure experience and
wide-ranging expertise across private and public sectors.
Asked why it had not obtained quotes from other companies, KCC
said: "Due to the financial level of the contract and unique
position of Westminster Advisers in this instance to undertake the
work, it was procured through a single tender."
According to KCC, the auditors' investigation concluded the
costs were appropriate but found there was a minor breach of the
council's code of practice on contracts as the reasons for not
getting other quotes was not fully documented.
07/03/13
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