Bromley Council's spending on consultants reached £8.3 million in the 2024/25 financial year, according to a report reviewed by the Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee on Monday 15 September 2025. The report on the council's expenditure on consultants and contractors/agency staff in 2024/25 was requested by members of the committee, indicating their interest in this area of spending.
The council employs consultants for a variety of projects, including specialist social care leadership services, the Digital Inclusion Initiative, and reviews of the Digital Transformation Programme savings. They are also used for projects such as developing UK Forestry Standard Compliant Woodland Creation, Public Right of Way (PROW) reports, highways services, topographical surveys, ecology surveys, and financial modelling for parks management. Specific projects include the Bellegrove Project, for which consultants provide design review, project management, transport, and air quality assessment services.
The report, which was requested by members of the committee, detailed that £1.763 million of the consultant expenditure came from the revenue budget, while £6.541 million was allocated from the capital budget. The full details of the expenditure are available in the ERC PDS 15.09.25 Expenditure on Consultants Report.
To ensure value for money, the council's Contract Procedure rules outline the procurement process for appointing consultants. Guidance is also available to staff, stipulating that formal agreements must include the overall cost, project deliverables, a clear brief, and reporting arrangements.
The committee also reviewed expenditure on contractors and agency staff, which totalled £14 million for the same period. The average day rate for contractors/agency staff was £311, with the top 40 most expensive averaging £518 per day. Contractors and agency staff are primarily employed to fill vacancies, cover statutory duties, or address short-term pressures in specific areas. The council relies on locum staff for services with roles that are difficult to fill or retain, such as qualified social workers, due to a regional and national shortage of skilled and experienced staff.
The Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a range of financial and service-related issues. The agenda and public reports pack are available online.
The committee also discussed matters outstanding, the work programme, and the forward plan of key decisions. Councillor Christopher Marlow, Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management, provided an update and responded to questions from the committee. The forward plan of key decisions is available to view online.