COUNCIL bosses spent nearly £1million asking experts for their views on schemes planned for the borough last year.

Warrington Borough Council's accounts show that between April and December 2005, £947,000 was spent bringing in technical consultants to assist the council with its business and capital projects.

But the council says it will be able to get the bulk of the cash back through Government grants for schemes such as the Local Transport Plan.

Council leader Ian Marks said that Warrington Borough Council needs to think twice before employing consultants.

He said: "When we were in opposition we asked questions about the amount being spent on consultants.

"I think our view then, and it is now, is that before we spend any money we need to be absolutely sure that we can't get the same information from employees or even by employing temporary staff.

"Obviously consultants can have an important part to play but we need to be sure we are doing it for the right reason and not just going to it too easily."

The figures were released to the Warrington Guardian as part of a public viewing of council accounts and show that two thirds of the £947,000 spent related to technical consultants who were employed on the design and other aspects of major environmental and transportation schemes.

Council officials said they were unable to give a breakdown for fees paid to individual consultants because the costs were commercially sensitive.

Consultant firms have been drafted in to work on the high profile Omega business park project as well as to oversee the reorganisation of the communications department.

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk