Bill McKendry, a spokesman for the Northern Ireland Conservatives and vice chair of the Strangford association, has raised further questions about the composition of the policing board, after the organisation was again criticised by the Audit Commission.
“It’s extremely worrying that the policing board has spent over £700,000 on human rights consultants without subjecting their appointments to a tendering process or competition. However this is not the first time unprofessional and wasteful practices have been uncovered at the organisation.”
“This latest revelation highlights once again the need to get people with different skill-sets unto the policing board. There are 9 independent members on the current board, 7 of whom have public sector backgrounds and 2 whose backgrounds are in the voluntary sector. It’s a mix which hasn’t, to date, delivered efficiency or value for money.”
“The policing board recruitment process needs to reach people from a much more diverse range of professional backgrounds. That should include people from the private sector and the business community.”
“While not questioning the integrity of individual members, at the moment the board simply isn’t performing to the professional management standards tax-payers have a right to expect, with the most basic best practice going out the window.
“We need to look urgently at the composition of the board and examine ways of getting business and the private sector represented. Their management skills could prove invaluable in bringing greater efficiency, professionalism and value for money to the organisation.”