A WAR of words has erupted over a decision to transfer Lancashire County Council’s fleet maintenance division to partners BT – and whether projected savings of £1million will be lost.

Labour county council leader Jennifer Mein has ordered a secret report into the decision by her predecessor, Conservative Geoff Driver, to award the contract to the communications giant, following a tendering exercise.

But Coun Driver has heavily criticised the appointment of Manchester-based lawyers DAC Beachcroft to carry out an external review on behalf of the authority.

Coun Driver said: “The leader of the county council has absolutely no authority to instruct the monitoring officer to engage an external lawyer.”

He insisted that the district auditor should conduct a ‘comprehensive review’ of the matter, concentrating on the process leading up to the decision to appoint BT, and the appointment of DAC Beachcroft.

He claims the deal with BT would have generated much-needed savings of around £1million.

Coun Mein said: “I took advice from the Local Government Association before I embarked on any process and, as you are aware, we have commissioned a confidential external review into the whole BT-fleet process, looking at actions since BT became involved with (the) fleet.”

The ‘confidential’ external review will only be seen by Coun Mein, her deputy Coun David Borrow and scrutiny committee chairman, and Liberal Democrat leader, Coun Bill Winlow.

She added: “Without a meeting with the district auditor, who assured me that the correct process is being followed, the district auditor also assured me if, looking at the conclusions of the review, she has any concerns about Lancashire County Council’s decision-making process around our ‘value for money’ position, she will investigate without the need to be instructed or invited.”

Coun Mein accused Coun Driver of ‘confusing accountancy matters with legal affairs’ and said she would await the findings of the external review.