Bournemouth Council will seek independent advice over a controversial outsourcing deal with Mouchel, following internal dissent over the suspension of a senior official who questioned the proposed contract.

Amid snowballing concern over Bournemouth's plan to outsource its HR and finance services to the troubled firm, council chief executive Pam Donnellan this week told The MJ she would ‘be seeking independent advice from a reputable national company with a reputation for being able to look at issues around audit and financial matters'.