A COUNCIL spent £91,000 on consultants’ fees to get top marks in an inspection.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was given a top four-star rating by the Audit Commission in January, putting it among the top local authorities in the country.

But the prestige came at a price for taxpayers. The council’s accounts reveal £91,000 was spent on “additional consultancy fees” to help ensure it got top marks.

That amount would employ about six litter-pickers for a year and is more than the entire budget of last month’s Celebrate Blackburn commu-nity festival, which replaced the popular Arts in the Park and Mela events.

Critics questioned the sum given to private consultancy firm Tribal, and queried why they were needed to show a council was up to scratch.

Council leader Mike Lee admitted the sum looked “huge” and said he would have preferred to have avoided the expense, but insisted it would be worth it in the long run.

Coun Lee added: “It is important we maintain our four stars, as it brings with it some huge savings.”

Top performing authorities have more freedom to man-age services. A high rating is also said to help unlock investment.

The council has been a four-star authority since 2002.

Use of resources is a cent-ral part of the inspection, and the Audit Commission said “value for money is good” at Blackburn with Darwen.

Labour leader Coun Kate Hollern said: “I’m quite sure that money could have been better spent elsewhere.”

Policy analyst for the Taxpayers’ Alliance, John O’Con-nell, said the case highlights how meaningless the ratings are: “What is the point of having a pre-arranged assessment that the council can prepare for?”