Advisor paid extra

DERRY City Council paid a professional advisor £2,572.58 more than expected for his role in Parson Brinckerhoff’s appointment to a management contract at Eglinton airport last year.

The extra costs arose from prolonged negotiations with the professional services wing of infrastructure giant Balfour Beatty, which saw Mr Albert Harrison - a key member of Derry City Council’s negotiating team - retained for a longer period than the 10 days originally scheduled

Last summer CODA (Operations) Ltd held discussions with Parson Brinckerhoff leading to the firm entering a management contract to operate the airport. The firm won the tender to manage the facility and try to make it commercially viable. As a result it now has options on a partial shareholding or even an outright acquisition of the airport.

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In a report due before Derry City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee tomorrow Town Clerk Valerie Watts reveals the local authority paid a single negotiator £2,572.58 to retain him beyond the original 10 days he was scheduled to be employed.

The report states: “I wish to advise Members that Mr Albert Harrison acted as a Professional Adviser during the Market Test Exercise. Mr Harrison supported the Governance Transition Team and was a key member of the negotiating team with Balfour Beatty and subsequently Parsons Brinckerhoff.

“At the outset of the process it was agreed that Mr. Harrison would be retained for 10 days in support of this process. These days were used up during the main phase of the negotiations but additional input was required during July and August to secure the final sign off of the Management Services Agreement in October.

“The retention of Mr. Harrison for this period, at his original quoted rate, including travel expenses gives rise to additional costs of £2,572.58. I would request that the Committee formally approve the payment of these expenses.”