Appointing Planning Consultants: The Case of UK Local Authorities Available to Purchase

Covers the reasons why planning consultants are employed and gives some indication of what and who is involved in the buying decision. Examines the risks perceived by local authority officers and details the many ways in which these officers attempt to reduce the risk of an unsatisfactory appointment. An unsatisfactory appointment may cause psycho‐social loss, financial loss and time loss to the purchasers, as well as financial, time and possible psycho‐social loss to the organization. The information is taken mainly from secondary sources and a series of 20 in‐depth interviews.