CASH-STRAPPED North Wales Police has come under fire for spending £20,000 on an external recruitment agency to seek candidates for an independent committee overseeing the force.

Conwy councillor Julie Fallon, chairwoman of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel, said: ”I have real concerns about this.”

She said at a panel meeting: “I would like it minuted how disapp­ointed I am that this decision has been taken to pay an external company £20,000. That doesn’t even include the cost of advertising.

“It’s incredibly expensive.”

Cllr Fallon added: “I am concerned because every meeting I go to we are all in the same situation where financially we are looking to make savings. £20,000 would have paid for a PCSO. I can’t sit here and support this.

”It comes from the money people contribute when they pay their taxes.”

Chief constable Mark Polin’s force and police commissioner Arfon Jones’s office decided to employ the recruitment agency to find five new part-time “joint audit committee” members.

But Mr Jones told the panel: “I am not keen on using consultants when we have staff ourselves who are able to undertake this.”

He said he was “unhappy” with the decision.

Kate Jackson, chief finance officer in the police and crime commissioner’s office, said it seemed a lot of money but five people with different skills were being sought.

“It’s very different from what HR normally does,” she argued.

She said £20,000 was “by far the lowest tender” for the contract.

“It’s a lot of money, I accept that,” she added.

Anglesey councillor Dylan Rees questioned: “Is this really value for money?”

The audit committee will provide independent oversight including of the integrity of financial reporting.

“Due to the complexity and diversity of the skills that are required to make up this committee, it is considered prudent to employ a specialist to carry out the recruitment work,” states an official record of the decision, which was signed by the police commissioner in October.