1.  
During the month of December 2012, the following exceptions to the recruitment and consultancy freeze have been considered by the Chief Executive, in his capacity as Accounting Officer. 

2. 

The details are shown below: 

| Decision               | Approval              |
|------------------------|-----------------------|
| date                   |                       |
| Ref: No. &             |                       |
| directorate            |                       |
| Summary of             |                       |
| application            |                       |
| Consultancy/           |                       |
| recruitment            |                       |
| Scoping of new station |                       |
| stewardship measure    |                       |
| 244                    |                       |
| £36,000                |                       |
| Consultancy            | Approved              |
| 5 December             |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| RPP                    |                       |
|                        |                       |
| 246                    |                       |
| Recruitment            | Approved              |
| 11 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| Legal                  |                       |
| Fixed term             |                       |
| appointment for        |                       |
| maternity leave cover  |                       |
| - Legal Advisor        |                       |
| 245                    | Grade E 3-month fixed |
| term contract          |                       |
|                        |                       |
| Recruitment            | Approved              |
| 13 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| CO                     |                       |
| 233b                   |                       |
| Recruitment            | Approved              |
| 13 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| CO                     |                       |
| Further extension to   |                       |
| web developer          |                       |
| contract to 18 January |                       |
| 2013                   |                       |
| 247                    |                       |
| Legal                  | Recruitment           |
| 13 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| Temporary contract -   |                       |
| legal support officer  |                       |
|                        |                       |
| 249                    |                       |
| Model audit of the     |                       |
| ORR PR13 financial     |                       |
| model                  |                       |
| Consultancy            | Approved              |
| 20 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| RME                    |                       |
| £60,000                |                       |
| 250                    |                       |
| Assessment of the      |                       |
| robustness of Network  |                       |
| Rail's property income |                       |
| forecasts              |                       |
| Consultancy            | Approved              |
| 20 December            |                       |
| 2012                   |                       |
| RME                    |                       |
| £36,000                |                       |

3. 

The Director of Corporate Operations did not approve any requests for