During **December 2014**, the following exceptions to the consultancy freeze above 
£20,000 have been considered by the Chief Executive in his capacity as Accounting Officer; and the requests for consultancy below £20,000 have been considered by the Director of Corporate Operations. 

## 

| Summary of application           | Decision                       |
|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| date                             |                                |
| Ref: No. &                       |                                |
| Directorate                      |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 08/12/2014                       |                                |
| 37C RME                          | Identifying the benefits of an |
| improved understanding of        |                                |
| Network Rail's costs and cost    |                                |
| drivers, £80,000                 |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 16/12/2014                       |                                |
| 39C RME                          | Incentivising better capacity  |
| management in GB rail: Case      |                                |
| study evidence from other        |                                |
| industries and railways,         |                                |
| £60,000                          |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 17/12/2014                       |                                |
| 18C(3)                           |                                |
| RME                              |                                |
| Assessment of aspirations for    |                                |
| track access on the East Coast   |                                |
| Main Line (extension to Ref:     |                                |
| 18C(2) RME), £20,000             |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 17/12/2014                       |                                |
| 38C RSD                          | Data analysis and comparison   |
| of health data for rail workers, |                                |
| versus other industrial sectors, |                                |
| £5,000                           |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 18/12/14                         |                                |
| 40C RSD                          | Review of Birmingham New       |
| Street Escalators, £11,400       |                                |
| Approved                         |                                |
| 19/12/14                         |                                |
| 41C RSD                          | Case studies on fatigue        |
| management indicators,           |                                |
| £19,980                          |                                |