Issue - meetings

This report requests approval to participate in collaborative procurement with the London Borough Legal Alliance (“LBLA”) for the establishment of a framework for provision of barristers’ services.  As the proposed procurement is to be led by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, approval is also sought as required by Contract Standing Order 85 to using that borough’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.  

Cabinet gave approval to the Council to participate in collaborative procurement led by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to establish a framework for barristers’ services.

Cabinet gave approval to the collaborative procurement exercise detailed in 2.1 above being exempt from the normal requirements of Brent Council’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations for good operational and/or financial reasons in accordance with the Contract Standing Order 84(a) and 85(c).

Cabinet gave approval to the pre tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.10.1 of the report.

Councillor Butt (Leader of the Council) introduced the report requesting approval to participate in collaborative procurement with the London Borough Legal Alliance (“LBLA”) for the establishment of a framework for provision of barristers’ services. He explained that, as the proposed procurement is to be led by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, approval is also sought, as required by Contract Standing Order 85, to use that borough’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.

In response to a question from Councillor Filson, Fiona Alderman (Chief Legal Officer), highlighted that, in 2014-15, 59% of the Council’s spend on Counsel was on public law proceedings involving children. This follows a 20% increase in public law cases involving children in 2013-14. In 2014 the local Family Court moved to Hatton Cross from Neasden, so increasing the reliance on external Counsel as opposed to in-house lawyers undertaking advocacy.  

RESOLVED:

(i)         Cabinet gave approval to the Council to participate in collaborative procurement led by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to establish a framework for barristers’ services.

(ii)        Cabinet gave approval to the collaborative procurement exercise detailed in report paragraph 2.1 being exempt from the normal requirements of Brent Council’s Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations for good operational and/or financial reasons in accordance with the Contract Standing Order 84(a) and 85(c).

(iii)       Cabinet gave approval to the pre tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.10.1 of the report.