PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

Although the full implications for local authorities of the Spending Review 2010 (SR 2010) will not be known until later in 2010 when the Department for Communities and Local Government releases details of grant settlements, what is apparent from the SR 2010 is that even with the increased freedoms and flexibilities which the government has promised, such as removing ringfencing on local authority grant funding or giving local authorities a general power of competence, local authorities are facing a significant challenge.  For more information on the implications for local government of the SR 2010, see Legal update Spending Review 2010: local government implications. (more…)

PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

PLC Public Sector reports:

The latest event organised by the Procurement Lawyers’ Association took the form of a Question Time session (of the BBC, rather than the Prime Minister variety).  Totis Kotsonis of Norton Rose played the role of David Dimbleby with Professor Sue Arrowsmith, Director of the Public Procurement Research Group at Nottingham University, and Michael Bowsher QC being called upon to provide their views on the issues currently taxing the public procurement community.

Of most interest was the debate triggered by a question on the old favourite of using experience as an award criteria.

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PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

PLC Pensions reports:

The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission’s Interim Report (Hutton) was published on 7 October 2010. Hutton summarises the broad points which will form the basis of the full report, due in the New Year, and parts of which will be included in the government’s Spending Review.

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PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)

PLC Public Sector reports:

The Law Society recently scored a high profile victory when the High Court held that the tender process adopted by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) for its family contracts was “unfair, unlawful and irrational”.  The challenge brought by the Law Society had been wide ranging, with allegations of “legal aid deserts”  and breaches of equality legislation.  However, reports suggest that the judgment was based on a failure to comply with technical procurement requirements and not any ideological opposition to the proposed cut in the number of firms given legal aid contracts.   It is a decision that all contracting authorities should take note of, and not dismiss on the basis that it is confined to legal aid.

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PLC Public Sector reports: 

Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.

(more…)