Wandsworth Council to appoint legal advisers to £6.8m contract

The local authority has divided the contract into two lots:

1. Litigation related services – this would comprise: housing related litigation e.g. complex possession cases, injunctions, disrepair cases, homelessness appeals; employment e.g. unfair dismissal, discrimination cases; civil litigation e.g. judicial review, complex service charge disputes; criminal litigation e.g. blue badge prosecutions; advice related to above principal work areas.

2. Planning, Highways, Contracts and General (PHCG) – this would comprise: planning e.g. agreements, enforcement, inquiries, prosecutions; highways e.g. agreements; contracts e.g. routine and non-routine, disputes; general (including property) e.g. advice related to principal work areas, companies, trusts and charities, education, commons and open spaces, bye-laws, libraries, waste collection/disposal and property matters.

The contract – which is estimated to be worth £850,000 a year – will last for five years, with an option mutually to agree to extend for a further period or periods up to three years.

The planned commencement date is 1 April 2016.

Wandsworth noted that it was in the process of developing proposals for the establishment of shared staffing arrangements with Richmond Council.

“Richmond Council is currently a member of the South London Legal Partnership however, in light of the shared staffing arrangement, it is anticipated that Richmond Council may form party to this contract,” Wandworth said.

The council said it intended to restrict the tender list to a maximum of six applicants. The award of the contract will be based on the most economically advantageous tender.