East Midlands authorities eye £8.9m panel of counsel for child care legal matters

Four East Midlands local authorities are looking to set up an £8.9m, five-year panel of counsel to provide advice and advocacy services in respect of child care legal matters.

The procurement is being led by Derbyshire County Council, which is in partnership on the project with Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council (pending approval) and Nottingham City Council (pending approval).

Derbyshire said that chambers appointed to the framework would assist in the provision of legal advice and advocacy services in respect of Public Law Children Act 1989 and other child care related matters.

“The award of the contract must demonstrate value for money having regard to quality and price,” it said.

The joint expenditure for all four authorities is in the region of £ 1.77m per annum.

The contract will run from 1 April 2019 for an initial two-year period with options to extend for up to three times one-year periods.