Issue details

Legal Services Procurement Project

Cabinet will be asked to take a decision on the future service operating model for KCC’s Legal Services function and its subsequent implementation.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 24/08/2015

Anticipated restriction: Part exempt  - View reasons

Decision due: 25 Jan 2016 by Cabinet

The next available Cabinet meeting is 30 November 2015. The decision will not be taken before then but may be taken after.

Lead director: David Cockburn, John Burr

Department: Strategic & Corporate Services

Contact: Benjamin Watts, General Counsel Tel: 07834 417 473 Email: benjamin.watts@kent.gov.uk.

Consultees

The Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee has received regular updates on the Facing the Challenge programme and further updates are scheduled for the following dates:
Friday 18th September 2015 – Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee to receive the Assessment Paper.
Monday 21st September 2015 – Cabinet meeting to take the Key Decision on how to proceed. If not when will be it discussed by the Cabinet Committee and the date of the meeting
As above
Other consultation planned or undertaken:
Member Consultations:
Tuesday 16thJune 2015 – Presentation by bidders to Commissioning Advisory Board
Wednesday 1st July 2015 – Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee received a report on the procurement process to date.
Wednesday 9th September 2015 – Commissioning Advisory Board to receive a briefing on the Assessment Paper
Staff consultations/engagements are communicated through the project team, to the whole staff team. These messages are distributed via the Director of Governance and Law. There is also a staff transformation group (STG) who are also updated as and when required.

Financial implications: Lead officer: Ben Watts 07834 417 473 benjamin.watts@kent.gov.uk Lead Director: John Burr 07872414472 john.burr@kent.gov.uk

Legal implications: 15/00074

Equalities implications: Financial Implications: The procurement/review process has indicated that significant savings could be made. Legal Implications: A contract for the delivery of legal services to KCC will be in place to manage this arrangement. Equality Implications: The EqIA completed for this project demonstrated there were no equality implications identified for staff and residents. The matter is referred to in the Strategic and Corporate Services Directorate, Strategic Priority Statement – 2014-2015 http://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/13435/Strategic-priority-statement-14-15-strategic-corporate-services.pdf and the Strategic and Corporate Services Directorate Business Plan (2015-2016) – please see page 18 – Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee – 22nd April 2015. https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s52103/Item%20D1%20-%20ST%20Directorate%20Business%20Plan%20Covering%20Paper%20PRCC%2022nd%20April%20-%20v1.pdf