Hosting the Olympic games clearly presents a huge logistical challenge not least the level of security required to keep both athletes and spectators safe (as can be seen from the problems that G4S has revealed this week). In this post, we consider a case concerning Olympic security and the placing of a Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) system on the roof of a residential block of flats in Leytonstone (Harrow Community Support Limited v Secretary of State for Defence [2012] EWHC 1921 (Admin)). Continue reading
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. Continue reading
PLC Public Sector reports:
We recently published some new materials based on queries that we have received about the award of contracts for Part B services, which have generated significant interest. It is clearly a subject that is being considered by contracting authorities of all types and sizes in respect of contracts delivering many different types of services.
In the light of this level of interest, we thought it appropriate to try and open up the debate and seek the views of our subscribers on some of issues involved.
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. Continue reading
04/07/2012
Public procurement case digest (June 2012)
PLC Public Sector reports:
After what has been a relatively quiet month, our public procurement case law digest for June 2012 looks at cases on the defence derogation and automatic suspension.
Please feel free to submit a comment below or contact us at: feedback@practicallaw.com if you have any views on the cases covered or think that we have missed a case that should be brought to the attention of public procurement practitioners.
PLC Public Sector reports:
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the public sector can do more to engage with its suppliers before starting a procurement process. According to Procurement Policy Note – procurement supporting growth (Action note 04/12), published by the Cabinet Office on 9 May 2012, public authorities have been relying on the competitive dialogue procedure “as a means of engaging in dialogue with suppliers, instead of engaging in thorough pre-market engagement to understand the market and supplier offerings prior to going to market”.
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. Continue reading
PLC Public Sector reports:
The government’s Mutuals Taskforce, led by Professor Julian Le Grand, has published a report outlining its recommended actions for increasing the roll out of public sector mutuals and making them “a mainstream option for public service delivery”. The recommendations cover a wide range of areas including how information can be made more readily available, obtaining more funding and taking steps to improve the commercial attraction of investing in a public service mutual.
However, one of the most problematic issues for those trying to deliver a public sector mutual has been the public procurement regime, and the report makes several recommendations as to how the taskforce considers these problems can be overcome.
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. Continue reading
PLC Public Sector reports:
Given the government’s aim to devolve more power to a local level with new freedoms and flexibilities for local authorities, the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report, Central government’s communication and engagement with local government, is a timely reminder for Whitehall of the importance of properly engaging with local government. The changes set out in the Localism Act 2011 and Open Public Services White Paper will only be achieved if a less directive relationship with local government is taken and (as the report highlights) central government effectively communicates and engages with local government. Continue reading