Authorities in Oxfordshire team up to run tender for legal services

A consortium of councils in Oxfordshire has become the latest group of legal departments to team up and procure legal services.

All six councils in Oxfordshire – Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council – are taking part.

The Royal Berkshire Fire Authority has also joined the group running the tender, which called for “external legal services from suitably qualified organisations with experience of carrying out a full range of legal services for local government and fire authorities”.

The panel will also be made available to councils in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is expected that the outcome will be known in August.

Local Government Lawyer has reported on a number of major legal services panels in recent months, including:

• A consortium of outer London boroughs, the Corporation of London and five district councils in Kent
• The North West Legal Consortium
• The EM Lawshare group of 48 local authorities in the East Midlands, and
• A consortium of all councils in Surrey.