LW, KT, MC & Faulder v Sodexo Limited & Secretary of State for Justice – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2019 in contracting out, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘The High Court has today handed down judgment on the human rights obligations owed by the State to persons serving a prison sentence in a private prison.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 21st February 2019

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

‘In probation, we’re poorly paid and the caseloads are unmanageable’ – The Guardian

‘Chris Grayling’s 2013 reforms have cost more, yet failed to cut reoffending or reduce staff shortages.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Eurotunnel challenges ‘secretive’ Brexit ferry deals – BBC News

Posted March 1st, 2019 in brexit, compensation, contracting out, news, public procurement, tenders, transport by tracey

‘The government is facing a court challenge over the contracts it awarded to three shipping firms as part of its no-deal Brexit preparations.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Dangerous’ part-privatisation of probation services costing taxpayers extra £467m, watchdog finds – The Independent

‘The number of criminals being sent back to prison for violating licence conditions has skyrocketed since the government’s “dangerous” part-privatisation of probation services, a watchdog has found.’

Full Story

The Independent, 1st March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More than 200 criminals supervised by private probation firms charged with murder since 2014 – The Independent

Posted February 28th, 2019 in contracting out, murder, news, probation, statistics by tracey

‘Some 225 convicted criminals being supervised by private firms have been charged with murder since the probation service was overhauled in 2014, official figures show.’

Full Story

The Independent, 27th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords urged to hurry through legislation cracking down on ‘cowboy’ parking firms as it emerges DVLA will share details of 7m drivers this year – Daily Telegraph

‘The House of Lords has been urged to hurry through legislation that will crack down on “cowboy” private parking firms, as it emerged that seven million drivers will have their personal details shared by the DVLA this year.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent

‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’

Full Story

The Independent, 25th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private probation firms in Wales and south west in administration – BBC News

Posted February 18th, 2019 in contracting out, insolvency, news, probation by sally

‘Private firms which manage thousands of offenders in Wales and south west England have gone into administration.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog wants public sector contractors subject to FOI laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 4th, 2019 in contracting out, freedom of information, news, public procurement by sally

‘Freedom of information (FOI) laws should be updated to account for the risks to transparency and accountability in the performance of public services where they are outsourced to businesses, the UK’s information commissioner has said.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st February 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Information Commissioner calls for FOIA and EIR reform to address outsourcing – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 29th, 2019 in contracting out, environmental protection, freedom of information, news by sally

‘The Information Commissioner has called for the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) to be updated to include organisations providing a public function.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Grayling under fire as serious crimes committed on parole soar by 50% – The Guardian

‘The number of rapes, murders and other serious crimes committed by offenders on parole has risen by more than 50% since reforms to probation were introduced four years ago, according to official data that has triggered calls for the government to rethink its plans for another shake-up of the service.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

TCC decides that new trains for the Piccadilly Line cannot be held up by procurement dispute – Henderson Chambers

Posted December 12th, 2018 in contracting out, damages, news, public procurement, railways, tenders by sally

‘This case somewhat starkly makes clear that where the automatic suspension of a public procurement process is preventing the putting in place of a key public service, it is very unlikely that the court will refuse to lift the suspension on American Cyanamid principles (ACPs). The case also makes clear that challengers cannot assume that commercial confidentiality will be enforced by way of private hearings in public procurement disputes. Written by Adam Heppinstall, barrister at Henderson Chambers.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 11th December 2018

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

800 BBC presenters could face tax investigations, says watchdog – BBC News

‘About 800 BBC TV and radio presenters could face tax investigations over their employment status after a failure by the broadcaster to clear up its payments system, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said. The National Audit Office said HM Revenue and Customs had opened approximately 100 investigations into BBC-related personal service companies (PSCs) after concerns were raised that they may have broken tax rules.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ sets minimum standards to improve probation performance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 12th, 2018 in contracting out, news, probation, standards by tracey

‘The government expects probation providers to offer monthly face-to-face meetings with offenders during the first year of supervision, the lord chancellor has told MPs concerned about the government’s approach to rehabilitation.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

HMP Birmingham: ‘Signs of improvement’ at ‘worst’ prison – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2018 in contracting out, news, prisons, reports, violence, violent offenders by tracey

‘A troubled prison that was taken over by the government is showing early signs of improvement, inspectors say.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council ends PFI deal, takes legal action over tower block cladding – Local Government Lawyer

‘Camden Council is to end a private finance initiative deal and take legal action against contractors in a dispute over the recladding of tower blocks.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge refuses to lift suspension on award of community health services contract – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 23rd, 2018 in community care, contracting out, contracts, health, hospitals, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has refused to lift the automatic suspension in place following a legal challenge to the proposed award of a contract for adult community health services.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Common sense prevails’ when work began before contract finalised – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 23rd, 2018 in appeals, construction industry, contracting out, contracts, limitations, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld a limitation of liability clause negotiated between the parties on a defective construction project, when work began before the parties formalised those terms.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 23rd October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Ointment for a sting: Arcadis Consulting v AMEC – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted October 15th, 2018 in appeals, construction industry, contracting out, contracts, limitations, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has come to the aid of Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd by overturning Coulson J’s judgment in ​Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd v AMEC (BSC) Ltd – a case described by the judge as one “with something of a sting in its tail”. The sting in question was Coulson J’s finding that a contract between Arcadis and AMEC did not incorporate any term that limited Arcadis’ liability. As a result, Arcadis faced a potential loss of £40 million.’

Full Story

Practical Law: Construction Blog, 12th October 2018

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Number of supervised offenders charged with violent crimes rises 21% – The Guardian

‘The number of offenders charged with serious crimes including murder, manslaughter and rape while they were being monitored in the community has jumped by more than a fifth in a year in England and Wales, the Guardian can reveal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com