‘Outsourced’ workers seek better deal in landmark case – BBC News
‘A group of 75 workers, including porters and receptionists, are going to tribunal to gain more rights at work.’
BBC News, 21st November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: contracting out
Who knows where the time goes? – Practical Law: Construction Blog
‘Einstein famously said that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. The nature of time is not an easy concept to grapple with and I had a similar (albeit not quite so ethereal) experience preparing a recent seminar on the practical effect of the decision in Carillion Construction v Emcor Engineering Services relating to contiguous (or rather non-contiguous) extensions of time.’
Practical Law: Construction Blog, 2nd October 2017
The felling of protest? – UK Police Law Blog
‘In Sheffield City Council v Fairhall [2017] EWHC 2121 (QB), the Court has been asked to consider the extent to which the decision in DPP v Jones [1999] UKHL 5; [1999] 2 AC 240 can be relied upon as a right to conduct peaceful but disruptive protest on the highway.’
UK Police Law Blog, 30th September 2017
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
Using Part 8 to “appeal” adjudicator’s decision – Practical Law: Construction Blog
‘It isn’t every day that we get to refer to Will Smith’s “wicky wicky wild wild wild west“, on this blog, but Jonathan managed it last year when he discussed Fraser J’s judgment in Beumer Group UK Ltd v Vinci Construction UK Ltd. The parties have been before the court again, this time before O’Farrell J, on a Part 8 declaratory relief application. There is no mention of the wild west this time around. It was all about whether the adjudicator had correctly interpreted the parties’ sub-contract. Not a subject for cowboys!.’
Practical Law: Construction Blog, 12th September 2017
Ombudsman slams lack of oversight of outsourced waste collection services – Local Government Lawyer
‘Insufficient oversight of external contractors is one of the main issues behind a rising number of complaints about waste collection, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) has said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 23rd August 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Simon Anderson discusses the case of Various Claimants v Barclays Bank PLC [2017] EWHC 1929 (QB) – Park Square Barristers
‘Can an employer be vicariously liable for sexual assaults perpetrated by an independent physician engaged to conduct health screening of employees? Yes, according to The Hon Mrs Justice Davies in Various Claimants v Barclays Bank PLC [2017] EWHC 1929 (QB) in a judgment handed down on 26th July 2017. Simon Anderson considers its reasoning, and its wider implications for employers.’
Park Square Barristers, 8th August 2017
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
High Court Decision as to Scope of Vicarious Liability – Henderson Chambers
‘In Various Claimants v Barclays Bank PLC [2017] EWHC 1929 (QB), the High Court (The Hon Mrs Justice Davies DBE) held that Barclays Bank was vicariously liable in respect of alleged sexual assaults perpetrated by a Doctor, not employed by Barclays, who conducted medical assessments and examinations on prospective employees of the Bank.’
Henderson Chambers, 10th August 2017
Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk
The ever-widening scope of vicarious liability – Cloisters
‘Adam Ohringer considers the recent judgment of Various Claimants v Barclays Bank plc [2017] EWHC 1929 (QB) and its implications on vicarious liability.’
Cloisters, 10th August 2017
Source: www.cloisters.com
Increase in serious crimes by offenders on probation, figures show – The Guardian
‘There has been an increase in serious crimes committed by offenders under supervision in the community since the controversial privatisation of the probation service, figures suggest. The number of offenders on probation charged with murder, manslaughter, rape and other serious violent or sexual crimes has risen by more than 25% since changes to the service in England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 2nd August 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Ministers ‘sneak out’ plans to privatise collection of court fines – The Independent
‘Plans to outsource the collection of court fines have been “snuck out” by the government, putting 150 civil service jobs at risk. HM Courts & Tribunals Service said it was in talks with “providers”, adding that the move would save millions of pounds.’
The Independent, 1st August 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Issues highlighted by GB Building Ltd v SFS Fire Services Ltd – Hardwicke Chambers
‘Practical completion is a key concept in any construction project. It has a significant impact on a party’s rights and obligations, and represents a major milestone in the overall project timetable. Under the majority of construction projects, it marks the point at which the clock starts running for the overall transfer of risk from the contractor to the owner.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 30th June 2017
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Privatised probation programme ‘could be dropped with negligible impact’ – The Guardian
‘A key part of the government’s probation privatisation reforms could be dropped tomorrow without any impact on the resettlement of prisoners, a joint report by the chief inspectors of probation and prisons has warned.’
The Guardian, 21st June 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Council hit with £100k fine after cyber attack during IT outsourcing – Local Government Lawyer
‘A city council has been hit with a £100,000 monetary penalty after leaving employees’ personal information vulnerable to a cyber attacker who exploited a flaw in the authority’s website.’
Local Government Lawyer, 12th June 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Judge dismisses prosecution of taxi company over cross-border bookings – Local Government Lawyer
‘A taxi firm did not break the law when an automated booking system allocated a customer enquiry in one local authority area to a cab owned by the same firm but licensed by a neighbouring council.’
Local Government Lawyer, 6th June 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Crackdown on ‘disguised self-employment’ behind increased HMRC payroll tax take, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collected an additional £705 million in tax from investigations into companies’ payroll taxes last year, almost half of which was collected from small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs), according to new figures.’
OUT-LAW.com, 4th April 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Two firms face charges over death of man in UK detention centre – The Guardian
‘Two private firms will face criminal charges over the death of a man in a British immigration detention centre.’
The Guardian, 4th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Private companies could pull out of probation contracts over costs – The Guardian
‘Two of the private companies that provide 50% of probation services in England and Wales have confirmed to MPs they will have to consider quitting if a Ministry of Justice review fails to deliver improvements.’
The Guardian, 21st March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
NHS misplaced half a million patient documents – BBC News
‘Thousands of NHS patients may have come to harm because of an administrative mix-up, says NHS England. Some 500,000 documents containing medical information, including cancer test results, were mistakenly put in storage rather than being sent to the GP or filed in the patients’ records.’
BBC News, 27th February 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Privatisation of probation service has left public at greater risk – report – The Guardian
‘The public have been left more at risk by the privatisation of the probation service with some offenders not seen for weeks or months and others lost in the system altogether, according to an official watchdog.’
The Guardian, 15th December 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Liz Truss calls for rapid completion of probation privatisation review – The Guardian
‘The justice secretary, Liz Truss, has ordered the rapid completion of an official review into the failing performance of the government’s privatisation of the probation service.’
The Guardian, 6th December 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
