Issue - meetings

Councillor Roberts

The report details the outcome of the review of services provided by the Leicester Law Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau.  It identifies the process taken to date, responds to comments made by the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel and provides a number of options to consider in order to progress the matter.

Councillor Roberts, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, submitted a report detailing the outcome of the review of services provided by the Leicester Law Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau.  The report identified the process to date, responded to comments made by the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee and provided a number of options to consider in order to progress the matter.  It was noted that any increase in provision above the current specification was not part of this process.  Further to the report, an additional recommendation was circulated that the relevant contract standing orders be waived in order to allow, at this stage, that bids for the service be only invited from the Leicester Law Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau.  The reason for this was not to prejudice the Legal Services Commission funding which was currently being provided to the two organisations in respect of advice work as this could lead to a disruption in advice services being provided to the citizens of Leicester.  The Leader drew attention to the delays this issue had caused in achieving agreed budget plans and supported early action to reach a conclusion.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Cabinet confirm that it wishes to proceed with the tender of advice services currently provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Leicester Law Centre to help achieve the Council's budget strategy for 2000/01;

(2)that additional services be not included in the current specification; and

(3)that contract standing orders no. 84.1, 84.2, 84.3 and 85.3 be waived to enable, at this stage, that bids be  invited only from the Leicester Law Centre and Citizens Advice Bureau, for the reason detailed above.