To enter into a contract to appoint a consultant to provide legal services for Council owned land in the City Centre following a compliant procurement exercise.

The consultant will provide legal advice to support procurement processes in relation to the site.  This will ensure that all legal requirements are complied with as the Council seeks to attract market sharp, occupier and developer interest to meet its objectives.

To appoint Browne Jacobsen to undertake legal services for this City Centre land project.

The contract has a value of £98,340.00 for Work Stages 1-7. Work requirements will be reviewed at the end of Stage 4.

The decision was made so as to enable the work on legal services which is required in order for the Council to be a good landlord and seek to sustain income from this site. The work is time critical to be able to progress good decision making on the site in advance of key lease expiry dates.

Alternative routes to procuring a legal advisor were considered, but the use of the EA Lawshare framework of experienced legal advisors to procure a competent team to undertake the work was considered by the Head of Corporate Property and the project team to be the most expedient way to secure the consultants required. 

The option not to procure a legal advisor was rejected because it would not have enabled the Council to progress in using its assets in the best way to support the vitality of the city centre and generate income to deliver core services.

Decision taken by Jane Winfield, Head of Corporate Property.