Barristers' Services Framework

Bedford Borough Council (‘the Council’) invites Chambers to tender for the provision of a Barristers’ Framework Agreement. This Framework will provide a route to market for the purchase of barristers’ services, where there is demand for capacity or specialist expertise that cannot be met within the Council’s in-house Legal Services Unit.

The Council has a range of statutory obligations under legislation that fall under the GPPL remit. These include, but are not limited to:a. Obligations to respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to comply with data law/the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR);b. The duties of the Monitoring Officer pursuant to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended);c. Highways functions under the Highways Act 1980 and related legislation;d. Planning matters across all areas of the Town and country Planning Act 1990 and related or other legislation;e. Property matters including disposals, acquisitions, commercial leases, academy transfers, dilapidations, and a variety of general land law work;f. Housing issues including social housing and homeless provision;g. Licensing under the 2003 Act and all other licensing functions performed by a unitary authority;h. Trading Standards;i. Environmental Health;j. Housing and blue badge fraud;k. Procurement and contract work including state aid;l. General governance and administration of the Council;m. Administration of the Bedfordshire Pension Fund; andn. Administration of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel.GPPL supports the strategic management of these duties which include advising in respect of the above.Suppliers shall be expected to have available expertise at all levels that can advise either strategically or at individual case level.