Quartet of West Country authorities announce joint panel

Under the Legal Services Framework Agreement, 12 firms have been selected as advisers to North Somerset, Bristol City, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils.

Five firms were selected for each of childcare, planning, public law and procurement and property matters.

The cost-cutting scheme marks the first time that the four councils have carried out tenders together.

Nicholas Brain, head of legal and democratic services at North Somerset council, said: “The overall savings target is between £100,000 and £250,000 and will obviously be affected by the amount of work actually needed and of what type.”

The other firms appointed to the panel are: Ashfords; Beachcroft; Bevan Brittan; Bobbetts Mackan; Clarke Wilmott; Davitt Jones & Bould; Foster & Partners; Hugh James; and Kirby Sheppard. The councils will work with London and West Country teams.

The councils have also jointly appointed a number of barristers’ sets to a panel for specialisms including judicial reviews, planning and childcare.