To approve the additional legal expenditure of £25k to facilitate the disposal of the council’s smallholdings.

The council had previously undertaken a procurement exercise to secure legal specialist support to ensure that sales are able to be completed in a timely manner. This recommendation supports this.

That:

(a)        additional legal work to a value not exceeding £25k be commissioned from Weightmans solicitors to complete the disposal of the council’s smallholdings.

1.              Do nothing: this is not recommended as the extra expenditure is essential for the disposal of the smallholdings.

2.              Re-procure external legal support: this is not recommended because Weightmans have already undertaken the majority of the background work on these contracts and the timescales associated with tendering for and briefing of a new supplier would adversely impact the ability to complete the sales in a timely manner and add to the costs.

3.              Complete the outstanding work in house; this is not recommended because there is insufficient capacity within the in-house team to ensure the completion of contracts in a timely manner.