Content

Approval for a contract variation for
additional legal fees and compensation costs of £36,840 to
take the total value to £46,840 in accordance with the
Council’s Contract Standing Order CSO 10.02.1(a) in the best
interest of the Council

Reasons for the decision

Additional fees have arisen because the
parties have not been able to agree a compensation amount through a
negotiated route. Therefore, a mediation route has been agreed
between parties to bring resolution to the matter. This route will
result in additional costs against a mediator and legal fees, and
the resultant compensation costs.

Alternative options considered

The Council could retender, but this would
cause the council to lose substantial legal background knowledge
Trowers and Hamlins have been in ongoing dialogue with the
claimant’s solicitors including on the negotiated route. To
re-tender would also result in fresh legal fees and abortive costs
against the fees defrayed by the existing retained legal
advisors.