Council seeks to reduce spending by sharing barristers with neighbouring authority

Against a backdrop of government funding cuts, the plan will reduce spending by an estimated £100,000 a year.

On Wednesday, Councillor Richard Livingstone, the cabinet member for resources, will recommend to the cabinet that they sign off a procurement strategy for an "inter-borough barristers framework arrangement for Southwark and Lambeth".

View the report 

Speaking before the meeting Councillor Livingstone said: "It is the first decision that the Cabinet will take to work more closely with one of our neighbours and as such is in line with the new administration's priorities to find innovative ways to find financial efficiencies through joint working with other south London authorities.

"As Cabinet member, I am asking that Cabinet, after consideration, approve this decision at the meeting on 7 July so that we can proceed along the timescale agreed with our colleagues in Lambeth."

Councillor Paul McGlone, Lambeth Council cabinet member for finance and resources said: "It's small efficiency ideas like this one implemented quickly that can have a real impact. Staff in legal services have come up with a savings proposal that has the potential to save thousands of pounds which will help protect Lambeth's front line services. Sharing barristers is only the first step in the development of our innovative approach towards sharing the costs and the benefits of federated services with Southwark and Lewisham."

Barristers are currently commissioned on a case-by-case basis from barristers' chambers. They are hired for advocacy before the courts and tribunals, legal advice and support in the conduct of legal proceedings by the councils' in-house legal team.

Expenditure on barristers fees in Southwark amounted to £1.35 million in 2007/8, £1.6 million in 2008/9 and, at the time of writing this report on the 22nd June, it is estimated that spend will be in the region of £1.5 million when accounts are closed for the last financial year.

According to the report the plan should reduce spending initially by £55,000 for 2010/2011 and a further £100,000 per annum by securing more competitive rates and economies of scale, while at the same time improving on the already high quality of legal advice provided and creating a more transparent service.

The plan would see a panel of barristers, with a range of specialisms, created and a fees structure established.
Councillor Livingstone added:

"We are facing the most significant cuts in public sector spending in generations. At present there is uncertainty as to how deep these cuts will go and how quickly; but there is genuine concern as to how this can be achieved without at least some impact on what can be delivered.

"It is the council's responsibility to minimise the impact of these cuts by innovating the way in which the council delivers services.

"We have to wait until autumn for the full picture. But we know we have to radically change the way we work as a council in order to keep on delivering for people and we are already taking steps to ensure that the services people need are delivered.

"Southwark has a huge amount in common with other councils, including Lambeth, Lewisham and other neighbouring boroughs, and yet we all carry a vast range of back office and administrative functions in isolation."

"This plan is just the start. I want to see if it is possible to merge any more of those functions, in particular where they involve procurement from the private sector. I think these are ideas we should look into - as long as we can continue to provide front line services for people. We will still provide the services and we will still be answerable for them."

Last month the political leaders of Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham wrote to their respective chief officers to ask them to start investigating sharing back office functions and joint procurement.

The letter from Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, Sir Steve Bullock, elected Mayor of Lewisham and Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council stresses the importance of continuing to deliver vital services for residents despite the economic challenges of the coming years. But it argues that this may only be possible if councils work together.

It says: "It is clear that we will not always be able to meet these challenges on our own.  We will need to work collaboratively and councils will have to adopt radically new ways of working to deliver higher quality services with scarcer resources."

The full picture of council budget cuts will not be known until the autumn, but already the government has advised of cuts in funding in 2010/11 of more than £3 million.

To help meet the challenge the council's new administration has agreed a package of measures to tackle waste.