Cost of Two legal persons used by SMBC for Standards hearing chaired by Cllr Lewis 1st December 2017

The request was successful.

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,
I’m requesting the total cost of two independent legal personnel that SMBC used for standards hearing chaired by Cllr Geoff Lewis 1st December 2017 at Sandwell Council house

Yours faithfully,

Mr Rickers

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Mr Brian Rickers
 
 
Your request for information has been passed to an investigating officer.
 
Your reference is FS-Case-63255987
 
 
Thank you
 
Sandwell MBC

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Brian Rickers,
 
Information Request - FS-Case-63255987
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. In response to your
request I can confirm the following:
 
 
Thank you for your e-mail FOI request dated 1 December 2017 asking for the
following information: “I'm requesting the total cost of two independent
legal personnel that SMBC used for Standards Hearing chaired by Geoff
Lewis 1st December 2017.” I can confirm that one barrister attended to
represent investigator and present the investigation report and the
Sub-Committee were advised by another barrister, who acted as the
independent legal adviser. The fees incurred in respect of both barristers
to date for preparation and attendance at the hearing on 1 December is
£7,750. I trust that this satisfies your request.
 
 
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
request, and should be addressed to:
 
Information Management Unit
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE
 
Email – [Sandwell Council request email]
 
If you are not content with the outcome of an internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
 
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Sandwell MBC

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

Reference FS-Case-63255987 could you please advise of what was the procurement process for the two independent legal people used at the Standards Hearing on the 1st December chaired by Cllr Lewis from 11KBW in London and who authorised this action to be carried out at the cost of £7750 at the moment of taxpayers money.

Yours faithfully,

Brian Rickers

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Mr Brian Rickers
 
 
Your request for information has been passed to an investigating officer.
 
Your reference is FS-Case-63949336
 
 
Thank you
 
Sandwell MBC

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Brian Rickers,
 
Information Request - FS-Case-63949336
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. In response to your
request I can confirm the following:
 
 
Dear Mr Rickers The council have followed the councils internal processes
to appoint the independent legal advisor and the Presenting officer in
line with the Monitoring Officers Delegations. Monitoring Officer
Authority to Act Category E Decisions where an approved person has been
given authority to take actions which are a general duty to be observed in
carrying out a Council function; or which is a procedural requirement; or
which is a decision of the Council for which there is no directly
associated statutory requirement Obtaining Legal Support and Advice Where
the estimated cost of engaging the support is estimated to not exceed
£40,000, to appoint Solicitors or Barristers to provide legal support and
advice to, or act on behalf of the Council and seek Counsel's opinion
without recourse to obtaining written quotes in accordance with Standing
Order“
 
 
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
request, and should be addressed to:
 
Information Management Unit
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE
 
Email – [Sandwell Council request email]
 
If you are not content with the outcome of an internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
 
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Sandwell MBC