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Details: 09.Oct.2013

LocalGov

A county council has appointed a leading QC to lead a statutory investigation concerning the award of a contract for fleet services.

Lancashire County Council has chosen Tim Kerr QC of 11KBW to act as the ‘designated independent person’ in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 for the investigation.

In August Lancashire suspended its chief executive, Phil Halsall, on full pay pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation.

The decision was taken by the authority’s urgency committee following an independent review by Judith Barnes of law firm DAC Beachcroft of the tender process for the fleet services contract.

Halsall has denied any wrongdoing in the tender process.

According to the BBC, the contract was awarded to BT and One Connect, a partnership between BT and the council, in April.

However, it was subsequently put on hold before being revoked by Lancashire’s current Leader in August.

It is expected that Kerr will complete the investigation and report back to the council by the end of 2013.