28/10/2009 – Barking & Dagenham opens Community Legal Advice service tender process
The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham has opened the tender process for its Community Legal Advice service in order to deliver an integrated legal advice service in the borough. Meanwhile Manchester City Council has announced plans for the development of the largest community legal advice service in England & Wales.
The Barking & Dagenham tender process runs until 12 noon on Friday 8 January 2010. The council has put the relevant information including the Invitation to Tender, the tender form and the local needs analysis on its website.
The process provides an opportunity for potential bidders to submit questions about the process up to 20 November 2009. A public meeting will also take place on 17 November and the council intends to make the draft contract available to potential bidders in the week of 16 November 2009.
At the same time, Manchester City Council has announced plans to develop six new community advice at a cost of around £9 million. It intends for the service to deliver both civil legal aid advice and social welfare advice in the same place.
Announcing the launch of the centres, Councillor Glynn Evans said -
'Manchester City Council is proud to be developing this new model of community advice centre across the city...Residents will be able to access the expertise they need all under one roof and at times that are convenient to them.'
The centres are expected to open in October 2010.
More information on the Barking & Dagenham Community Legal Advice Centre tender process is available on the council's website.
The press release Manchester is set to launch the largest Community Legal Advice service in England and Wales is available here.