Archived decisions

PROVISION OF EMERGENCY OUT OF HOURS LEGAL SERVICE

1. The Executive Member was pleased to endorse the introduction of the provision of the emergency out of hours legal service by the Chief Executive's Legal Practice.

2. The introduction of the service came as a result of recommendation 36 of the Victoria Climbié report which states that "No emergency action on a case concerning an allegation of deliberate harm to a child should be taken without first obtaining legal advice. Local authorities must ensure that such legal advice is available 24 hours a day."

3. After investigating various options for the provision of the service Hampshire County Council Chief Executive's Legal Practice was the preferred option. If other options were used there would be certain factors that needed to be taken into account: the insurance issue; follow-up the next day; lack of knowledge of personnel; how the service was managed and additional cost.

4. The cost of the service would be £22,950 for the current year (1 August 2003 to 31 March 2004) and £30,600 per year for the subsequent year, the figure being increased each year by the same percentage applied to Hampshire County Council HMG staff salary grades, the funding being from the Children and Families budget.