Bevan Brittan - People

Commercial Partner "Recognised as a national expert on constitutional and standards issues." Chambers UK, A Client�s Guide to the Legal Profession 2006 "Leading local government lawyer Peter Keith-Lucas is an acknowledged expert in this field, and is particularly recommended for training." Legal 500 2007 My Background
A former local authority Chief Executive and Head of Legal Services, I combine the practical experience of 25 years' working in local authorities with a nationally recognised expertise in the area of local authority decision-making and corporate governance. I was on the INLOGOV team which drafted the Modular Executive Constitutions for ODPM and regularly lecture and advise on effective executive government within local authorities. I have undertaken a number of high profile probity investigations for local authorities and wrote the model procedures for local investigation and local Standards Committee hearings on complaints of misconduct by Councillors, which have been recommended to all English authorities by the Standards Board for England. I have drafted local protocols on such matters as gifts and hospitality, outside interests and the use of ICT, and I am the author of "Monitoring Officer", the standard text book on the work of the chief legal officer in a local authority.
What I do
I have drafted and reviewed some 30 local authority constitutions, and am recognised as an expert who can provide practical answers to assist local authorities to function effectively.

I regularly advise authorities and members on standards and audit issues and have prepared a role play training session of a local Standards Committee hearing which has now been performed over 40 times for authorities or groups of authorities.

I also specialise in public procurement (including local authority charging and trading powers) and joint ventures, particularly partnering arrangements between the public and private sectors.

A training example
Councillor Richard Green stands accused of failing to treat Mrs. Suzanne Holt, Assistant Director of Planning, with respect. The complaint is that, at a meeting of Middleton borough Council's Planning Committee, he called her "a waste of space". But like all such matters, there is a history of conflict between Councillor Green and the Borough Council's Planning Department, going back to his proposals to relocate the football stadium to a new site with supporting retail development. You are the Standards Committee of Middleton Borough Council, charged with holding a hearing to determine whether Councillor Green acted in breach of the Borough Council's Code of Conduct for Members.

This role-play training exercise provides members and officers with a full play script to take them through a fictional hearing, full of twists and surprises, and has now been performed more than 40 times for individual or groups of local authorities.

Contact me via peter.keith-lucas@bevanbrittan.com or on 0870 194 1741

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