News: Contract Law
Contract law training: BT to sue council over deal cancellation
20 February 2009
The cancellation of an IT support agreement by Essex County Council highlights the importance of contract law training.
In response to the local authority's decision to cut short the deal by three-and-a-half years, BT states it will be seeking remunerations.
A spokesperson for the telecommunications firm states: "We are disappointed Essex County Council has unlawfully terminated our contract. Having discussed the position with our lawyers, we can confirm we will be seeking substantial damages."
The local authority's representative states that the organisation is committed to delivering high quality services and will exit deals it believes do not provide value for money.
Public sector union Unison claimed Essex County Council has wasted money, highlighting the importance of contract law training.
Last month, the National Audit Office called on central government organisations to offer contract management training in order to improve performance in this area.
It suggested this should be treated as a higher priority and stated that managers' skills should be developed.
