Local authority dispute resolution commitment
The LGA lends its support to a Government initiative to encourage local government to commit to use ‘Dispute Resolution Commitment' (DRC) mechanisms to resolve potential disputes.
DRC (formerly known as the ADR Pledge) was initiated by Government in 2001. It was intended for government departments and their agencies to set an example by using ADR to resolve disputes that might otherwise result in protracted and costly legal proceedings.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has produced a report which shows that ADR has been employed in many disputes. It has saved the taxpayer more than £360 million in the last decade.
In November 2010, the Government announced its intention to extend the pledge on a voluntary basis to businesses and local authorities.
On 23 June 2011, the new DRC for government departments and agencies was formally unveiled. The Government has recently held meetings with business leaders and representatives to actively encourage the use of ADR to resolve business disputes. The Government is keen to engage local authorities to do likewise. The aim is to develop and launch a local authority-specific DRC later this year.
More information on the DRC
7 August 2012
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