Appeal case calling for judicial review of One Barnet outsourcing scheme to be heard next month

A disabled pensioner’s appeal against a High Court decision not to review a controversial Barnet Council outsourcing scheme will be heard next month.

Maria Nash, 68, lodged a case with the Court of Appeal after judge Lord Justice Underhill rejected her calls for a judicial review of the multi-million pound One Barnet scheme in April.

The appeal hearing is set to take place on July 15 and 16, having previously been slated for October 7 and 8.

Barnet Council says it will not sign one of two outsourcing contracts awarded to private company Capita until the legal proceedings have been resolved.

The second contract, which has been provisionally awarded to Capita Symonds, is set to be formally approved by the council’s cabinet later this month.

In her case to the High Court, Ms Nash claimed Barnet Council did not meet legal requirements by failing to consult about the plans to outsource a swathe of council services to two private companies.

The mother-of-one, who is confined to a wheelchair due to severe arthritis and requires a full-time carer to help her with daily life, insists the council also failed to meet equality obligations in relation to the plans.