The Society’s AGM on the 27th April was preceded by a meeting with local MPs and a buffet lunch. Society members were able to discuss a number of issues with Parliamentarians Paul Uppal, Emma Reynolds and Pat McFadden. On Legal Aid cut backs there were few crumbs of comfort although all three MPs expressed a desire to be kept informed about the impact that the squeeze on resources was likely to have. On regulation there seemed to be a degree of bewilderment as to why the Government had not accepted an amendment to the Financial Services Bill that would have imposed Fiduciary obligations upon Banks and thus level up the playing field between them and other providers of legal services (notably Solicitors).
There
was a consensus that the fortunes of the legal community within the City are
inextricably linked with those of the wider population and that the state of
the Retail Quarter is becoming an increasing cause for concern. On the positive
side the Jaguar Plant at i54 will provide a boost to confidence locally and the
end of the so-called “Supermarket Wars” will see the development of two large
brown field sites that have been an eye sore for some time.
