The London Borough of Sutton is parting company with its chief counsel after forming a shared services partnership with three other south London boroughs.

Sanjay Prashar will leave his post as executive head of legal services following a ‘corporate reorganisation’, the council said today.

Merton, Kingston, Sutton and Richmond councils formed the 90-strong South London Legal Partnership (SLLP) on 1 October last year, with the aim of saving the councils £600,000 by 2017. Paul Evans, joint monitoring officer for Merton and Richmond - which merged their legal teams in 2011 - was appointed to head the SLLP team.

Prashar joined Sutton in 2009 from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, where he was deputy head of law.

In a statement, Sutton council described Prashar as a ‘vital figure’ in setting up the shared services operation.

Niall Bolger, chief executive, added: ’Sanjay has had a hugely positive impact on Sutton and has given 100 per cent commitment to the borough throughout his time here. When Sanjay arrived here we agreed that Sutton Council needed to make changes, including changing our system of governance and sharing services with neighbouring boroughs in order to provide real value for money for our residents.  

‘He has absolutely delivered and set Sutton on the right path. I wish him well for the future.’

Prashar was previously a legal services manager at Torbay Council and a solicitor at Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Surrey County Council.