Supreme Court to rule on costs orders against councils in care proceedings

The Supreme Court will this week hand down a judgment on the correct approach to be taken to ordering costs against public authorities in fact-finding hearings in care proceedings.

In the case of T (Children), the respondents were interveners in a fact-finding hearing in care proceedings brought by the appellant local authority.

After they were exonerated at the end of the fact-finding hearing, they applied for costs. The trial judge refused.

The respondents successfully appealed, with the Court of Appeal deciding that the trial judge had misapplied the law.

Cafcass and the Grandparents’ Association intervened at the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling on Wednesday (25 July).