Local Government Lawyer

Trafford Council Director of Legal and Governance

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Rethinking the Affordable Housing Funding Machine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to read Winckworth Sherwood's new report Rethinking the Affordable Housing
Funding Machine
which demonstrates how private capital has moved from a peripheral
source of funding to a central part of how affordable homes get built,
retrofitted and managed.

Rethinking the Affordable Housing
Funding Machine

 

 

 

Click here to read Winckworth Sherwood's new report
Rethinking the Affordable Housing Funding Machine which
demonstrates how private capital has moved from a peripheral
source of funding to a central part of how affordable homes
get built, retrofitted and managed.

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Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: Why Local
Authorities Cannot Afford to Wait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The UK Government’s proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is likely to mark a
significant shift in regulatory expectations. Jonathan Askin explores the reasons why.

Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: Why Local
Authorities Cannot Afford to Wait

 

 

 

 

 

The UK Government’s proposed Cyber Security and Resilience
Bill is likely to mark a significant shift in regulatory expectations.
Jonathan Askin explores the reasons why.

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Automatic suspensions under the
Procurement Act 2023: the first case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The test for lifting the automatic suspension under Section 102 of the Procurement
Act 2023 has been considered by the Courts for the first time, resulting in confirmation
that the new test is significantly different to the American Cyanamid test and the
suspension being maintained pending trial. Ed Williams looks at why.

Automatic suspensions under the
Procurement Act 2023: the first case

 

 

 

 

The test for lifting the automatic suspension under Section
102 of the Procurement Act 2023 has been considered by the
Courts for the first time, resulting in confirmation that the new
test is significantly different to the American Cyanamid test
and the suspension being maintained pending trial.
Ed Williams looks at why.

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Procurement Act 2023 – One Year On:
When it starts to get contentious

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the third and final article of this series, Jo Dumphy and Katherine Calder
from DAC Beachcroft consider some of the challenges facing suppliers and
contracting authorities in bringing and defending potential claims following
the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, and highlight the practical
considerations when authorities come across them.

Procurement Act 2023 – One Year On:
When it starts to get contentious

 

 

 

In the third and final article of this series, Jo Dumphy and
Katherine Calder consider some of the challenges facing
suppliers and contracting authorities in bringing and defending
potential claims following the introduction of the Procurement
Act 2023, and highlight the practical considerations when
authorities come across them.

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Establishing relevant defects under
the Building Safety Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The First Tier Tribunal has provided helpful clarity on what amounts to a
“relevant defect” for the purposes of Remediation Orders and Remediation
Contribution Orders under the Building Safety Act 2022, writes Sarah Grant.

Establishing relevant defects under
the Building Safety Act

 

 

 

 

The First Tier Tribunal has provided helpful clarity on what
amounts to a “relevant defect” for the purposes of
Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution
under the Building Safety Act 2022, writes Sarah Grant.

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The Employment Rights Act 2025:
What Public Sector Employers Need to Know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will have a significant
operational and financial impact on public sector employers, particularly
local authorities and schools, where large workforces, high levels of unionisation
and public accountability increase exposure to risk.

The Employment Rights Act 2025:
What Public Sector Employers Need to Know

 

 

 

Many of the changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will
have a significant operational and financial impact on public
sector employers, particularly local authorities and schools,
where large workforces, high levels of unionisation and
public accountability increase exposure to risk.

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The Practical impact of the Procurement Act 2023
– the challenges, the benefits and the legal lacunas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the second of three articles for Local Government Lawyer on the Procurement
Act 2023 one year after it went live, Katherine Calder and Victoria Fletcher from
DAC Beachcroft consider some of its practical impact and implications, including
how to choose the right regime, how authorities are tackling the notice requirements,
considerations when making modifications, and setting and monitoring KPIs.

The Practical impact of the Procurement
Act 2023 – the challenges, the benefits
and the legal lacunas

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Victoria Fletcher from DAC Beachcroft
consider some of its practical impact and implications,
including how to choose the right regime, how authorities
are tackling the notice requirements, considerations when
making modifications, and setting and monitoring KPIs.

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Weekly mandatory food
waste collections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What are the new rules on food waste collections and why are
councils set to miss the March deadline? Ashfords’ energy
and resource management team explain.

Weekly mandatory food
waste collections

 

 

 

 


What are the new rules on food waste collections and why are
councils set to miss the March deadline? Ashfords’ energy
and resource management team explain.

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The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On -
How procurement processes are evolving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Sarah Foster of DAC Beachcroft focus on
changes to procurement design at selection and tender stage in
three key areas of change that the Act introduced.

The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On -
How procurement processes are evolving

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Sarah Foster of DAC Beachcroft focus on
changes to procurement design at selection and tender stage in
three key areas of change that the Act introduced.
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Service charge recovery
and the Building Safety Act 2022

 

 

 

 

Zoe McGovern, Sian Gibbon and Caroline Frampton set out
what local authorities need to consider when it comes to
the Building Safety Act 2022 and service charge recovery.

Service charge recovery
and the Building Safety Act 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe McGovern, Sian Gibbon and Caroline Frampton set out
what local authorities need to consider when it comes to
the Building Safety Act 2022 and service charge recovery.

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Fix it fast: How “Awaab’s Law”
is forcing action

Eleanor Jones sets out
what "Awaab's Law"
will mean in practice
for social landlords.

Fix it fast: How “Awaab’s Law”
is forcing action

Eleanor Jones sets out
what "Awaab's Law"
will mean in practice
for social landlords.

The Nature Restoration Levy: key challenges

Will the Nature Restoration Levy deliver faster housing, or simply move the bottleneck? Chrisa Tsompani looks at the main issues.
October 16, 2026
The Nature Restoration Levy: key challenges

Article 8 protections after AGNI

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) considers a recent Court of Protection ruling on whether sufficiently effective safeguards were in place for the Article 8 rights of twins with significant disabilities.
October 15, 2026
Article 8 protections after AGNI

Child arrangements orders and a child’s looked-after status

When does a Child Arrangements Order bring a child’s looked-after status to an end, and what are the implications for local authority financial responsibility? Daniel Sheridan analyses a recent High Court ruling.
October 15, 2026
Child arrangements orders and a child’s looked-after status

Capacity, presumptions and the Care Act 2014

The Court of Appeal recently considered whether a local authority was required to carry out an assessment of the appellant’s capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 prior to completing the Care Act assessment. Members of 39 Essex Chambers analyse the ruling.
October 15, 2026
Capacity, presumptions and the Care Act 2014

Managing SARs and LADO investigations

Bethany Paliga and Claire Archibald provide a guide for schools on dealing with subject access requests and LADO investigations.
October 15, 2026
Managing SARs and LADO investigations

Family Group Decision-Making before care proceedings

Naomi De Silva explains why - in relation to Family Group Decision-Making - 'offer made' won’t be enough and sets out what councils should…
Oct 15, 2026
Family Group Decision-Making before care proceedings

An important post-AGNI decision: The case of BM

James Wood sets out the key takeaways from a recent Court of Protection ruling on whether a 16-year-old boy was being deprived of his…
Oct 15, 2026
An important post-AGNI decision: The case of BM

Children Law Update - Autumn 2026

Michael Jones KC looks at the latest judgments of interest children law practitioners.
Oct 15, 2026
Children Law Update - Autumn 2026

Judicial review and EHCP disputes

A recent High Court ruling shows why the First-tier Tribunal remains the right route for schools and academies, writes Alice Wheatley.
Oct 15, 2026
Judicial review and EHCP disputes

SEND reforms: inclusion bases

Elizabeth Fortin sets out ten legal takeaways from government guidance on ‘inclusion bases’.
Oct 09, 2026
SEND reforms: inclusion bases

Payments Compliance Notices – Update

Rebecca Rees and Jade Divers set out some key considerations in relation to Payments Compliance Notices.
Oct 09, 2026
Payments Compliance Notices – Update

Consistency in planning decision making

The High Court has recently quashed a planning permission for a new high-rise development in the Chiswick House Conservation Area. Craig…
Oct 08, 2026
Consistency in planning decision making

How Far Back Does a Hair Strand Test Go?

FTS provide an indepth look into the timelines of drug and alcohol use that can be seen through hair strand testing.
Oct 06, 2026
How Far Back Does a Hair Strand Test Go?

The first draft Environmental Delivery Plan

Does the first draft Environmental Delivery Plan mark a new era in environmental mitigation in England? Matthew Tucker and Douglas Haycock…
Oct 02, 2026
The first draft Environmental Delivery Plan

The role of the Framework Practice Guide

Is the Framework Practice Guide a guide to the law and best practice, or a tool to promote the Government’s procurement agenda? Sophie…
Oct 02, 2026
The role of the Framework Practice Guide

Unregistered children's homes and enforcement

The unregistered children's homes problem is driven by market failure, not regulatory avoidance alone, writes Jonathon Enston.
Oct 02, 2026
Unregistered children's homes and enforcement

Oct 02, 2026

A second wind for S106?

The government has recently endorsed guidance published by housing sector bodies to improve efficiency and collaboration in the delivery of…
Sep 24, 2026

Towards Net Zero

Are councils winning the fight against climate change? Read the results and analysis of our exclusive research.
Sep 23, 2026

The Community Rights

As the local government landscape remains in a period of indefinite and indeterminate flux, the rights of citizens and the importance of…
Sep 23, 2026

The DEFCON Monitoring Officer

Paul Feild proposes a strategic tool to help think through the Monitoring Officer’s key statutory duty under the Local Government and…
Sep 22, 2026

Complex Possession Claims: Hoarding

Martin Horne and Karolina Zielinska deliver a pre-recorded webinar considering best practice in dealing with hoarding issues in litigation.
Sep 18, 2026

Out of time, out of luck?

Anna Stein looks at how local planning authorities can successfully resist a planning judicial review brought after the deadline.
Sep 15, 2026

Flexible working in schools

Harry Silverman and Ruth Rule-Mullen set out what the updated Department for Education guidance on flexible working in schools means for…
Sep 10, 2026

Adoption and the duty of candour

Lisa Edmunds looks at a Court of Appeal ruling on a local authority's application to set aside an adoption order on the basis that the…
Sep 09, 2026

Accidents on cycle lanes

David Sandiford looks at recent Court of Appeal guidance on foreseeability, duty and breach in a case involving cycling accidents.
Sep 03, 2026

Regulator or landlord?

Adam Rulewski explains why local authorities cannot use regulatory powers of entry to secure compliance with their own landlord obligations.
Sep 03, 2026

Direct offer waiting lists

The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge to the London Borough of Southwark’s direct offer waiting list for social housing.…
Sep 01, 2026

Project Bank Accounts under scrutiny

A new Technology and Construction Court (TCC) decision involving Vale of Glamorgan Council has put project bank accounts in the spotlight.…
Aug 28, 2026

Call-in powers for mayors

Simon Ricketts assesses the Government’s plans to give mayors the ability to call in key planning decisions which impact on local…

Features List

Oct 15, 2026

Article 8 protections after AGNI

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) considers a recent Court of Protection ruling on whether sufficiently effective safeguards were in place for the Article 8 rights of twins with significant disabilities.
Oct 15, 2026

Capacity, presumptions and the Care Act 2014

The Court of Appeal recently considered whether a local authority was required to carry out an assessment of the appellant’s capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 prior to completing the Care Act assessment. Members of 39 Essex Chambers analyse the ruling.
Oct 15, 2026

Adoption proceedings, identity and an accidental disclosure

Graeme Bentley considers a recent High Court decision on a local authority’s attempt to withhold information from birth parents in adoption proceedings, and the questions local authority lawyers need to keep in mind when seeking permission for non-disclosure.
Oct 15, 2026

Judicial review and EHCP disputes

A recent High Court ruling shows why the First-tier Tribunal remains the right route for schools and academies, writes Alice Wheatley.

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