The chief executive of Sheffield City Council has said she is "truly sorry" for going to a leaving party in December 2020 to mark the end of her role as Director General of the Cabinet Office's COVID-19 Task Force.

A decision by Camden Council's to refuse Covid business grants to two businesses over incorrect ratepayer records at the local authority was wrong, an investigation from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

Complainants as well as sanctioned councillors should be given the right to ask the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) to review a council’s handling of alleged breaches of its code of conduct, the Ombudsman, Michael King, has said.

The benefits of vaccination against Covid-19 for a child with autism, severe learning disability and asthma "significantly outweigh" the possible risks, the Court of Protection has found, despite objections from the boy's parents.

The Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) and Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) have launched a petition calling for councils to be given the choice to meet remotely.

The Government has reiterated the current position that any permanent change allowing local authorities to meet remotely requires primary legislation, after calls last month from organisations including the Local Government Association (LGA), Lawyers in Local…

The average time for a care or supervision case to reach first disposal was 45 weeks in July to September 2021, up four weeks from the same quarter in 2020 and one week compared to April to June 2021, according to the latest Ministry of Justice data.

A claimant’s belief in a fear of catching Covid-19 and a need to protect herself and others, did not amount to a philosophical belief for the purposes of section 10(2) Equality Act 2010, an Employment Tribunal judge has ruled.

A former councillor and his wife have been convicted of fraud by false representation after they applied for a Covid-19 bounce back loan.

EM Lawshare, the largest public sector legal services consortium in the UK, has revised its estimate for the value of its next framework up from £50m to £70m.

The Supreme Court has refused a mother permission to appeal after her application to revoke an adoption order was rejected despite an acknowledged procedural irregularity at an earlier hearing.

The Crown Prosecution Service has withdrawn a case against a Christian pastor who was fined £16,000 for holding a church service for the homeless during the third national lockdown.

More than half of judicial respondents (58%) and legal representatives (54%) felt that remote hearings impacted on their health and wellbeing, an HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) survey has found.

The Prime Minister has appointed a former Court of Appeal judge as Chair of the forthcoming public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.

Invicta Law, the alternative business structure controlled by Kent County Council, saw profit for the financial year ended 31 March 2021 rise by 330% to £674,000 (2019/20: £204,000).

A cinema at the centre of a dispute surrounding Covid-19 vaccination passports has had its shutters bolted shut by Swansea Council after refusing to heed a closure order.

Spend under the EM Lawshare framework contract for legal services is expected to be 50% higher than originally estimated when the contract notice was issued in 2017, it has emerged.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman undertook 3,330 detailed investigations between April 2020 and March 2021 - roughly covering the first year of the pandemic - and upheld 2,243 (67%) of them, according to its annual report.

The Local Government Association has added its voice to calls for urgent legislation to facilitate councils being able to host remote and hybrid meetings in light of the Omicron variant.

Hackney Council has successfully defended a legal challenge in the High Court to the validity of two experimental traffic orders (ETOs) it made.

A council prosecution has seen a business owner in South Norfolk found guilty of an offence under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020.

LLG (Lawyers in Local Government) and ADSO (the Association of Democratic Services Officers) have called on the Government to restore the ability of councils to meet remotely, even if only for a temporary period, in light of the emergence of the Omicron Covid…

A High Court judge has given her reasons for dismissing two challenges to the Government’s policy that anyone working in a care home must be vaccinated against Covid-19 unless medically exempt.

A Covid-vulnerable family has sent a pre-action protocol letter to a council that it says unlawfully told a headteacher to stop allowing their children to stay home during rises in case numbers.

An independent cinema in Swansea is facing a closure order after it refused to demand customers show proof of vaccination on entry.

Josie Canham-Williams summarises the first case to address the administration of the Covid-19 vaccination for 12-15 year olds and the winter flu vaccination for children in school years 7 to 11.

The first Employment Tribunal decision in a pandemic-related protected disclosures claim has just been issued. Debra Gers looks at the lessons for employers from the ruling.

Clare Hartley and Chloe Postlethwaite analyse the latest favourable ruling for landlords in relation to commercial rent recovery during Covid-19, a judgment that confirms landlords can currently still rely on the court route notwithstanding the UK Government’s plans for arbitration next year.

Philippa Jackson analyses the latest rulings in relation to low traffic neighbourhoods and what they mean for future legal challenges.

With the move to working from home, what will become of public sector office buildings? Amy Entwistle looks at the position in Scotland.

From the beginning of this month, there has been yet more change on the possession front. Suzanne Gregson examines the latest position.

Stephanie McGarry and Alistair Taylor consider the Government’s updated guidance on Covid-19 vaccination of 12 to 15 year olds.

Fenella Morris QC, Sian Davies and Arianna Kelly analyse the Government's proposals for social care funding reform and look at the key issues for local authorities.

Alex Ruck Keene looks at the latest ruling by the Vice President of the Court of Protection on the withdrawal of treatment in a COVID context.

Hari Menon looks at the problems that arise for employers where an employee stays away from work, pointing to the risks to his health from potentially contracting Covid.

Andrew Rayment, Laura McLellan and Kendel Shepherd look at the issues created by Long Covid and set out some practical steps for employers.

Are we turning a corner? Priya Sejpal examines the Government Policy Statement on COVID-19 enforcement and rent recovery restrictions for commercial leases.

Craig Elder looks at the lessons for local authorities in relation to leisure provision during the pandemic and considers the way forward.

Helen Tucker analyses the latest developments in relation to possession proceedings and evictions.

Natalie Foster explores the potential role of ‘Nightingale Courts’ and extended operating hours in unclogging the housing possessions backlog – and ensuring that the wheels of justice keep turning.

The freeze on possession hearings is finally starting to thaw – but how will the courts cope with the huge backlog of cases? Will mediation, online hearings, or a dedicated housing tribunal make a difference? In the first of a series of articles from 42BR Housing, looking at the potential solutions, Catherine Urquhart analyses the mediation pilot scheme.

The Court of Protection recently ruled that an 86-year-old woman with dementia should not be either forcibly given a Covid vaccine or deceived into accepting a jab. Rebecca Handcock and Hilton Harrop-Griffiths analyse the ruling.

What does the Divisional Court's ruling mean for local government? David Kitson, Victoria Barman and Mark Robinson look at what happens next.

Rupert Beloff sets out some important considerations for Returning Officers and other election administrators as they look ahead to May's elections.

Lyn Crawford looks at what property owners, developers and contractors can do about "urbexing".

The imminent High Court hearing over the ability of councils in England to continue to hold remote meetings after 6 May is about ensuring local choice, the leaders of the two organisations behind the legal proceedings tell Local Government Lawyer.

The following Family practice note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the participation of vulnerable people and evidence in family proceedings.

There has been some focus on the effects of anti-social behaviour upon neighbours but what about cases such as hoarding where the main person affected is the hoarder themselves and the property? Anna Bennett looks at the options.

A High Court judge recently allowed an appeal against a decision of a Circuit Judge to dismiss a claim that an asylum seeker who had been accommodated by a local authority under the “Everyone In” scheme did not have an arguable case that he had been granted a secure tenancy. Justin Bates explains why.

What do the Westminster and Good Law Project cases tell us about the courts’ attitude to procurement post-Covid? Léonie Cowen explains.

Alex Ruck Keene analyses a Court of Protection ruling on whether a 31-year-old man with a learning disability should be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Deborah Evans, Dennis Hall and Helen McGrath from LLG discuss devolution, Judicial Review, GDPR, The CfGS's Governance Risk & Resilience Framework, gender equality, flexible working, Rule of Law and Test and Trace.

Rebecca Rees gives ten tips for handling disrepair claims and Bethan Gladwyn provides an overview of the current rules and practice for possession claims.

Richard Harwood OBE QC looks at the Local Government Secretary's recent comments on Covid planning and pavement licensing measures for the hospitality and leisure industry, and propooses some other changes that would help.

Neil Murphy examines the data protection issues that arise with the return to school and the prospect of on-site tests for Covid.

David Mitchell examines a recent ruling that the late publication of coronavirus contracts by the Department of Health and Social Care was unlawful.

Master Dagnall recently gave judgment in a case which considered several issues regarding the pandemic and possession proceedings which are worthy of note as the stay on evictions has again been extended, writes Jane Talbot.

This week Deborah Evans, Dennis Hall and Helen McGrath discuss Covid Procurement Transparency, Local Authority Pension Investment, Emergency Legislation during Covid, Working Time and being 'On Call', News from Wales, Schools, Fly-tipping and Dismissal for Not Wearing a Face Mask.

Kirtpal Kaur Aujla considers what the Government's Health White Paper means for local authorities.

Amy Kelly considers the latest extension of the prohibition on enforcement of some possession orders in England and Wales.

Can employers require employees to be vaccinated? Joanne Bell and Louise Bloomfield consider some o the legal issues.

Amy Callahan-Page sets out the key points from a recent High Court ruling on risk allocation between a council and a leisure centre operator.

Sarah Clover recently supported a city council in closing down a gym which opened persistently in contravention of Coronavirus Regulations and the lockdown restrictions. She explains what this involved.

A senior judge recently ruled that it was lawful and in the best interests of an 80-year-old care home resident with dementia and schizophrenia to be vaccinated against Covid-19 despite the objections of her son. Jennifer Swan analyses the judgment.

Jonathan Auburn and Lucy McCann assess whether decision-making as to community treatment orders requires physical attendance.

The High Court recently quashed the Mayor of London's Streetspace Plan and TfL’s Bishopsgate Traffic Management Order. David Matthias QC and Charles Streeten explain why the black cab drivers succeeded.

This tracker from LexisNexis Local Government intended to be used to track the most recent key developments, legislation, guidance, parliamentary briefing notes and other sources of interest relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) local authority governance, where relevant to local government lawyers.

Louis Sebastian analyses a High Court dispute between a council and a leisure centre provider over where losses arising from closure of facilities during the current coronavirus pandemic fall.

An experienced district judge has issued the first fully reasoned judgment on a Covid-19 summary review. Gary Grant analyses the ruling.

The pandemic has introduced new hurdles in the provision of local authority led leisure services. Peter Ware, Catherine Rustomji and Alex Kynoch look at the different options available to councils, including establishing a charity.

David Gregory looks at a powerful recent Court of Appeal judgment on the consultation undertaken by the Government on changes to the delivery of children's services during the pandemic.

Amy Kelly analyses the latest prohibition on enforcement of some possession orders in England and Wales.

Horatio Waller looks at defining the enforcement role of local authorities and best practice on ‘designating’ officers for enforcement purposes.

Ed Hammond looks at the benefits of remote meetings and the likelihood the arrangements facilitating them will be put on a permanent footing.

Khatija Hafesji considers the Department for Education’s latest school closure and mass testing decisions and their implications for the right to education.