The Court of Appeal has ruled that a judge should have recused herself from child care proceedings after she was inadvertently heard making pejorative comments about the mother.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched an online toolkit to help public authorities respond to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests as organisations prepare to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Home Office has published guidance on the new temporary off-sales permissions contained in the alcohol licensing provisions in the Business and Planning Act 2020.

A High Court judge has given his reasons for granting, despite his misgivings, the London Borough of Hackney an interim injunction against anti-social behaviour in a park.

The Department for Education has launched a consultation on extending some of the measures in the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 that were introduced to provide local authorities and children’s social care providers with…

The Government has admitted, following a legal challenge from a privacy campaigning organisation, that it deployed the COVID-19 'Test and Trace' programme without carrying out a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) beforehand.

Legislation has been laid before Parliament setting out arrangements for managing the resumption of possession proceedings next month.

The Lord Chancellor has named an initial ten locations for so-called ‘Nightingale Courts’ which will hear civil, family and tribunals work as well as non-custodial crime cases.

The Government has issued guidance for local authorities in England on what the new local shutdown regulations allow them to do, how they should exercise those powers and how those powers should be enforced.

Implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), the scheme designed to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), has been put back until April 2022, the Government has confirmed.

Two people with disabilities are trying to raise funds for a legal challenge to Government guidance to local authorities on managing pavements for more walking and cycling during the pandemic.

The Regulator of Social Housing has this month told large social landlords that it intends to gradually scale up its regulatory activity as the pandemic situation eases.

The High Court has quashed a judgment in default awarded against the London Borough of Tower Hamlets because pandemic restrictions had made it impossible to the council to receive the claim concerned.

The Lord Chancellor has agreed that there should be no constraints in the number of sitting days available during the COVID-19 recovery period for the courts or any hesitation in using fee-paid and deputy judges to fill any gaps which cannot be filled by the…

Reports of anti-social behaviour have increased by 43% since March, the latest COVID-19 impact monitoring report by Housemark has revealed.

Rental electric scooters will be allowed on roads, cycle lanes and tracks in the UK on a trial basis from this Saturday (4 July), the Government has said.

A High Court judge has rejected an application for interim relief against a district council amid claims that an unfurnished one-bedroom flat was unsuitable accommodation for a claimant who was particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

Children’s rights charity Article 39 has been granted permission for a judicial review of the Department for Education’s removal and dilution of children’s legal protections during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has announced that, after pausing all casework during the COVID-19 crisis, it will be resuming all existing casework and taking on new complaints through its website from next week (29 June).

Worcestershire County Council has started legal action against the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in a dispute over which council should provide after-care services under the Mental Health Act 1983 to someone who has been detained on two…

The Government has told local authorities and other agencies not to give priority to the introduction of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) due to pressures from dealing with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned against any weakening of controls over spending public money as a result of pressures from dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, and has called for attention to possible new opportunities for fraud and error.

The Law Society has called for action to be taken to clear a backlog of cases in employment tribunals ahead of an anticipated "avalanche" of post-COVID claims.

Only 4% of Directors of Adult Social Services are fully confident that their budget will be sufficient to meet their statutory duties this year, down from 35% in 2019/20, the annual budget survey by ADASS has found.

Sites with planning permission that have an expiry date between the start of lockdown and the end of 2020 will see their consent extended to 1 April 2021, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has announced.

The judicial spotlight is now trained on Regulation 32(2)(c) and the direct award of contracts on the basis of extreme urgency, writes Rachel Whitaker.

The government has set out how possession proceedings will be dealt with once the stay ends next month. Jane Talbot looks at the proposed approach and the issues that could arise.

The current pandemic has demonstrated not only the volatility of the financial markets but also the resilience and attractiveness of social housing as a safe haven for investors. David Moore, Louise Leaver and Deborah Rowntree discuss how registered providers can get the most out of the shift towards social housing.

V. Charles Ward looks at the issues thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to exchange of contracts, transfer of funds, and due diligence identification.

Following publication of a government review into the risks of fraud and corruption in local government procurement, Matt Marsh looks at what local authorities and other public bodies can do to tackle the issue.

A County Court judge has been persuaded to use its discretion to lift the general stay on possession cases in order to enable a claim to be finalised. Anya Newman explains why.

Charles Holland, Gary Grant and Leo Charalambides provide an in-depth summary of the regulations to remove the closure restrictions that had been imposed on English restaurants, cafes, bars and public houses to tackle COVID-19.

Tara O'Leary looks at what legal powers local authorities will have to deal with rough sleepers once lockdown ends.

The Government has issued a new Code of Practice for commercial property relationships: What does it mean for landlords and tenants? Sara Bailey, Yvette Bryan and Nick Levy explain.

Richard Kimblin QC interviews Angus Walker, Chair of the Board of the National Infrastructure Planning Association on infrastructure projects during the emergency, whether consenting procedures might actually be better after the emergency and infrastructure and economic recovery.

Focusing on the Court of Appeal's recent decision in Re H (A Child)(Parental Responsibility: Vaccination), Joanna Moody discusses vaccinations within the sphere of public law proceedings.

Victoria Curran looks at how to take a pragmatic and common sense approach to housing disrepair during the coronavirus pandemic.

Russell Harris QC explains how the delivery of housing association dwellings could be boosted at a stroke.

When it comes to boosting housing supply, is income-strip a potential solution? Paul McDermott looks at the advantages.

Edward Sainsbury and Peter James consider when and when not to report in relation to COVID-19 and RIDDOR.

Through the Business and Planning Bill 2020, introduced this week, the government is looking to simplify and reduce the costs of the licensing process for outdoor seating and stalls. Gary Grant analyses the licensing aspects of the legislation.

Steve Broach and Gethin Thomas look at the latest changes to SEN duties during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The High Court has found that local authorities are not obliged to provide furniture and white goods for unfurnished accommodation, writes Tom van der Klugt.

Deborah Evans (CEO), Dennis Hall (Bulletin Editor) and Helen McGrath (Head of Public Affairs) from LLG discuss the Seven Principles of Public Life, new school regulations, judicial review, remote meeting case studies, child vaccination disputes, the Commons Briefing on the role of the governments law officers, local lockdown powers and Brexit - remember that?!

Shivaji Shiva looks at government initiatives, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to reshape our towns and cities for safer travel.

Philip Kolvin QC looks at a potential solution to the challenge of allowing outside drinking as premises look to recover from lockdown.

The Government has announced changes to the insolvency framework, including provisions relating to PPP and PFI contracts. Melanie Pears and Tim Care look at the key points.

How do things look in the Covid era? Michael Bowsher QC and Ben Rayment consider the thorny issues around emergency procurements.

Simon Randle, Vivienne Sedgley and Katharine Elliott analyse recent government guidance on compulsory purchase orders during the pandemic.

Simon Randle, Vivienne Sedgley and Katharine Elliot analyse government measures to restart the housing market and how they impact on the planning system.

It is important to review existing Development Agreements and associated contract documentation, writes V. Charles Ward, given that all significant development delays have contractual consequences, particularly for housing regeneration.

Tom Lawal reviews the number of ways COVID-19 can effect the progression and outcome of housing cases and how practitioners can continue to engage in effective case management during this challenging period.

Clare Jones and Sian Evans analyse the courts' approach to committal applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does the easing of the lockdown mean for providers of social housing? John Murray explains.

Katrina Day and Lee Clarke summarise key recommendations from the Government on contracting and how they might impact on housing providers' relationships with contractors.

Andy Lane and Rowan Clapp examine government proposals of support for survivors of domestic violence who are facing homelessness.

Debra Gers examines the government guidance on holiday pay and annual leave for employees on furlough.

A pub licence has been revoked at a summary review hearing for breaking lockdown regulations. Gary Grant reports.

In this episode of Law Pod UK, Emma-Louise Fenelon and Peter Skelton QC discuss the recent changes in legislation and guidance concerning the Coronial jurisdiction since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the ways in which Coroners and practitioners are rising to meet the challenges faced in lockdown.

John Pugh-Smith considers how, more creatively, to ease the lockdown in a planning context.

Philip Kolvin QC and Alicia Scholer consider the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the future of the social economy.

Jeremy Phillips QC examines the move to online gambling and the development of advertising and player controls during lockdown.

In the third instalment of her series on community safety law during the lockdown, Kuljit Bhogal discusses Public Spaces Protection Orders.

Richard Freeth assess the changes made to special educational needs and disability (SEND) legislation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Daniel Benjamin assesses the impact of the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 on the care planning, placement and case review obligations of local authorities.

Allison Cook and Mark Heath consider the role of the Monitoring Officer in the coronavirus pandemic.

A recent clarificatory ruling in the Court of Protection has provided a helpful précis of the law on derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights, says Alison Harvey.

John Pugh-Smith examines some of the challenges around completing s.106 agreements during the coronavirus pandemic, and sets out some potential ways forward.

A recent case provides an important discussion of the positive duties of the state under Article 8 ECHR – and specifically, the issue of when an Article 8 breach may arise in the absence of any failure of a local authority to carry out its statutory duties, writes Arianna Kelly.

What is it like working in local authority legal practice during the coronavirus pandemic? Matthew Dineen explains.

Sonia Rai and Ben Maltz consider the issues around houses in multiple occupation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Victoria Mortimer examines issues around care planning and the use of DNACPR orders in the current crisis.

This year, pub, club and restaurant owners will be paying a late night levy for premises they cannot open because of the lockdown. Philip Kolvin QC and Clare Eames explore two solutions.

Allison Cook reviews the government's recently introduced regulations covering school admissions appeals during the coronavirus outbreak, and outlines some key considerations.

The Welsh Local Authorities (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020 differ from the England and Wales 2020 Regulations in a number of ways, including not requiring the public to be able to hear meetings. Annabel Graham Paul discusses their main features, interpretation, and thoughts for their application.