The government has called on councils not to close parks unless it is impossible to maintain social distancing in them.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has set out the business priorities for family courts during the coronavirus outbreak, setting out the work that must be done, the work that will be done and the work that “we will do our best to do”.

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG), the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) and the National Association of Local Councils have produced guidance on the new regulations that give local authorities greater flexibility when it comes to holding…

The First-Tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber (Information Rights) has – with immediate effect – stayed for a period of 28 days all proceedings under section 48 of the Data Protection Act 1998, section 162 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and section 57…

The Government has issued the regulations that will give local authorities greater flexibility in the conduct of meetings, including allowing members to attend remotely, and for public and press access to those meetings.

Ashfield District Council has used its powers working with Nottinghamshire Police to shut a pub under new rules introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak, after the licence holder held a lock in at her pub.

A pre-action protocol letter has been sent to the Government calling on it to reconsider the policy that all citizens are only permitted to leave the house for exercise once per day.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (‘NICE’) has changed the COVID-19 guideline for clinical care after being threatened with a judicial review challenge.

More than two thirds (69%) of local government professionals believe poor organisational controls leave local authorities vulnerable to fraudsters, research by CIPFA has found.

The Department of Health & Social Care has published guidance setting out local authorities can use the new 'easements' under the Coronavirus Act 2020 that mean they no longer need to meet certain duties under the Care Act.

The Vice-President of the Court of Protection has today (31 March) issued updated guidance on remote access to the court.

HM Courts and Tribunal Service has published listing priorities for civil courts, dividing cases between work that must be done and work that could be done.

The Divisional Court will this week (3 April) consider whether to suspend the Home Office’s ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) policy.

The Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the judiciary have created a network of 157 priority courts and tribunal buildings that will remain open for essential face-to-face hearings during the coronavirus pandemic to make sure the justice…

Manchester housing association Mosscare St Vincent’s has been granted an urgent injunction against a tenant who continued to ignore government guidelines on social distancing by hosting parties for up to twenty people.

The Master of the Rolls has decided that from today (27 March) the court service will suspend all ongoing housing possession action.

The Coronavirus Act 2020, which contains a wide range of emergency measures as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been given Royal Assent.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has suspended all casework activity that demands information from, or action by, local authorities and care providers, in light of the current coronavirus outbreak.

Barristers who took part in one of the first remote substantive hearings in the Planning Court have said the experience demonstrates that the courts should remain open for business during the coronavirus outbreak.

In response to courts moving online during the COVID-19 crisis, CaseLines has released a tool, eBridge, that allows them to move to electronic bundles for hearings using existing filing protocols.

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper on provisions in the Coronavirus Bill on local authority meetings.

The Cabinet Office has issued a procurement policy note (PPN) setting out information and guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

No hearings in the Court of Protection which require people to attend are to take place unless there is a genuine urgency and it is not possible to conduct a remote hearing, the Court’s Vice-President has said.

The Bar Council has told barristers that the Prime Minister’s message yesterday evening was “clear that everyone must stay at home to inhibit all contact and stall the spread of Covid-19” and that this affects all court hearings.

Commercial tenants who miss a payment in the next three months because of the coronavirus outbreak will be protected from eviction, the government has announced.

Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will be able to issue prohibition notices to enforce regulations requiring non-essential businesses and premises to close during the coronavirus pandemic.

Amendments to the Coronavirus Bill will rule out uncertainty over whether local authority meetings can be held online, writes Charles Holland.

it should be possible to continue substantially the full operation of the family justice system, albeit on a remote access basis, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance produced by the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has said.

The Ministry of Justice has shared a list of key workers considered “essential to the running of the justice system” during the coronavirus outbreak and therefore whose children will be prioritised for education provision, the Bar Council has revealed.

The judiciary have published a protocol on the conduct of remote hearings in civil justice in England and Wales.

The Local Government Association has called for additional powers to be given to local government as it published a briefing on the measures contained in the Coronavirus Bill.

Barristers from 39 Essex Chambers, 11KBW and Monckton Chambers have set out proposed amendments to the Coronavirus Bill, warning that, as it is currently drafted, the legislation is likely to have a serious negative impact on adults with care and support…

The government has published the Coronavirus Bill with provisions covering areas such as the emergency registration of social workers, the suspension of most local authority social care obligations, the closure of educational institutions and the postponement…

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has set out the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees when working from home, in response to government advice for many workers to stay away from the office.

Only those administrative occupations in local and national government essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms-length…

The Cabinet Office has issued a Procurement Policy Note (PPN) setting out information and associated guidance on the public procurement regulations and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The President of the Family Division has published national guidance on Covid-19 that should be followed with immediate effect by all levels of the Family Court and the High Court Family Division.

Emergency legislation will suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while the national emergency over Covid-19 is taking place, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced.

The Communities Secretary has confirmed that planning regulations will temporarily be relaxed to allow all pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways of hot food and drinks, as part of plans to help the hospitality industry during the coronavirus outbreak.

No one should lose their home because of coronavirus, the National Housing Federation has said.

The Local Government Association has welcomed a government commitment to bring forward measures protecting tenants from eviction amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Claimant law firm Simpson Millar has sent a letter before action on behalf of the mother of a child with a number of complex health and learning disabilities calling on the UK government to confirm its strategy for “meeting the needs of younger disabled…

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) have written to the Local Government Secretary on the impact of Covid-19 on governance issues.

There is an urgent need to increase the use of telephone and video technology immediately to hold remote hearings where possible, the Lord Chief Justice has said, saying it is “of vital importance that the administration of justice does not grind to a halt”.

Ofsted has temporarily suspended all routine inspections of schools, further education, early years and social care providers as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The government is to consider bringing forward legislation to legislation to allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period during the coronavirus outbreak, the Local Government Secretary has said.

The Care Quality Commission has stopped routine inspections as it adapts its regulatory approach in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sandwell Council is to suspend council debt-related court action against residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawyers acting for a mother with a child at primary school in County Armagh have said they intend to apply for emergency judicial review of the decision not to close schools across Northern Ireland.

The government has decided to postpone the 7 May 2020 local and mayoral elections in England for one year.

Lisa Busch QC considers whether, in the absence of specific legislation, school admissions appeals can be heard using remote technology.

The government has brought in new regulations handing local authorities greater flexbility when it comes to holding meetings. Richard Harwood QC analyses the key elements of the measures.

Ibrahim Hasan looks at the significant issues arising out of the police's use of drones during the coronavirus outbreak.

Alastair Lewis gives an overview of the regulations for local authority meetings in England and Wales during the COVID-19 crisis.

Allison Cook provides answers to frequently asked questions from public sector employers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Nageena Khalique QC looks at Mostyn J's judgment in a novel case concerning withdrawal of life sustaining treatment in the Court of Protection’s first ever Skype trial.

Victoria Butler-Cole QC, Sian Davies and Alex Ruck-Keene discuss the legal position where a person (“P”) lives in the community and declines to practice social distancing in circumstances where P does not (or may not) have capacity to make decisions about social contact in the circumstances of COVID-19.

Whilst there might be a decline in the number of new housing disrepair claims in the short term, there is likely to be a spike in claims once restrictions are lifted, write Matthew Lake and Matthew Wilson.

Elizabeth England rounds up the key developments in housing law in the week commencing 23 March 2020 and considers what is next for possession and disrepair claims.

Angela Hall, Elizabeth England and Tristan Salter provide an update for social landlords on the changes taking place as a response to the pandemic.

David Sawtell and Gethin Thomas look at the legal position on the execution of documents during the coronavirus outbreak and the particular issues faced by local authorities.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 means that disabled and vulnerable adults may be left with no entitlement or access to care, writes Jonathan Auburn.

Christine Cooper looks at the issues for local authorities around charging for care during the coronavirus outbreak.

Nageena Khalique QC and Sophia Roper explain what it was like to take part in a trial concerning withdrawal of life sustaining treatment that was heard by Mr Justice Mostyn with five parties and at least 20 participants over Skype for Business.

The Information Commissioner's Office has issued guidance for data controllers on their data protection compliance obligations during the coronavirus outbreak. Euros Jones, Alexander Gorst and Natasha Jordan look at the key points.

John Pugh-Smith provides a brief overview of the current known position, watch points and continuing uncertainties as at 26 March 2020 now that the Coronavirus Act 2020 is in force.

Andy Lane, Matt Lewin and Tara O’Leary of Cornerstone Barristers’ Housing and Public Law Teams have prepared a briefing note in response to the particular issues raised for local housing authorities (LHAs) by Covid-19 insofar as concerns their Part 7 homelessness duties and powers.

The government is proposing emergency legislation via the Coronavirus Bill intended to protect business tenants from the threat of having their leases forfeited for non-payment of rent. Peter Hall looks at the issues.

Fenella Morris QC and Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho set out what local authorities need to consider in relation to state aid if they are looking to provide support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Philip Kolvin QC addresses any lingering doubts as to whether it is lawful for licensing hearings to be conducted remotely.

The government is once again using s.45C of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to impose distancing measures, writes Charles Holland, as new measures are introduced in Wales.

Charles Holland analyses the regulations issued by the government for the closure of restaurants, cafes, pubs and other leisure venues during the coronavirus outbreak.

The European Commission has adopted new State aid exemptions to allow Governments to alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19. Jonathan Branton and Alexander Rose analyse the provisions.

Jonathan Easton sets out how local authorities can maintain decision taking when it is becoming ever more difficult to convene planning committees.

Local authorities should consider the legal issues around consultation during the Covid-19 crisis, writes Jonathan Moffett QC.