Buildings operated by HM Courts and Tribunals Service are safe for those that need to use them, the organisation's acting chief executive has insisted.

The Senior Presiding Judge, Lady Justice Thirlwall, and the Deputy Senior Presiding Judge, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, have issued new guidance on the wearing of masks and face coverings in courts.

A Deputy High Court judge has dismissed an application for interim relief in the form of suitable accommodation submitted on behalf of a street homeless former asylum seeker, both on the merits and because of the claimant’s breach of the duty of candour.

The Public Procurement Review Service received 123 complaints from businesses over the tendering of contracts in the year to 30 September 2020, the Cabinet Office has revealed in response to a freedom of information request.

The Law Society has called for urgent action including a possible two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and magistrates’ court work “amid escalating safety concerns”.

The May 2021 elections look set to go ahead after the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution told MPs this week there should be “a high bar for any delay”.

Cafcass has published updated guidance on arrangements for Family Court advisers to see children and families, work in Cafcass offices and attend court under lockdown restrictions.

The Court of Protection team at 39 Essex Chambers has published two rapid response guidance notes, covering mental capacity, vaccination and testing for Covid-19.

The London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association (LCCSA) has advised its members that it is not safe to continue to attend Magistrates’ courts.

The Good Law Project has launched judicial review proceedings over what it says is the Government’s failure to ensure, “in a timely fashion”, adequate devices are provided to disadvantaged children who require them to be educated at home.

The allocation of additional hearing time outside the normal sitting hours of the Family Court - between 10.00am and 4.30pm, with an adequate adjournment at lunchtime - should be seen as an exceptional occurrence, and not the norm, and should be limited to no…

The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions has been extended until 22 February with no evictions expected to 8 March at the earliest, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said.

The latest lockdown has raised the possibility of elections due on 6 May being postponed, some of which are already delayed from May 2020.

The Lord Chancellor has said the vital work of courts and tribunals “can and should continue”, with the use of remote hearings wherever appropriate, during the latest national lockdown.

A blind woman has brought a legal challenge over the government’s alleged failure to provide her with accessible shielding information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average time for a care or supervision case to reach first disposal was 40 weeks in July to September 2020, up seven weeks from the same quarter in 2019, the latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice have revealed.

A letter before claim was last week sent to the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, calling for individuals with learning disabilities to be granted priority access to the Covid-19 vaccine on an equal basis with other highly vulnerable adults.

The ban on business evictions has been extended until the end of March 2021, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has ruled out a judicial review challenge “at this stage” over ministers’ decision to place it in Tier 3 on the lifting of the latest lockdown, after the Government Legal Department responded to its pre-action letter.

A restaurateur representing some 256 businesses in the Birmingham area has paused a judicial review bid over the Government's decision to close pubs in Tier 3 regions in light of new, "constructive" talks between regional representatives and Westminster.

The Department for Health & Social Care has published guidance on the additional powers that came into force last week (2 December) and which allow local authorities in England to take action against premises that do not comply with COVID-secure rules.

The Ministry of Justice is to use an accelerated procedure for the procurement of a £2.5m, 6.5-month possession mediation services pilot.

The Ministry of Justice is to open three additional ‘Nightingale' courtrooms at its headquarters that will handle family cases until summer 2021.

The Court of Appeal has expressed concern at the trend towards the “rolling” approach to judicial review and also “excessive prolixity and complexity” of grounds of challenge, after rejecting a businessman’s appeal over the ‘lockdown’ regulations made in…

A district council is to bring a judicial review challenge over the Government's decision to put it into Tier 3 after the current lockdown restrictions end.

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.

James Nelson examines the rise in Company Voluntary Arrangements, analyses their impact on commercial leases and explains how landlords, including public bodies and local authorities, can respond.

This tracker from LexisNexis is focused on children’s social care and is intended to be used to track key developments, legislation, guidance, parliamentary briefing notes and other sources of interest relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) and children’s social care, where relevant to local government lawyers.

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

Gary Grant analyses the new enforcement tools that allow local authorities in England to take action against premises that do not comply with COVID-secure rules.

Gary Grant sets out the key points for businesses from the Government's regulations implementing the new Tier 4.

Elections are now likely to take place in May 2021. What are the challenges facing returning officers and their staff, running elections in a coronavirus (COVID-19) environment and what is being done to address them? Mark Heath explains.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court has this week (10 December 2020) dismissed appeals against interim steps taken by Birmingham City Council on summary reviews of two premises licences that arose out of trading in breach of restrictions imposed on the hospitality sector as part of the response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Charles Holland explains why.

Charles Holland looks at how a “tidying up” amendment in the new All Tiers Regulations has removed an important obligation on the operators of a significant class of premises in Tier 3.

The following Property practice note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the implications for commercial and residential property of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

When it comes to vaccinations for children, what happens when there is disagreement either between parents or between parents and the local authority? Sophia Stapleton looks at the legal background.

The following LexisNexis Employment practice note provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the management of workplaces during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Steve Broach and Sian Davies consider the implications of the second lockdown for people in need of care and support and the families and professionals involved in their lives.

The Department for Health and Social Care has published its eagerly awaited care home visiting guidance for England. Alex Ruck Keene sets out the key points.

Timothy Straker QC and Katharine Elliot analyse current law regarding local authority change of governance referendums, including in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gary Grant and Charles Holland summarise the key points from the regulations implementing the latest national lockdown.

The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny has been keeping a watching brief on the way that councils are managing the pressures on governance arising from the pandemic, writes Ed Hammond.

With large numbers of homes expected to change hands over the coming 12–18 months, Susie Rogers and Wilson Tang consider what housing providers need to do to factor the current COVID-19 pandemic into their planning process.

In the third in a series of articles by barristers at 39 Essex Chambers on the Winter Plan, Neil Allen considers whether the government's guidance on self-isolation constitutes a deprivation of liberty for those with reduced capacity.

This LexisNexis tracker is intended to be used to track key developments, legislation, guidance, parliamentary briefing notes and other sources of interest relating to COVID-19, where relevant to social care lawyers.

In this webinar, David Comb examines the National Three Tier system of regulating business activity in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, including enforcement of the regulations.

Gary Grant and Charles Holland summarise the new system brought in through the 3-Tier Covid Regulations and focus on its impact on licensed premises.

Parishil Patel QC and Katherine Barnes provide a guide to securing release from contractual obligations and varying public contracts in light of COVID-19. [1]

In the second of a three-part series from 39 Essex Chambers on the Government’s Adult Social Care: COVID-19 Winter Plan 2020-2021, Steve Broach looks at the implications for the right to respect for private and family life.

Alex Ruck Keene looks at another minefield to navigate in the capacity context - how new requirements on self-isolation apply to those with impaired decision-making capacity.

Siân Davies provides an overview of the Department of Health and Social Care (non-statutory) guidance issued on 18 September 2020.

Samantha Smith looks at how organisations can handle the data protection challenges of remote working.

Charles Holland sets out the legislative background to the new music level requirement, and Peter Rogers reviews its effectiveness and enforceability in terms of an acoustic test.

Raghav Trivedi provides an outline of practice and procedure in light of the resumption of Part 55 CPR possession cases.

Has the public interest test for prosecution been changed in the regulatory context by COVID-19? James Puzey analyses the issues.

Gary Grant examines the main provisions of the latest coronavirus regulations imposing restrictions on opening hours and the service of food and drink.

Christopher Bevan examines the powers available to local authorities particularly under Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 in providing a local public health response to the incidence and spread of coronavirus.

Georgina Dalton summarises the latest public law children rulings, covering issues such as contact during care, changing the nationality of children in care, and practice on granting short-term stays.

This Employment guidance note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering employment law issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gary Grant sets out the key elements of the government's new 'Rule of 6' regulations.

Alex Loxton sets out the government's proposed changes to the notice periods to be given to tenants when seeking possession of a property.

Following the ICO's call for councils to make plans for returning to pre-covid levels of FOI work, Damien Welfare, Estelle Dehon, Isabella Buono and Rowan Clapp look ahead to the time when the regulatory environment returns to normal.

Deborah Evans, Dennis Hall and Helen McGrath look back over the summer and discuss reforms of the planning, the EU-UK future relationship, guidance for schools, algorithims and children falling behind, whether public services were fit to respond to the pandemic, devolution, equality and the solicitors disciplinary tribunal, and the National Institute for Health Protection.

Mo Olatuja considers the implications COVID-19 has had on public contracts and the plans to provide supplier relief.

Andy Lane and Tara O’Leary consider the late changes announced by the Government to extend the stay of possession claims beyond the 23 August deadline.

Paul Feild examines recent government guidance on statutory intervention into local authorities, and considers what councils should do to avoid it coming to pass.

In a rare occurrence, North Lincolnshire Council recently secured an injunction pursuant to the Anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in respect of two rough sleepers. The powers under section 1 of the Act tend to be used exceptionally and many Courts are unfamiliar with them, writes Ben Williams.

Georgina Dalton summarises the latest Court of Appeal and High Court Family Division rulings, which cover issues such as regulated placements, the inherent jurisdiction and habitual residence, and a flawed hybrid hearing during the pandemic.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that the ordinary principles governing applications for contact with children in care continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though outcomes may well be affected by the practical difficulties that are being faced. Hazel Samuriwo outlines the judgment.

Andy Lane explains and provides an overview of the post-23 August 2020 landscape for residential possession claims.

Jonathan Branton and Lee Pickett look into some of the ways State aid issues can arise in public sector property transactions, the ramifications and ways to proceed within the rules.

The High Court has considered the interrelationship between a landlord’s knowledge and the date of accrual of a tenant’s liability and their effect on waiver of forfeiture. Lachlan Stewart examines the ruling.

Rebecca Gowling analyses whether Care Quality Commission data suggests a rise in unauthorised deprivations of liberty.

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.