The view that careful adherence to proper legal process and appropriate authorisation of deprivations of liberty may now, at times, be required to give way to other pressing welfare priorities is “entirely misconceived”, the Vice President of the Court of…

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is to lead a new ministerial-led taskforce for pubs and restaurants that will develop plans on how and when the sector can reopen safely.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for acquiring authorities on compulsory purchase matters during COVID-19.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced further, temporary measures to make it easier to operate the planning system during the coronavirus outbreak.

Children’s rights charity Article 39 has threatened the Department for Education with legal action if it does not withdraw regulations aimed at assisting the children’s care sector during the COVID-19 crisis.

A pub landlord who breached coronavirus regulations a reported eight times since the end of March has been served a prohibition notice by North West Leicestershire District Council.

The Court of Appeal has upheld the lawfulness of Practice Direction 51Z, the Housing Law Practitioners Association (HLPA) has reported.

A disabled woman has sent a pre-action protocol letter to NHS England over its “Visitor guidance”, which imposes restrictions on those entering hospitals.

Colchester Borough Council is set to furlough some of its staff, to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.

A Court of Appeal judge, Lord Justice Baker, has been invited to advise on the way forward for the ‘recovery’ phase for the Family Court after the lockdown, the President of the Family Division has revealed.

Respondents to a rapid consultation on remote hearings in the family court commissioned by the President of the Family Division have reported wide variation in the kind of cases that are currently going ahead or being adjourned and in the level of support…

A Court of Protection judge has ruled that a dying woman should be removed from a care home where Covid-19 could have been present to spend her final days with her family, despite pandemic restrictions.

A High Court judge has decided to proceed with lay evidence remotely in a hearing of a local authority’s application for a care order in respect of a four-year-old child.

The Administrative Law Bar Association has made a series of recommendations to assist advocates on how to prepare for, and effectively participate in, remote hearings in public law cases which do not involve oral evidence.

HM Land Registry has introduced temporary changes when verifying a person’s identity and for signing deeds, effective from 4 May.

Law centres are to receive a grant of £3m from the government as part of its emergency support for charities during the coronavirus crisis.

The Planning Inspectorate has said its first fully ‘digital’ hearing in England is due to take place next week (11 May).

Derbyshire County Council is facing a potential legal challenge over its decision to use the Care Act easements under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has published a short guide on good administrative practice during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that when normal services resume, it will “inevitably” investigate complaints about what happened…

Lawyers in Local Government and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) have produced guidance on new regulations changing the procedural and constitutional requirements in relation to school admission appeals.

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, has sharply criticised the government’s relaxation of regulations relating to children’s social care, saying she does not believe that they are necessary except in one limited case.

The Court of Appeal has handed down rulings in the first two appeals relating to the welfare of children to have reached the court on the issue of remote hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Various statutory deadlines in four sets of regulations dealing with special educational needs and disabilities, principally those that relate to EHC [Education, Health and Care] needs assessment and plan processes, will be modified with effect from tomorrow…

Eight local authorities have so far notified the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) of their use of the Care Act ‘easements’ introduced by the Coronavirus Act 2020, it has been confirmed.

South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council have served a prohibition notice on a pub they alleged was open despite coronavirus restrictions.

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.

Cynyr Rhys examines the potential headache of compliance with break conditions during COVID-19.

The pandemic has already had a profound effect on business operations. With that in mind, Justin Mendelle and Helen Batter turn their attention to how contracting parties in the commercial and construction industries can protect themselves in existing and future contracts.

Sian Evans and Karen Neald look at the updated Practice Direction 51Z and how it impacts on possession proceedings against trespassers.

Richard Harwood QC considers how Covid-19 might impact upon Planning Enforcement and, in particular, the effect of interruptions on the ability to establish lawful use or breach of condition by the passage of time.

Stephen Whale and Evie Barden discuss the lessons learnt from a recent right of way case and consider whether landowners may be able to defeat claims for public or private rights of way where social distancing policies interrupt the use of ways.

Chris Plumley examines some of the early trends we are seeing in relation to public sector property during the coronavirus outbreak.

Eleanor Sibley sets out key points from government guidance on the approach to the MCA and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What standard of care should hospitals be held to in the COVID-19 outbreak? James Todd QC and Emma Corkill look at the key considerations.

Stephen Knafler QC considers the Coronavirus Act 2020 and its far-reaching implications for adult social care.

John Barrett and Martin Carter look in-depth at an applicant's obligation to publicise Environmental Statements during the COVID-19 crisis.

David Manley QC and Piers Riley-Smith analyse publicity and consultation requirements in relation to plan making during the Coronavirus outbreak.

When dealing with requests for relief from community infrastructure levy liabilities due to the impact of the coronavirus on entities' financial positions, authorities need to consider the possible state aid concerns, writes Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho.

Sasha White QC and Anjoli Foster examine the first Inspector decision to comment on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing delivery.

Mark Smith explores the legal principles that will give family practitioners their bearings and guide the court’s approach to contact with children in care through the coming weeks and months.

Peter Marcus explores the options that social landlords have to enforce against anti-social conduct committed in rented residential property, given the last month of impromptu legislation, guidance and procedural changes.

Sarah Reid and Constanze Bell examine the thorny issues around publicity for planning applications in the coronavirus outbreak.

Arianna Kelly looks at a new case with significant implications for local authorities using the Care Act ‘easements’.

Procurement is one of those areas where, with some sensible and reasonable adjustments, progress can still be made during the coronavirus pandemic. Lucy Doran explains how.

The government has issued IPA guidance on PFI/PF2 projects during COVID-19. Olivia Blessington looks at what it says.

The powers of local authority officers to enforce restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak are narrower than you might think, argues Horatio Waller.

The European Commission has published a Communication “Guidance on using the public procurement framework in the emergency situation related to the COVID-19 crisis”. Susie Smith examines what it has to say.

Supplying counterfeit personal protection equipment (PPE), unproven health supplements purported to prevent infection and failure to supply paid for PPE are amongst a number of scams occurring during the COVID-19 crisis, say Cameron Crowe and Sabrina Goodchild, who look at the powers local authorities can use in response.

Sarah Salmon discusses the court’s use of case management powers during the COVID-19 pandemic in a recent case and the importance of making an application to extend time in a s.204 Housing Act 1996 appeal.

Alison Harvey reports on an urgent Court of Protection hearing on whether it was in the best interests for an 84-year-old man to return home, given the total lockdown of his care home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Amid the current public health crisis, the Coronavirus Act 2020 has relaxed Care Act requirements for local authorities to assess or meet social care needs. Eleanor Sibley looks at these "easements".

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.