The crossover between the licensing and planning regimes is growing and it is becoming less and less viable to administer either in a watertight compartment, writes Sarah Clover, after she successfully resisted an agent of change planning appeal.

Gwendoline Davies and Lynsey Oakdene offer practical advice arising from a High Court decision in a recent public procurement challenge.

A local authority was recently ordered to disclose legally privileged material under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Natasha Stay considers the ruling.

The Court of Appeal has recently considered for the first time whether alleged detriments against whistleblowers have to be suffered in their capacity as employees (or workers) rather than in any other personal capacity, and concluded that they do. Sarah Hooton reports.

Kevin Chan explains how his local authority recently used the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to safeguard a vulnerable man from abuse using a civil injunction.

In Part 1 of a two-part series, Ralph Kellas considered the expectations and challenges around build out and some of the reforms proposed to address it. He now considers the implications of slow build out for local authorities and what they, and the planning system more broadly, can do to speed up delivery.

What is it like to work as an in-house solicitor in Higher Education? Sam McGinty reflects on the transition between local government and higher education and why he loves his job.

With local authorities seeking to deliver on some of their declared priorities to address the climate emergency, attention is turning to how to fund some of the ideas and initiatives, writes David Hutton.

The Court of Appeal recently rejected an appeal by a 'breatharian' mother against a special guardianship order. Georgina Dalton explains why.

In December 2019, the Care Quality Commission brought its first prosecution against a local authority. Lorna Kenyon said the case demonstrates the importance of considering whether to admit or contest a prosecution at an early stage.

A recent Upper Tribunal decision has potentially far-reaching implications for schools considering excluding pupils with disabilities, write Tom Amraoui and Rachel Sullivan.

In the first of two articles Ralph Kellas examines the factors behind slow' build out rates and analyses proposed ways to tackle the issue.

It is time to return to fundamentals when it comes to the delivery of social housing, writes Simon Ricketts, as he reviews recent developments in relation to two major projects.

Ambiguities in the legislation present problems for local authorities seeking to deal with "illegal schools", write Alice Mennell and Graham Burns.

Kate Clarkson explores the issue of sibling contact in care proceedings and explains why it should be a higher priority.

Max Thorowgood and Jonathan Pennington Legh analyse a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the rectification of contracts.

Mark Radford looks at recent cases on hidden disabilities and outlines some steps employers can take when dealing with neuro-diverse employees.

A challenge to a district council’s decision on grounds of consistency was recently rejected. Saira Kabir Sheikh QC looks at the lessons of the case.

Justin Gray provides an analysis of the current law on placement of looked after English children in Scotland that will be of interest to child care lawyers and solicitors, including those acting for local authorities.

Paul Feild looks at what the Committee for Standards in Public Life has recommended in relation to bullying and sets out the actions councils can take to address the issue.

The Court of Appeal has clarified the St Modwen test for deliverability, writes Michael Bedford QC.

In a recent case the Vice-President of the Court of Protection made some important comments in relation to case management. The CoP team at 39 Essex Chambers reports.

In the first appellate court decision on the issue, the Court of Appeal has confirmed that the Valuation Tribunal ("VT") has exclusive jurisdiction to determine disputes relating to the calculation of Council Tax and that this jurisdiction excludes a freestanding common law claim in restitution. Shomik Datta analyses the case.

Victoria Jardine and Peter Hubbard assess the latest developments in relation to governance issues for social landlords.

The Court of Appeal has recently given an important ruling on interim rights under the Electronic Communiciations Code. Jonathan Seitler QC explains the outcome.

Francis Taylor Building comments on a Supreme Court judgment on village greens that will prove hugely significant for landowning public bodies.

Peter Ware asks what the recent Conservative majority in parliament will mean for the future of local government.

Srishti Suresh analyses an important recent decision from the President of the Family Division on the relationship between the family courts and the immigration jurisdiction.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently provided helpful pointers to practitioners on the relevant factors an Employment Tribunal should consider when entertaining an application to strike out, writes Gareth Price.

Andrew Warnock QC asks the question many involved with the public sector have been asking since the Supreme Court ruling in Poole v GN – when does an 'Assumption of Responsibility' arise?

The Court of Appeal has handed down a judgment dismissing an appeal over telephone kiosks and permitted development rights. Saira Kabir Sheikh QC explains why.

James Findlay QC and Robert Williams examine the High Court's recent dismissal of three statutory challenges to the adoption of the Guildford Local Plan.

A recent ruling in the High Court in a test case on water re-selling has led to claims that local authorities and housing associations could face having to refund millions of pounds to tenants. Simon Kiely and Anna Moon analyse the judgment.

Public sector and private sector landlords need to know about a recent housing benefit ruling from the Supreme Court, write Karl Anders and Deborah Brown.

John Murray considers a recent case in which the Court reviewed London Borough of Haringey's assessment of a homelessness application.

Steve Gummer and Catherine Maddox analyse an important recent decision from the European Commission that will be helpful to authorities considering district heating schemes.

Alex Ewing considers an important ruling from the European Court of Human Rights on the so-called 'bedroom tax' that could have potentially significant implications for the way in which discrimination cases are approached in the future.

The Court of Appeal has held that there is no general legal principle that licensing schemes are intended to be self-financing, write Gerald Gouriet QC, Charles Streeten and Leo Charalambides.

The Court of Appeal last month handed down a significant judgment on 'secure accommodation'. Tom Harrill sets out the main points.

This practice note from LexisNexis explains the criteria for assured tenancies (AT) and assured shorthold tenancies (AST) and the exceptions to those criteria, the main terms of AT and ASTs, the position regarding succession, and summarises a landlord’s obligations in respect of energy efficiency, gas safety and other health and safety obligations, right to rent and tenancy deposits.

Christopher Cant looks at the lessons to be learned from the recent compulsory purchase of a public house that was listed as an asset of community value (ACV).

The High Court has recently revisited the principles for determining the validity of overlapping consents. Gary Soloman and Alex Minhinick highlight the key points for landowners, developers and local authorities.

A judge was recently asked to resolve a case where there was disagreement as to the jurisdictional basis upon which the Court of Protection was being invited to impose care on a man against his will as being in his best interests. The Court of Protection team at 39 Essex Chambers analyse the ruling.

The Supreme Court has confirmed that a Tribunal may find that the reason for the dismissal is something other than that given to the employee by the decision-maker – even where that reason is genuinely held by the decision maker. Gareth Price reports.

A council has been fined £1.4m after a child suffered a life-changing head injury on a street bollard. Ridwaan Omar examines the lessons to be learned.

Christopher Cant looks at the lessons to be learned from a First-tier Tribunal case on compensation claims under the Assets of Community Value (ACV) regime.

Following a tragic accident where the claimant was struck by a London bus whilst crossing a road sustaining multiple serious injuries, Central London County Court has struck out the claimant’s claim against a London borough. Steven Conway explains why.

Maxim Laithwaite, David Hutton and Nathan Bradberry analyse how local authorities and registered providers can use retrofitting to help deliver on climate emergencies.

In the latest of a series of articles on how local authorities can respond to a climate emergency, Maxim Laithwaite and David Hutton consider the opportunities provided by new housing?

A recent Divisional Court judgment is of interest to prison lawyers but also to public lawyers as it deals with important points of law in relation to the interpretation of the Prison Rules and the "implied powers" principle, writes Geeta Koska.

In a recent case the Court of Justice of the European Union has provided guidance on applying exclusions to potential problem bidders. Rebecca McLean reviews the judgment.

This guidance note provides a comprehensive and up to date overview of powers to control anti-social behaviour under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Reform of anti-social behaviour powers (2014), Part 1 Civil Injunctions and Part 2 Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

You really can’t buy a planning permission, the Supreme Court has said. Mark Lowe QC and Estelle Dehon report on a significant ruling in a case involving proposed community donations and the grant of planning permission for a wind turbine.

Kathryn Lawrance considers how local authorities can use their planning role to further the climate change agenda.