The proposals concerning dynamic purchasing systems (DPS) and framework agreements are the most disappointing aspect of the procurement Green Paper, writes Andrew Millross.

The imminent High Court hearing over the ability of councils in England to continue to hold remote meetings after 6 May is about ensuring local choice, the leaders of the two organisations behind the legal proceedings tell Local Government Lawyer.

What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the interpretation of the appropriate standard of care? Chris Bright QC, John Coughlan QC, Gemma Roberts, and Neil Shastri-Hurst explore the key implications.

Dr Paul Feild looks at some of the lessons to be learned - including in relation to the legal team - from the best value report into at Liverpool City Council.

Some jobs such as care workers, security guards and nightwatchmen require the individual to work night shifts where they may, with the approval of their employer, sleep during some or all of the shift, but nevertheless remain on standby during that time. The Supreme Court was asked to decide how many hours such a worker should be paid for the purpose of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which will be raised to £8.91 from April 2021 for over 23s.

The following Family practice note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the participation of vulnerable people and evidence in family proceedings.

Jonathan Branton and Alexander Rose set out how the United Kingdom can create a better Subsidy Control system.

Jenny Beresford-Jones examines a procurement policy note, effective from the beginning of April, on taking account of a bidder’s approach to payment in the procurement of major contracts.

Local authorities are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that children and care-leavers with EU law rights to reside in the UK make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme (“EUSS”) before the deadline of 30 June 2021, writes Gráinne Mellon.

There has been some focus on the effects of anti-social behaviour upon neighbours but what about cases such as hoarding where the main person affected is the hoarder themselves and the property? Anna Bennett looks at the options.

A High Court judge recently allowed an appeal against a decision of a Circuit Judge to dismiss a claim that an asylum seeker who had been accommodated by a local authority under the “Everyone In” scheme did not have an arguable case that he had been granted a secure tenancy. Justin Bates explains why.

The Housing Ombudsman has announced plans to publish individual determinations and reports based on complaints that it has reviewed. Matthew Lake examines the proposals.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that where a local authority makes a homelessness review decision late, that decision is valid notwithstanding its lateness, writes Alexander Campbell.

Is there an obligation to consider resident workforce prior to employing migrants? Julie Bann and Aleksandra Wolek report.

The flow of appeals against surcharges and deemed commencement dates under regulations 117 and 118 of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 to the Planning Inspectorate continues unabated. Christopher Cant looks at what can be learned.

The Court of Protection has court found that if a local authority does not apply for an order under the inherent jurisdiction, a parent can challenge the deprivation of liberty of their child in a specialist school by bringing a writ of habeas corpus. Joshua Swirsky analyses the ruling.

Fran Massarella reports on a case which concerned an interim application to dismiss public law proceedings involving six children where there were numerous allegations of sexual abuse.

The High Court has quashed a planning inspector’s decision allowing the conversion of an industrial warehouse to flats. Charles Streeten explains why.

The following Property practice note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the implications for landlords of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paul Lloyd, Helen Gascoigne and Catherine Craven analyse the latest court rulings and Ombudsman investigations of interest to housing associations and local authorities.

Richard Harwood QC OBE looks at the potential consequences of the government's decison not to extend the use of virtual meetings beyond 7th May.

The pandemic has shone a powerful searchlight on to the unnecessarily damaged lives of too many of our most vulnerable people and children. In a paper given at a Royal Holloway University of London Symposium, Sir James Munby, former President of the Family Division, looks at the challenges facing the family justice system.

Kieran McGaughey provides a local authority view on the transparency obligations contained in the procurement Green Paper.

What do the Westminster and Good Law Project cases tell us about the courts’ attitude to procurement post-Covid? Léonie Cowen explains.

The Court of Appeal has recently considered the criteria for the diversion of a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway. Trevor Ward examines the ruling.

A recent Supreme Court ruling on town and village greens leaves one question answered, another left hanging, writes Richard Wald QC.

Andrew Millross examines the proposals in relation to the selection (prequalification) of tenderers contained in the Green Paper: Transforming Public Procurement.

Alex Ruck Keene analyses a Court of Protection ruling on whether a 31-year-old man with a learning disability should be vaccinated against Covid-19.

As the UK prepares for the relaxation of lockdown, barristers Zachary Bredemear, Richard Cherry and Conor Kennedy offer a reminder of the restrictions on bringing proceedings and enforcement that are still in force.

Rob Hann, Sharpe Pritchard’s Head of Local Government takes a look at the House of Common’s Public Account Committees’ recent report into the pending expiry of PFI contracts which contains some interesting recommendations….

Heather Sargent, Kimberley Ziya, Luke Wilcox and Alistair Mills consider the procedure of High Court planning challenges, before turning to two common topics which arise in challenges: heritage, and the interpretation of policy.

A High Court judge has held that a new interpretation of s.117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 advanced by the Health Secretary when determining an ordinary residence dispute was wrong, and quashed the minister’s determination. The judgment gives welcome clarification on how ordinary residence, under s. 117, operates, writes Lee Parkhill.

The following Public Law practice note produced in partnership with Dr. Kieran Laird of Gowling WLG provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering the key legislation governing Brexit.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has commenced a consultation on changes to the Electronic Communications Code 2017 (the “Code”). James Nelson, Lillee Reid-Hunt and Natasha Barlow report.

Until last week the heat network sector in Scotland was not specifically regulated. The recent Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill seeks to rectify this by creating a regulatory framework and licencing system designed to encourage the increased use of heat networks.

The Court of Appeal has handed down a judgment on planning decisions relating to undefined boundaries of Green Belt land and cost orders in CAAD appeals. Oliver Capildeo examines the ruling.

The Court of Appeal has handed down an important judgment on “isolated homes” and national heritage policy, writes Melissa Murphy.

Andrew Millross examines a proposal in the Green Paper: Transforming public procurement to change the basis of contract awards from “most economically advantageous tender” (MEAT) to “most advantageous tender” (MAT).

A Christian man was dismissed from his posts as a non-executive director and a magistrate for expressing his views on homosexuality and same-sex couple adoption in public - was this considered discrimination? Lorna Scully analyses recent Court of Appeal rulings.

What is the place of collateral challenges in the contemporary administrative justice landscape? Lee Marsons and Yseult Marique report.

Rob Hann and Juli Lau outline Sharpe Pritchard’s response to the Government’s Green Paper on reforming the ‘outdated’ public procurement regime.

Sophie Hurst and Richard Borrett from Kings Chambers' Court of Protection team answer questions submitted live, primarily focussed on health & welfare law.

Jacqueline Lean, Matthew Fraser, Andrew Parkinson, Nick Grant and Joe Thomas provide helpful tips on three main areas in planning law: resisting written representations appeals, opposing appeals when brought by way of a hearing, and the vexed topic of costs.

Deborah Evans, Dennis Hall and Helen McGrath from LLG discuss devolution, Judicial Review, GDPR, The CfGS's Governance Risk & Resilience Framework, gender equality, flexible working, Rule of Law and Test and Trace.

Ths following Family practice note from LexisNexis provides comprehensive and up to date legal information covering recent developments in the transparency of family court proceedings.

A recent ruling has confirmed that applicants for judicial review must have a sufficient interest in the relief sought to have standing to bring the claim, write Sarah Salmon and Joshua Swirsky.

Francesca Massarella examines a recent appeal concerning the power of the Family Court to control the distribution of its judgments and of other documents filed for the purpose of the proceedings.

The Commercial Court has reviewed the test for reliance/inducement for misrepresentation by conduct in a case brought by local authorities against a major bank. Tim Lord QC and Kyle Lawson analyse the judgment.

This session contains three segments regarding matters which raise legal difficulties in the planning context: permitted development rights, enforcement, and conditions and planning obligations.

Paul Brown QC, Samantha Broadfoot QC and David Lock QC look at the responsibilities and remedies available to resolve the discrimination issues emerging out of the significant decision of the Court of Appeal in McCloud v Lord Chancellor [2018] EWCA Civ 2844.

Sharing their experiences and learning over the last 18 months, Leah Jones, Sarah Erwin-Jones and James Arrowsmith look beyond the immediate impact of COVID-19 and discuss the future of litigation including child abuse litigation.

Olivia Choudhury examines a case involving the use of an unregulated placement by Lancashire County Council and discusses the impact of such placements alongside possible reforms.

This week sees the launch of Sharpe Edge – the home of Sharpe Pritchard on Local Government Lawyer. We have created Sharpe Edge for local authorities who are looking for ways to help their communities rebuild and regenerate following the devasting impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In this article Rob Hann, Sharpe Pritchard’s Head of Local Government, takes a look at what isn’t covered in the recent Green Paper on Transforming the UK’s Public Procurement rules, namely the exception contained in regulation 12 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), commonly referred to as the Teckal exemption and asks whether Teckal is ‘fit for purpose’ in a post Brexit, post pandemic environment?