Simon Barnes highlights the key aspects which are relevant to local government from the recent Court of Appeal judgment dismissing a challenge to a development consent order affecting Stonehenge.

David Lock KC asks whether a “longitudinal approach” to when decisions can lawfully be made by patients with fluctuating capacity is consistent with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (“the MCA”) and, if it is not, whether there is a better framework that could be used to enable decisions to be taken to protect this vulnerable class of persons using the inherent jurisdiction.

Holly Tibbitts examines new recommendations from a working group of the Civil Justice Council on determining capacity to litigate in civil proceedings.

Sarah Hutchinson summarises recent Family Division rulings on an application by a father for a boy subject to a care order to be circumcised, and an application by an NHS for permission for NG feeding and restraint in respect of a 12-year old girl with anorexia nervosa.

Matthew Timm analyses a Family Court ruling that a local authority had failed to discharge the burden of proof in asserting that injuries to a child when he was eight months old were inflicted by one or other of his parents.