Council fires gun on procurement of £48m LGPS legal services framework agreement
Norfolk County Council has kickstarted the procurement of a £48m national framework agreement for the provision of pension legal services primarily in support of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Council payment records reveal hundreds of businesses running unregistered children’s homes: report
Payment records obtained from local authorities by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism suggest that hundreds of companies have received £255m to run unregistered children’s homes.
Borough council secures injunction over site near Aldermaston nuclear facility
A judge has ordered a group of Travellers to leave a site in Aldermaston as they lack planning permission from West Berkshire District Council to live there and it is dangerously near a nuclear warhead manufacturing plant.
Second quarter of 2026 sees 42% rise in judicial review applications compared to 2025
Judicial review applications surged in the second quarter of 2026 with 1,300 received, a 42% increase on the same period in 2025.
Welsh environmental watchdog hit by data breach
Environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has reported itself to the Information Commissioner's Office after a data breach saw personal details of staff made public.
Judge adjourns hearing of application by city council for injunction over unauthorised flags: report
A judge has adjourned Birmingham City Council’s application for an injunction against people who have flown unauthorised flags beside roads.
Adult Social Care files were not missing but had been “incorrectly catalogued”, council insists
Southampton City Council has claimed that tens of thousands of adult social care files were not missing but had been “incorrectly catalogued”, after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the authority could not account for the location of large volumes of paper records.
Lord Briggs appointed as next President of Supreme Court
Lord Briggs of Westbourne is to become the Supreme Court’s fifth President since it was established in 2009.
City council acted unlawfully in failing to secure SEN provision while appealing tribunal ruling, High Court finds
Southampton City Council acted unlawfully by failing for six months to implement an order of the First-tier Tribunal (FtT) concerning a young person’s education, health and care plan, the High Court has ruled.
Researchers warn of "agentic flooding" of public services with AI generated communications
Researchers have identified a surge in AI generated requests and claims hitting public bodies across Europe and beyond including FOI requests, planning objections and compensation claims and warned that public authorities will soon run out of capacity to deal with the influx if they do not act…
Government calls for views on revising social housing allocations guidance
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has called for evidence as part of its review of statutory guidance on social housing allocations in England.
City Solicitor at Manchester City Council to step down in May 2027
The City Solicitor at Manchester City Council – described by her chief executive as “a titan of local government” – is to step down in May next year.
Government reverses plan to exclude councils from ICBs in amendment to Health Bill
The Government has this month made a U-turn on Health Bill proposals to remove mandated council representation from integrated care boards (ICBs).
Council concedes approval for intensive poultry unit was unlawful: report
A campaign group aiming to stop the construction of a new intensive poultry unit (IPU) given approval in Lincolnshire has claimed that West Lindsey District Council has agreed to overturn its decision and reconsider whether to approve the application.
Minister tells councils to stop working on implementing local government reorganisation decisions ahead of review and possible “change of course”
The Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth, Jim McMahon, has written to council leaders in local government reorganisation areas to ask them to cease work on implementing the decisions that were announced in July.
Councils urge action from MPs to protect social housing stock after record numbers of social homes sold to private buyers
Housing associations in England have sold a record 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers who do not live in them in the past eight years, with more than 5,000 in the past year alone, up 89% in just two years.
Rayner withdraws decisions on local government reorganisation in four counties, launches review for 14 other areas
The Government has announced that following “updated and privileged legal advice”, ministers will review its plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
ICO hits city council with enforcement notice over “systemic non-compliance” with Freedom of Information Act
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued Derby City Council with an enforcement notice after evidence showed “widespread and persistent delays” in the local authority’s handling of freedom of information requests, with some outstanding requests dating back to 2022.
Minister orders council to carry out Regulation 19 consultation on emerging plan
The Housing and Planning Minister has ordered Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to commence a Regulation 19 consultation on its emerging Plan.
Government updates legal risk guidance used by government lawyers
The Government is updating the legal risk guidance used by government lawyers this week (7 September), making it clear that it is “wholly proper” for ministers to take decisions where there is a tenable legal argument, even where there is a “high legal risk”.
Minister intervenes after council pauses publication of plan for Regulation 19 consultation
The Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook, has intervened at Southend-on-Sea City Council following the local authority’s decision last month to pause publication of the Plan for Regulation 19 consultation and request an extension to the 31 December submission deadline.
Largest social landlord in Wales to procure £2.4m legal services contract
The largest provider of housing, care and support in Wales, Codi Group, is to appoint legal providers to provide legal services worth an estimated £2.4m over four years.
Watchdog criticises failure by former trustees to maintain effective oversight of finances of Coventry City of Culture Trust
The Charity Commission has criticised former trustees of Coventry City of Culture Trust, finding that their failure to maintain effective oversight of the charity’s finances “amounted to misconduct and/or mismanagement”.
Mayor of London will have text messages and emails searched as part of procurement battle with data firm Palantir
London Mayor Sadiq Khan will have his text messages and emails searched as part of an ongoing legal battle with data firm Palantir, it has been reported.
Ministry urges councils to review ‘box-shifting’ schemes following Court of Appeal business rates ruling
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has written to local authorities responsible for business rates urging them to carry out a review of so-called ‘box-shifting’ schemes in light of a recent Court of Appeal ruling.
London borough fails in application for strike-out of part of social care procurement claim
The High Court has refused to strike out part of a contractor’s procurement claim against the London Borough of Tower Hamlets because the judge said the matter complained of could be cured by amendment.
South Kesteven becomes latest council to issue pre-action letter over local government reorganisation
South Kesteven District Council has joined the growing band of local authorities to send a pre-action protocol letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government over the Government’s decisions on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Council launches consultation on proposed borough-wide PSPO
Havering Council has launched a consultation seeking views on plans to introduce a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
Two more councils issue pre-action letters over local government reorganisation
Hertfordshire County Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have become the latest local authorities to send pre-action protocol letters to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, seeking clarity on how the government reached its decision on Local Government…
Three London boroughs turn to Sustainable Communities Act amid calls for Government to revisit “unfair” funding reforms
Three London councils have this week signalled their intention to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act, calling on the Government to reconsider its proposed Fair Funding reforms.
Survey finds widespread adoption of AI by legal professionals but concerns remain over inaccurate information
A survey of more than 500 legal professionals carried out by LexisNexis has found that nearly all of them (94%) use AI for legal work, with a third (34%) using it daily.
Government sets up cross-government taskforce on community renewal
The Government is to launch a cross-government taskforce on community renewal and work with local leaders, after observing high streets “falling into disrepair” and communities being left behind.
Tenant awarded nearly £8k from landlord over unlicensed HMO
A tenant in Muswell Hill has been awarded almost £8,000 in rent after taking her landlord to tribunal over an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Housing sector bodies issue guidance for tackling damp and mould
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) have launched new guidance for tackling damp and mould in England’s housing sector.
Claimants win battle with council over compulsory purchase and indemnity costs
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council must pay £150,000 on account to two people whose property it compulsorily purchased, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has said.
Land promoters and developers group calls for six more High Court judges specialising in planning cases
A property and development industries group has called for the appointment of at least six High Court judges to serve as planning specialists who would not sit on other types of cases.
Royal borough to challenge decision by planning inspector that metropolitan open land can be ‘grey belt’
A planning inspector has decided that metropolitan open land can count as ’grey belt’ and so be acceptable for development.
Councils under new duty to notify GPs, schools and other relevant bodies when child placed in temporary accommodation
As of this week (1 September), local authorities will have a duty to notify schools, GP practices and health visiting services when a child is placed in temporary accommodation.
Claimant based in Donbas and under sanctions loses appeal over council tax liability
A man whose finances had been frozen by the Government because of his activities in Russian-occupied Ukraine cannot as a result be exempt from paying council tax, the High Court has ruled.
Tribunal refuses application for certification that council was in contempt of court in Freedom of Information case
The First-tier Tribunal has refused an application to certify that the London Borough of Haringey was in contempt of court after the council disclosed information 17 days after the deadline set by the Tribunal in a freedom of information case.
Extra resourcing will be needed to handle prospective rise in cases once Hillsborough Law in force, says Law Society
The Law Society of England and Wales has said the justice system must be ready to deliver on the Hillsborough Law, ahead of an expected surge of cases when the legislation finally comes into effect.
Challenge over lack of education for child in GCSE year fails in High Court
The High Court has dismissed a judicial review claim contending that the London Borough of Southwark failed in its statutory duty to provide education for a child in her GCSE year.
Campaign group sends pre-action letter over motorway services approval
Lawyers acting for an independent residents’ group have sent a pre-action protocol letter for judicial review of North Yorkshire Council’s decision to approve a proposed motorway service area.
Housing sector issues guidance aimed at improving section 106 outcomes
The Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Housing Federation, the Home Builders Federation and the Local Government Association have hailed the development of new National S106 Affordable Housing Engagement Guidance.
Speech and Language therapy decision quashed over reasoning of Tribunal
The Upper Tribunal has quashed a decision of the First-tier Tribunal made in relation to the Education, Health and Social Care Plan of a child, due to a mistake in one part of the tribunal's reasoning.
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Events
Welsh Housing Law Masterclasses - 4-5 Grays Inn Square 
Converting leisure contracts to the agency model: best practice and benefits - Blake Morgan
10-09-2026
Online (live)
Public Law Conference 2026 - Spire Barristers 
AML Compliance Webinar - Devonshires 
Law Enforcement Data Processing and Part 3 of the DPA 2018 - Act Now
10-09-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
Introduction to Restructuring and Insolvency: Understanding the Fundamentals for Public Sector Organisations - DWF
10-09-2026 11:00 am
Online (live)
Certified Data Protection Officer Training (CDPO) - The Training Centre
14-09-2026 9:00 am
Online (live)
Cornerstone on the Court of Protection – Annual Training Conference - Cornerstone Barristers
14-09-2026 9:00 am
London
HMPL Building Blocks: Defending Disrepair Claims - Law and Procedure - Devonshires
15-09-2026
Online (live)
Subject Access Requests under the GDPR: A new weapon in the employment claimant’s arsenal? - 42BR
15-09-2026
Online (live)
Driving Renewable and Sustainable Development in the Public Sector - DWF
15-09-2026 11:00 am
Online (live)
Lewin Conference 2026 - New Square Chambers 
Beyond the Bench: Navigating Court of Protection Cases - Kings Chambers 
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024: What Property Lawyers Need to Know - Cornerstone Barristers
16-09-2026
Online (live)
Property Law Nuts & Bolts, Part 1: Boundary disputes - Landmark Chambers 
Water Resources Seminar - Francis Taylor Building
AI and Information Governance: Bridging Innovation and Compliance - Act Now
17-09-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
European Data Protection & Privacy Programme Management - DPO Ready - The Training Centre
21-09-2026
Online (live)
