News

Nov 17, 2025

Supreme Court declines to hear appeal over refusal by council to allow more than one group to participate in planning committee meeting

The Supreme Court has refused permission to appeal in a dispute over whether the appellant suffered material prejudice as a result of a city council’s refusal to allow more than one group to participate in a planning committee meeting.

Nov 17, 2025

LGA issues good practice guidance on member-officer relations protocols

The Local Government Association has published a guide aimed at helping elected members and senior officers set and promote clear expectations about how they work together for the benefit of local residents and good governance of the authority.

Nov 17, 2025

11KBW silk appointed as High Court judge

A leading public law King’s Counsel at 11KBW has been appointed as a High Court judge, with effect form 12 January 2026.

Nov 17, 2025

Welsh council apologises after mistranslation in report suggested member said ‘immigrants’ instead of ‘incomers’

The monitoring officer of Gwynedd Council's has issued a formal correction after an incorrect translation saw a members misquoted as saying ‘immigrant’ instead of ‘incomer’.

Nov 17, 2025

Some Welsh councils close to issuing section 114 notices, Auditor General warns

There are "undoubtedly" some Welsh local authorities that are at risk of issuing a section 114 notice, declaring effective bankruptcy, the Auditor General for Wales has warned.

Nov 17, 2025

Councils projected to face “£3bn funding black hole” for temporary accommodation by 2029/30, LGA warns

Analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) has suggested that the gap between what councils are paying out in housing benefit and the amount they are reimbursed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is projected to cost over £3 billion from 2017/18 to 2029/30.

Nov 17, 2025

Ex-Director of Public Prosecutions to lead independent review of existing public order and hate crime legislation

Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, has been appointed to lead an independent review of laws on public order and hate crime, following a terrorist attack in Manchester on 2 October.

Nov 17, 2025

SEND system faces “total collapse” without major reform to services: CCN

Research carried out by County Council’s Network (CCN) has warned of a SEND system “on course for total collapse”, with local authorities facing deficits of £18bn by the end of this Parliament.

Nov 14, 2025

High Court dismisses Coventry City Council challenge to asylum dispersal policy

The Administrative Court has rejected Coventry City Council’s judicial review claim against the Home Secretary over the placement of asylum seekers in the city, ruling that the Secretary of State had acted lawfully in fulfilling her statutory duty to provide accommodation.

Nov 14, 2025

Renters to see the end of Section 21 ‘No-fault Evictions’ by May 2026

The Renters Right Act 2025 will be put into force from the 1st May 2026, the government has announced.

Nov 14, 2025

London borough launches judicial review challenge over Fair Funding Review

Richmond Council is threatening a judicial review over the Government's fair funding reforms, which it claims have hit the London borough with the "steepest reduction" in funding of any council across the country.

Nov 14, 2025

Campaigners take legal advice after council rejects community value bid for London market

Campaigners have said they have taken legal advice following a decision by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to refuse an asset of community value application from traders at the historic Shepherd's Bush Market.

Nov 14, 2025

Where children's guardian and social workers have opposing views, difference of opinion should be “summarised clearly” for judge: Sara Sharif Independent Review

An independent review into the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has identified multiple failings from agencies in the lead up to her murder in 2023, finding that "the system failed to keep her safe”.

Nov 14, 2025

Regulator of Social Housing and Charity Commission unveils cooperation plan of action

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and the Charity Commission have published a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), setting out how the two organisations will continue to work with each other.

Nov 14, 2025

Consultant brands Isle of Wight Council “dysfunctional” in governance report

An independent governance consultant has said Isle of Wight Council is "dysfunctional" in a report that raised a number of concerns, including a claim that some officers are reluctant to attend committee meetings for fear they would be "ridiculed" by members.

Nov 14, 2025

Minister writes letter of concern as London councillors stand in Bangladesh elections

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to Tower Hamlets Council after it emerged that two of its serving councillors are campaigning to become MPs in Bangladesh.

Nov 14, 2025

Police and crime commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales, with roles to be absorbed by regional mayors

The Home Office has this week (13 November) revealed that Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are to be abolished in England and Wales, with their roles to be absorbed by regional mayors “wherever possible”.

Nov 13, 2025

Upper Tribunal allows appeal in “waking day curriculum” case

The Upper Tribunal has concluded that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” in its approach to deciding whether a child’s special educational needs could reasonably be met within day special school provision or whether the child reasonably required educational provision extending beyond the normal…

Nov 13, 2025

Browne Jacobson and CBI launch partnership to advise Government on new PPP models

Browne Jacobson and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have announced a partnership to develop research aimed at advising Whitehall policymakers on how to leverage private sector investment to deliver public sector projects.

Nov 13, 2025

County gets government go-ahead for lane rental scheme

Oxfordshire County Council has gained government permission to introduce a lane rental scheme, under which utilities will be charged per day for digging up highways.

Nov 13, 2025

Pub unused for 11 years can be listed as an ACV, tribunal rules

An Oxfordshire pub can be listed as an asset of community value even though it has been disused for 11 years, the First-Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) has found.

Nov 13, 2025

Flat leaseholders win potentially pyrrhic victory against council

Two leaseholders may face higher bills for service charges despite winning a case against the London Borough of Hackney.

Nov 13, 2025

High Court dismisses appeal over alleged breach of neighbourhood plan

The High Court has rejected a parish council’s claim that a planning inspector erred by failing to take proper account of a neighbourhood plan that took effect while he was deliberating.

Nov 13, 2025

Government publishes new guidance on the disposal of public sector land

The Cabinet Office has issued new guidance on disposing of unwanted government real estate.

Nov 12, 2025

Court of Appeal judges call time on “academic” case

The Court of Appeal has warned that it will be reluctant to spend its time on cases that have become “academic” by the time they reach the hearing stage.

Nov 12, 2025

Authority offers council-owned farms to developers looking for BNG sites

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has revealed plans to turn three council-owned farms into biodiversity net gain (BNG) units that can be bought by developers who need to offset lost habitats when they build.

Nov 12, 2025

Family court judge describes near £300,000 17-week specialist placement cost as “astronomical”

A family court judge has outlined his concern after a council agreed to pay £289,000 for one child to attend a specialist placement for 17 weeks, warning that local authorities are "at the mercy" of the private sector due to a lack of suitable accommodation.

Nov 12, 2025

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