Council lawyers write to Welsh Rugby Union as end to stay of legal challenge nears and row breaks out over decision making process
Swansea Council’s lawyers have written to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) ahead of the end of a stay of the local authority’s legal challenge over a shake-up of the professional game in Wales, just as a row broke out about a leaked audio of comments made by the WRU’s chief executive.
Families bring claims against academy trust and council over use of isolation rooms for children and young people with SEND
A group of families are bringing civil legal action against a learning trust and the London Borough of Waltham Forest over the use of “locked and padded” isolation rooms for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Court dismisses challenge to selective licensing scheme after oral renewal hearing
A group of landlords in Thurrock have failed in their attempt to challenge the council’s selective licensing scheme and been ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.
Judges dismiss legal challenge over grant of permission for new Chinese embassy
A Divisional Court has dismissed a statutory review challenge brought by local residents over the decision by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in January this year to grant planning permission for an embassy for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the site of…
Mayors to retain share of income tax under major devolution package
English mayors will be given a share of income tax revenues for the first time, the Government has announced.
CIPFA warns "weak" governance is hindering financial recovery at London borough
A “culture of weak financial management and governance” at Hillingdon Council will make it difficult for the London borough to break free from its need for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), CIPFA has warned.
Judicial Appointments Commission issues call for candidates for Legal Members of Education Tribunal for Wales
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has been asked to identify eight candidates to recommend for the post of Legal Members for the Education Tribunal for Wales.
Online Procedure Rule Committee to develop voluntary code of practice on ethical use of AI
The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) is to produce a voluntary Code of Practice which will set out inclusion standards, technology and data standards and standards for the responsible and ethical use of AI.
Personal data leaked in data breach at borough council during update of electoral register
The personal details of 2,900 voters have been leaked by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, in what it has described as an “administrative error”.
City of London wins appeal over business rates scheme that costs it £35m a year in lost revenue
The City of London Corporation has been successful in the Court of Appeal against a "box-shifting" business rates mitigation scheme said by its proponent to have saved clients more than £500m in business rates.
Housing Ombudsman publishes response to STAIRs consultation, updates scheme
The Housing Ombudsman has published its response to the consultation on Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) and updated its scheme.
Judges reject appeal over whether proceedings for possession were properly served by social landlord in relation to assured tenancy
The Court of Appeal has rejected a case in which social landlord Octavia was accused of “egregious” behaviour concerning a resident it was led to believe was dead.
Senior judge stresses importance of liaison between Family Court and First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
The Senior President of Tribunals, Lord Justice Dingemans, has highlighted the importance of liaison between the Family Court and the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), where a person's continued presence in the United Kingdom might be in issue.
Names and contact details of teachers leaked after Department for Education hacked
The names and contact details of thousands of school leaders, university staff and government officials have been leaked following the hacking of the Department for Education (DfE).
Minicab drivers secure permission from High Court for judicial review over TfL licensing renewal system
The High Court has agreed to hear a judicial review challenge against Transport for London (TfL) over alleged widespread failures in a private hire driver licensing system that a trade union claims left minicab drivers financially destitute.
Ombudsman calls for “more compassion” and “human touch” in approach to end-of-life care by councils and care homes
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued practical guidance and self-review questions for councils and care homes providing end-of-life care, warning there is “one chance to get it right”.
High Court rejects challenge to failure to take enforcement action over caravan site near listed building
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council has successfully defended a judicial review case in the High Court in a dispute over the proximity of a caravan site to a listed building.
Court of Appeal order brings end to decade-long planning dispute over site of photography studio
One of the longest running planning disputes to come before the courts has ended with victory for a developer.
Funding, governance and staffing must be aligned for new development corporations, report says
The next generation of development corporations will only succeed if funding, governance, leadership and staffing are planned together from the outset, the University of Birmingham’s Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub has said.
High Court grants permission to house builders for challenge over Article 31 order by Transport Secretary on development site
A High Court judge has taken the unusual step of explaining his reasons for granting permission for a judicial review to a group of house builders, who wish to challenge the Secretary of State for Transport over the use of a site in Warrington.
Burnham to bring forward date for Casey Commission to report back with plan on delivery of National Care Service
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has confirmed he will bring forward the date for Baroness Casey’s commission to report back with a plan on how to deliver the National Care Service, accelerating this from 2028 to next summer.
Housing Ombudsman report sets out insights from submissions under Complaint Handling Code
The Housing Ombudsman has issued a report on its findings and key insights from the first two years of annual submissions under the Complaint Handling Code.
Police and Crime Commissioner launches legal challenge over funding formula
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Dorset has launched a legal bid over the Home Office's "outdated and unfair" police funding formula, claiming it fails to reflect the county’s policing needs.
Weightmans sees 12% rise in revenues to £162m, looks to grow higher-value work in public sector and other practices
Weightmans has reported a fifth consecutive year of growth in 2025/26, with revenue increasing by 12% to £162m and net profit rising by 17% to £17m.
ADASS publishes screening tool to prioritise allocation of new requests to authorise deprivation of liberty
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has this month published a screening tool to prioritise the allocation of new requests to authorise a deprivation of liberty.
Commercial Services Group names six firms to £600m public sector legal services framework
Commercial Services Group, a wholly owned business unit of Kent County Council, has appointed six law firms to a £600m framework for the delivery of legal services to public sector bodies.
Wales Ombudsman reports 48% surge in public service complaints
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has reported a 48% surge in complaints about public services alongside an 18% increase in complaints about the Code of Conduct, in its first quarterly report of 2026.
Officers warn of lengthy legal process to regain city status after local government reorganisation
Stoke-on-Trent could face a "complex and unnecessary bureaucratic undertaking" to regain its city status if it is not preserved during local government reorganisation in Staffordshire, council officers have warned.
Forms of vulnerability for children including poverty, housing insecurity and missing school continue to rise, warns think-tank
A report by think-tank the Centre for Young Lives has warned that despite progress in some areas, some of the most “concerning forms of vulnerability” – like deep poverty, housing insecurity or missing half of school – continue to rise, leaving more children at risk of problems later on and…
Regulator threatens housing association with compulsory deregistration
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has revealed it is considering removing a small Birmingham and London housing association from the register of social housing providers.
Standards watchdog to examine existing Codes of Ethical Conduct ahead of drawing up guidance
A new initiative by the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) will examine existing Codes of Ethical Conduct to formulate “practical, non-statutory guidance”.
County backs potential legal challenge to reorganisation in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council has backed a motion calling on its leader to support a judicial review challenge over the Government's local government reorganisation plans for the county, should legal advice indicate arguable grounds.
Parents win appeal against refusal of application to be appointed as personal welfare deputies for adult son
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a mother and a father against the Court of Protection’s refusal of their application to be appointed as personal welfare deputies for their 22-year-old son.
Tottenham Hotspur academy permission quashed after council backs out of judicial review
The High Court has quashed a planning permission for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club's plans to develop part of a park into a private training ground, following Enfield Council’s decision to withdraw from the litigation.
Regulators gave inconsistent litigation guidance ahead of Mazur judgment, Legal Services Board finds
Guidance on the conduct of litigation prior to the Mazur case was "inconsistent", while some regulators had "limited knowledge" of how supervision of unauthorised individuals was operating in practice, a Legal Services Board (LSB) review has revealed.
Cross-border healthcare patients at risk of “falling through the gaps”: Welsh Affairs Committee
The Welsh Affairs Committee has highlighted its concern over what it describes as a “lack of urgency” in addressing issues affecting cross-border healthcare patients, following three evidence sessions with all seven Welsh local health boards and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee.
High Court dismisses challenge to grant of permission for 250-home scheme despite lack of flood sequential test
The High Court has dismissed a town council’s challenge to permission for a 250-home development after finding, among other things, that “policy (even the NPPF) is not law and can be departed from so long as the decision maker given adequate reasons and acts rationally”.
President of Family Division publishes revised listing guidance
The President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice, Sir Stephen Cobb, has published a revised version of the Family Listing Guidance, to take effect from 31 August 2026.
Draft legal opinion details plan to remove Freedom of City of London honour from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom of the City of London can be removed, the City of London Corporation's city solicitor has said.
City business leaders seek legal challenge against extension of parking charge hours across Liverpool
A group of city business leaders have announced preparations for legal action against Liverpool City Council over a recent increase in parking charges and extension of charging hours across the city.
ICO reports 40% surge in FOI complaints
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has revealed that Freedom of Information (FOI) complaints increased by more than 40% in 2025/26, while a rise in data protection complaints also put pressure on its services.
Government consults on reforming “needlessly restrictive” weddings law
The Ministry of Justice has this month published a consultation on reforming weddings law in England and Wales.
Councils must weave sustainability reporting into governance processes, CIPFA says
Sustainability reporting will only achieve its intended purpose if public authorities can successfully integrate sustainability information into governance, budgeting, and financial planning processes, CIPFA has warned.
Council to review Code of Conduct after backing AI abuse motion
Stockton Council has backed a motion condemning the use of AI-generated imagery and other digitally manipulated content to abuse or misrepresent those involved in public life.
Don't lumber councils with administration of ‘High Value Property Surcharge’, says LGA
The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to consider national administration of the ‘High Value Property Surcharge’ instead of using councils, warning that enforcement could be expensive and complex, among other issues.
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Litigation Solicitor/Principal Litigation Solicitor
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£48,226 - £52,413 per annum
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Senior Lawyer - Social Care (Child Protection)
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Events
CCTV, Drones and Body Worn Cameras: Ensuring Data Protection Compliance - Act Now
05-08-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
HMPL Building Blocks: Breach of Lease - Devonshires
Understanding GDPR Accountability and Conducting Data Protection Audits - Act Now
17-08-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
AI Governance Professional (AIGP) - The Training Centre
AI and Information Governance: Bridging Innovation and Compliance - Act Now
20-08-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
How to Handle a Subject Access Request - Act Now 
Certificate in Planning Enforcement (CPE) Module 4 & Module 2 - Ivy Legal 
Free Expert Briefing: Antisemitism as a Safeguarding Concern - 4-5 Grays Inn Square
01-09-2026
London
Minerals webinar series - Part 3: Environmental assessment - Landmark Chambers
07-09-2026
Online (live)
