News

Jan 24, 2025

Trowers advises Torbay on first of its kind ‘hotels to homes’ scheme

Law firm Trowers & Hamlins has advised Torbay Council on its first ‘Hotels to Homes’ scheme, a project to convert former hotels into high quality affordable housing.

Jan 24, 2025

Unitary mulling legal action over "vindictive" decision to end rural services delivery grant

The deputy leader of North Yorkshire Council has said the local authority is mulling legal action over the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's decision to rescind a rural services delivery grant worth millions to the council.

Jan 24, 2025

Anthony Collins bolsters procurement team with legal director hire

Law firm Anthony Collins has appointed Sophie Mcfie-Hyland, a specialist in public sector commercial contracts and procurement, as a legal director.

Jan 24, 2025

Residents affected by 2019 Richmond House fire reach settlement with housing association and construction company

Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) and St James, a subsidiary of the Berkeley Group, have reached a settlement with the residents of a block of flats destroyed by a fire in 2019.

Jan 23, 2025

MPs to examine work of county court amid concerns over capacity and resources

The Justice Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine the work of the County Court amid “persistent” concerns over capacity and resources.

Jan 23, 2025

Borough council drops name change due to prospective local government reorganisation

Tewkesbury Borough Council is set to shelve plans to change its name following news of the Government's proposals to scrap two-tier authorities.

Jan 23, 2025

Government vows end to “challenge culture” in transformation of judicial review process for major infrastructure projects

The Government has committed to reducing the number of permission stages against Development Consent Orders (DCOs) issued for large infrastructure projects in an attempt to keep nationally significant schemes from being held up by legal disputes.

Jan 23, 2025

Supreme Court to issue ruling next week on application by father for writ of habeas corpus over children in care

The Supreme Court will next week (29 January) hand down its judgment on a father’s application for a writ of habeas corpus in respect of his children, who are being raised in a local authority’s care.

Jan 23, 2025

Council concedes on judicial review over decision to shutter leisure centre

Locals fighting against Caerphilly County Borough Council's decision to close a leisure centre have secured a quashing order following a judicial review challenge that argued the local authority had breached its own constitution.

Jan 23, 2025

Integrated Care Board secures lifting of automatic suspension in procurement dispute over provision of urgent treatment centre

The High Court has agreed an application from NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board to lift the automatic suspension imposed when a dispute began over a contract award.

Jan 23, 2025

LGA backs Private Member’s Bill proposing changes to how licensing hours orders are made

The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged MPs to use a private member’s bill now before Parliament as a vehicle to modernise local authority licensing.

Jan 23, 2025

Council prosecution sees abortion clinic protestor hit with £7,500 costs order

A protester has been ordered to pay more than £7,500 after failing to comply with a public space protection order (PSPO), which created a designated safe zone outside a reproductive health clinic in Ealing.

Jan 23, 2025

Housing Ombudsman issues recommendations to landlords on best practice for improving knowledge and information management

The Housing Ombudsman has shared insight into how social landlords have implemented its recommendations on Knowledge and Information Management (KIM), adding that an effective approach in this area is “fundamental for providing decent homes and services”.

Jan 23, 2025

Council took “too long” to put in place speech and language therapy for teenager with special educational needs, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Somerset Council for taking too long to put in place speech and language therapy for a teenager with special educational needs, following an earlier complaint.

Jan 23, 2025

Child with special needs missed months of education because of “council bureaucracy”, Ombudsman finds

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has revealed that a child with special educational needs missed months of education, despite Trafford Council identifying a suitable tutor within a fortnight of them leaving mainstream school.

Jan 22, 2025

Upper Tribunal finds error on point of law by First-Tier Tribunal in dispute over EHC plan, but refuses to set decision aside

The Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber has found that the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) made an error of law in a case involving an education, health and care plan but has declined to set aside its decision.

Jan 22, 2025

Councils and Directors of Children’s Services support aims of Law Commission on disabled children’s social care, but warn of “unintended consequences” of some proposals

Proposals in the Law Commission’s review of legislation on disabled children’s social care risk damaging unintended consequences and maintain an ineffective tribunal system, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have said.

Jan 22, 2025

Family Court judge criticises local authority analysis as “deeply flawed”, finding council failed to apply ‘nothing else will do’ principle

The Family Court has dismissed a council’s application for care and placement orders, finding that the authority failed to properly apply the principle that adoption should only be sanctioned where “nothing else will do”, and that it failed to apply the relevant welfare checklist.

Jan 22, 2025

Asylum seeker loses appeal against being denied ‘local connection’ to London borough

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by an asylum seeker over a decision by Islington Council that he had no “local connection” with the area and so his application should be referred to another London borough.

Jan 22, 2025

President issues guidance on public law cases with international element

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has issued updated guidance on obtaining information from other jurisdictions for public law children cases which have an international element.

Jan 22, 2025

Minister launches statutory intervention at London borough, expands envoy team

The Government has launched an intervention into the London Borough of Tower Hamlets after concluding that the local authority is not meeting its best value duty.

Jan 22, 2025

Upper Tribunal rejects council application for permission to appeal Education Tribunal for Wales review decision

An Upper Tribunal judge has dismissed a Welsh council’s claim for judicial review of a review decision by the Education Tribunal for Wales (ETW) – finding that the “correct route of challenge” is by way of statutory appeal.

Jan 22, 2025

High Court quashes poultry farm expansion planning permission over failure to comply with environmental impact assessment regulations

Planning permission to expand a poultry farm in Monmouthshire has been quashed by the High Court after the county council agreed the decision failed to comply with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017.

Jan 22, 2025

Parish council secures quashing order in judicial review of village development

A parish council has successfully challenged Guildford Borough Council's decision to approve a five-home development after arguing it conflicted with a local development plan policy aimed at protecting a river conservation area.

Jan 21, 2025

Mayor of London under investigation for gifted Taylor Swift tickets

An investigation is underway into the Mayor of London's acceptance of a set of Taylor Swift tickets worth £3,000, the Greater London Authority has confirmed.

Jan 21, 2025

Judges reject appeal against local authority decision not to determine appellant as “child in need” when he was 16

The Court of Appeal has rejected a young man’s appeal against a local authority’s failure to determine him to be a “child in need” within the meaning of s.17 of the Children Act 1989, when carrying out a child and family assessment in 2021.

Jan 20, 2025

Law Society opposes raising permission threshold for judicial reviews against development consent orders

The Law Society has said it disagrees with the recommendations of an independent review that suggested raising the permission threshold for judicial reviews against development consent orders (DCOs).

Jan 20, 2025

Parish councillors warned of prosecution over alleged fiscal failures

Parish councillors at Elmton with Creswell Parish Council have been warned they could face prosecution in an independent report which revealed alleged failures at the local authority to follow fiscal rules, as well as “basic” statutory requirements.

Jan 20, 2025

Claim to consider whether private school VAT policy “unjustifiably discriminates” against SEN pupils expedited by High Court judge

Two sets of claims to consider the compatibility with human rights of the Government’s introduction of VAT on private school fees have been joined and expedited, with a hearing expected to take place in the High Court before the end of April this year.

Jan 20, 2025

Two-thirds of council housing budgets on “brink of collapse”, report warns

Two-thirds of councils have reported a risk of being unable to set a balanced housing budget by the next general election, according to new research by Southwark Council.

Jan 20, 2025

DWP consultation on disability benefit reforms “so unfair as to be unlawful”, High Court rules

A High Court judge has found that a consultation on proposals to make legislative amendments to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) run by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2023 was unlawful.

Jan 20, 2025

Reforms to Housing Revenue Account could unlock 88,000 new council homes, districts say

Raising the threshold at which councils must set up a separate financial management account for their council housing, known as the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), could unlock up to 88,000 additional council homes, the District Councils' Network has said.

Jan 20, 2025

Browne Jacobson advises city council on shopping centre acquisition

Law firm Browne Jacobson has advised Norwich City Council on its acquisition of Anglia Square Shopping Centre, in Norwich, from Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

Jan 20, 2025

London borough secures £82k order over direct payment fraud

A man found guilty of fraud has been ordered to pay Lambeth Council more than £80,000 over unlawful payments for carers who never carried out any work for him.

Jan 18, 2025

Councils demand more flexibility and control over Right to Buy to protect social housing stock

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to go further with its reforms of Right to Buy (RTB) to give local authorities more influence over how the scheme operates locally amid rising demand to buy homes through the scheme.

Jan 17, 2025

Government to pilot locally-led approach to conducting investigations into child grooming gangs

The Home Office has announced plans to develop a new framework for locally-led inquiries into child sexual abuse – working with Oldham Council and up to four other pilot areas as a “first step”.

Jan 17, 2025

High Court finds minister was entitled to direct local authority to establish domestic homicide review

The High Court has rejected a local authority’s claim against a decision by a government minister, acting under powers delegated by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to direct the council to establish a domestic homicide review (DHR) following the death of a woman.

Jan 17, 2025

Ombudsman forced to review first set of complaints data it published on social housing in Wales

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) has been forced to review complaints data it published for the first time on social housing in Wales.

Jan 17, 2025

Claimant seeks new legal team for appeal in £650m bitcoin hard drive case

The claimant behind a High Court case against Newport City Council over a lost hard drive containing access to a £650m Bitcoin wallet has taken to social media to find a new legal team for an appeal.

Jan 17, 2025

Borough councils in collaboration programme set to adopt same Code of Conduct

Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils - which share a monitoring officer - are poised to adopt the same Code of Conduct in order to make standards complaints easier to manage.

Jan 17, 2025

Government to hold market engagement on proposed £200m legal panel for wider public sector

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is to undertake market engagement ahead of the procurement of a public sector agreement for the provision of legal services estimated to be worth £200m over four years.

Jan 16, 2025

Commissioner calls for strengthened proposals on illegal children’s homes, home education and child protection in Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has highlighted a number of areas in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that need strengthening, while acknowledging that it lays a “strong foundation for change”.

Jan 16, 2025

Government still off track for meeting environmental obligations, watchdog finds

The Government "must act urgently and decisively to catch up if it is to meet its legal obligations" under the Environment Act 2021, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has warned.

Jan 16, 2025

Key provisions of Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act to be brought into force, but “burdensome” provisions scrapped, Education Secretary vows

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has promised that key provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, whilst “burdensome” provisions will be scrapped.

Jan 16, 2025

Ombudsman criticises council after finding woman was unable to spend as much time with dying husband after he was moved to “cheaper” care placement

A woman was not able to spend as much time as she wanted with her husband in his final weeks because Essex County Council moved him to a care placement further away from the family home, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

Jan 16, 2025

Court has no jurisdiction to set aside validly made adoption order, other than by way of an appeal, judges rule

Courts have no power to rescind adoption orders on welfare grounds as Parliament intended such orders to be final, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Jan 16, 2025

Councils issue warning over impact of rise in national insurance contributions

Councils face a shortfall of £637m next year in direct costs from the increase in national insurance contributions, and potentially £1.13bn more in indirect costs to suppliers, the Local Government Association has claimed.

Jan 16, 2025

Call for evidence issued on addressing disadvantage in administrative justice system

The Administrative Justice Council (AJC) has called for evidence on the impact of digital reform of tribunals on users and addressing disadvantage in the administrative justice system.

Jan 16, 2025

Judiciary to produce new strategy to tackle underrepresentation of black judges in 2025

Tackling the underrepresentation of black judges and improving accommodations for disabled judges will be the main areas of work on judicial diversity for 2025.

Jan 16, 2025

Two more local authority landlords receive C3 grade from social housing regulator indicating ‘serious failings”

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has handed down C3 grades, indicating serious failings in meeting the outcomes of the consumer standards, to both Newcastle and Nottingham city councils.

Jan 15, 2025

Government to appeal river pollution ruling

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has appealed against a judicial review decision reached last year when Pickering Fishery Association successfully argued that the Environment Agency had failed in its legal duties to protect a former trout stream damaged by sewage pollution and runoff from fish…

Jan 15, 2025

Three-quarters of county councils apply for local government reorganisation

Sixteen county councils have applied to take part in the Government's priority devolution programme and delay elections, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed.

Jan 15, 2025

Council makes use of new power to introduce borough-wide selective licensing scheme without need for government approval

Barking and Dagenham Council will introduce a new selective licensing scheme in April to improve the management and quality of private rental homes across the borough, after taking advantage of a change in legislation – announced in the English Devolution White Paper – that empowers councils to…

Jan 15, 2025

MPs highlight “postcode lottery” in wait times for EHC plans and warn of “SEND emergency”

A report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities has warned that two-fifths of councils in England are in danger of effective bankruptcy within 15 months, unless action is taken to improve the currently…

Jan 15, 2025

Leader calls for council debts to be written off as part of local government reorganisation

The leader of Surrey County Council has suggested local authority debts should be written off as part of local government reorganisation.

Jan 14, 2025

London borough to apply to Government for exceptional financial support, blaming temporary accommodation costs

Newham Council is set to become the latest local authority to apply to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), blaming what it calls the “crippling” burden of temporary accommodation costs.

Jan 14, 2025

Salford selects Tour as new City Solicitor

Salford City Council has appointed Surjit Tour as its City Solicitor, following Cathy Parkinson’s departure from the position on an interim basis.

Jan 14, 2025

Councils, NHS and schools to be banned from making ransomware payments

The Government has announced plans to ban local councils, NHS bodies and schools from making ransomware payments in order to make them unattractive targets for criminals.

Jan 14, 2025

Major social landlord names five firms for latest legal services framework

The Riverside Group, which has more than 75,000 homes in management and operates across around 175 local authorities, has chosen five law firms for its next framework for legal services in England.

Jan 14, 2025

Property used by London boroughs to house homeless hit with planning enforcement notice

Enfield Council has served a planning enforcement notice on a landlord unlawfully operating a former police station building as a hostel.

Jan 13, 2025

Social housing organisations issue plea for 10-year rent settlement for local authorities and housing associations

Social housing organisations including the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation have sent a joint letter to ministers, calling for a 10-year rent settlement for councils and housing associations.

Jan 13, 2025

Local government reorganisation should be matter for councils and local areas to decide: LGA

The Local Government has said it remains "clear that local government reorganisation should be a matter for councils and local areas to decide" in response to Government plans to replace two-tier council areas with unitary authorities.

Jan 13, 2025

Practice guidance issued on transition of cases from National DOL List to Court of Protection

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has published new guidance around the transition of matters from the national DoL list to the Court of Protection (CoP) – for cases where the child is 16 or 17 years old and a decision is taken that further consideration should be…

Jan 13, 2025

Developers win appeal against council demolition order for 23-storey, twin tower development

Developers who were told to demolish a 23-storey residential development over "significant deviations" from the original planning permission have successfully appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Jan 13, 2025

London borough "very unhappy" after enforcement agency issued fly-tipping fine to five-year-old

The London Borough of Harrow has threatened to terminate its contract with an enforcement firm after it issued a fly-tipping penalty notice to a five-year-old girl.

Jan 13, 2025

Planning silk awarded CBE in New Year Honours List 2025

High-profile planning barrister Christopher Katkowski KC has been made a CBE for his services to Planning in the New Year Honours List 2025.

Jan 10, 2025

Transparency board calls for judicial review hearings to be broadcast

The Transparency and Open Justice Board has recommended that Administrative Court hearings should be broadcast in an effort to boost open justice.

Jan 10, 2025

High Court dismisses claim against council over hard drive containing password to £600m bitcoin wallet dumped at landfill site

The High Court has dismissed a claim against Newport City Council concerning the ownership of a hard drive containing the password to a Bitcoin wallet worth more than £600m that was said to have been left in error at a landfill site, after finding "no reasonable grounds for bringing the case".

Jan 09, 2025

MPs ask for clarity on how proposed local audit body will function

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has asked the Government to provide information on its plans for its proposed new oversight organisation set to replace the Office for Local Government (Oflog).

Jan 09, 2025

Districts hit out against delaying local elections for devolution programme

Decisions to delay local elections in some areas until next year in order to pursue local government reorganisation will deprive millions of voters of their local democracy, the District Councils' Network has complained.

Jan 09, 2025

Family Court reporting provisions to extend to all family courts in England and Wales

The Family Court reporting pilot is to be rolled out nationally from Monday 27 January through changes to the Family Procedure Rules.

Jan 09, 2025

District facing legal challenge over approval for works to listed former church

Runnymede District Council has been taken to judicial review by local activists in a dispute over a listed redundant church building.

Jan 09, 2025

Government to review statutory guidance on ASB case reviews

The Government is to review statutory guidance to make anti-social behaviour case reviews more accessible and effective for victims.

Jan 09, 2025

Finances of social housing providers impacted by rising repairs and remediation spend, Regulator warns

The financial position of private registered providers has weakened as a result of the need to make substantial investment in existing homes, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has warned.

Jan 09, 2025

Ombudsman accuses borough council of gatekeeping homelessness applications

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has accused Brentwood Borough Council of gatekeeping access to its homelessness services.

Jan 09, 2025

District loses High Court battle with harbour board over payment for works

Arun District Council must pay towards Littlehampton Harbour Board’s bill for capital works to maintain the harbour, having lost a High Court case in which it argued the board’s demand was unlawful.

Jan 09, 2025

Procurement rules see city council reconsider approach to buying energy from community groups

Bristol City Council has been forced to rethink a plan to buy energy from community groups after advice that this might fall foul of public procurement rules.

Jan 08, 2025

Borough council sees dispute over right of groups to use “independent” in name

A mass defection of councillors from the ruling Labour group has led to a dispute at Broxtowe Borough Council over who has the right to the name ‘independent’.

Jan 08, 2025

G15 and Residents' Group call for ten-year settlement in responses to consultation on social housing rent policy

The G15 and its newly formed Residents' Group have backed a proposal that social housing rents should increase by CPI+1% and called for a 10-year settlement.

Jan 08, 2025

Almost half of county councils in two-tier areas set to apply for priority devolution programme

At least nine county councils are poised to apply to the Government's "Devolution Priority Programme" for local government reorganisation.

Jan 08, 2025

LGA expresses concern that Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill does not make education system a statutory safeguarding partner

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it is “disappointed” that the education system will not be made a statutory safeguarding partner through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is to have its second reading in Parliament today (8 Jan).

Jan 08, 2025

Yorkshire unitary calls for flexibility to conduct remote meetings

North Yorkshire Council has backed the Government's proposals to reintroduce remote meetings.

Jan 07, 2025

District councils in Devon voice opposition to county-wide unitary authority

Devon’s seven district councils and Exeter City Council have issued a joint statement in opposition to the prospect of a county-wide unitary council in response to the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation.

Jan 07, 2025

Burges Salmon advises city council on sale of 487 homes to social housing and shared ownership provider

Law firm Burges Salmon has advised Birmingham City Council on the sale of 487 homes to Legal & General Affordable Homes.

Jan 06, 2025

Campaigners launch legal action against redevelopment of former golf course in Wimbledon

A local campaign group has started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)’s proposed redevelopment of the former Wimbledon Park golf course.

Jan 06, 2025

Plans for £200m busway set to go to public inquiry after campaigners raise objections

A public inquiry is set to take place after a local campaign group complained about the impact of a £200m busway connecting Cambourne and Cambridge on the region’s countryside.

Jan 06, 2025

LGA housing spokesperson calls for immediate increase in subsidy for temporary accommodation

The Local Government Association’s housing spokesperson has called for an immediate increase in the subsidy for temporary accommodation, so that it is no longer frozen at 90% of 2011 Local Housing Association rates.

Jan 06, 2025

Capsticks hires public procurement disputes specialist as partner in Leeds office

Law firm Capsticks has hired Tim Dennis, a specialist in commercial disputes including those involving public procurement related issues, as a partner in its Leeds office.

Jan 06, 2025

Wrexham councillor wins appeal over High Court ruling which led to warnings it would be contempt if members of local authority did not adopt local plan

The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of a Plaid Cymru councillor who challenged an order made by a High Court judge that Wrexham County Borough Council had no discretion but to adopt its local plan.

Jan 06, 2025

Local authorities “routinely failing” in legal duties to homeless children: Coram

A large number of 16 and 17-year-olds who become homeless are not assessed or are housed under the wrong legislation, with no practical or financial support from children’s social care services until the age of 25, according to new research by the Coram Institute for Children.

Jan 06, 2025

Bid by father to revoke placement orders after 11-month period of alcohol abstinence fails

A High Court Judge has rejected an application by a father who sought to revoke placement orders made in respect of his two children, on the basis of his 11-month period of abstinence from alcohol.

Jan 03, 2025

Independent commission on social care must deliver “bold and actionable” recommendations: LGA

The Government’s announcement of an independent review of adult social care marks a “potentially important step” in addressing challenges facing the sector, but must deliver “bold and actionable” recommendations in order to succeed, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.

Jan 03, 2025

Multi academy trust fined £300,000 following death of student

A multi-academy trust has been fined £300,000 after a 19-year-old student died as a result of a “series of management failures” at his special educational needs school.

Jan 02, 2025

Government to ditch cut-off date for recording historic rights of way

The Government has announced its intention to repeal the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic rights of way.

Jan 02, 2025

High Court agrees to hear legal challenge to Manchester development plan spanning nine councils

The High Court is set to hear a statutory review challenge against a development plan agreed upon by nine Greater Manchester authorities.

Jan 02, 2025

Judge accuses council of “fundamental misunderstanding” of statutory obligations for adoption support

A Family Court judge has criticised a local authority’s failure to understand its statutory obligations in respect of adoption support and to properly assess a family for that support, leading to three applications for adoption taking over 18 months to conclude.

Jan 02, 2025

Universities procurement body to procure £25m legal services framework

The London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) has given notice of its intention to procure its next multi-provider framework agreement for the provision of legal services in England and Wales.

Jan 02, 2025

NHS Resolution to hold market engagement over management of claims in primary and secondary settings

NHS Resolution is to hold a market engagement event related to the planned procurement of special legal services.

Dec 20, 2024

Judge rejects latest bid by Information Commissioner to have appeal by council over FOI enforcement notice struck out

The Information Commissioner has failed in a second bid to have an appeal by Bristol City Council over an enforcement notice struck out, it has emerged.

Dec 20, 2024

Remote meeting rules should be drafted "as flexibly as possible”, Lawyers in Local Government says

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have both said that there should be "no limitation placed upon councils" with regard to remote meeting arrangements "up to and including full remote attendance".

Dec 20, 2024

London borough and elected mayor agree settlement of discrimination claim

An Employment Tribunal claim brought against the London Borough of Newham by its directly elected executive mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, alleging race and sex discrimination, has been settled.

Dec 20, 2024

Law Commission issues consultation paper on changes to "fragmented" law on compulsory purchase

The Law Commission has published a consultation paper on compulsory purchase, as part of its review of the current "complex and inaccessible" law on compulsory purchase and compensation.

Dec 20, 2024

Government tells another borough council it will not renew best value notice, but remains concerned about “significant debts”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has decided not to reissue a best value notice for Runnymede Borough Council after acknowledging its work to implement a set of CIPFA recommendations but remains "concerned" about "significant debt" at the council.

Dec 19, 2024

Ministry decides against reissuing best value notice against borough council despite continued concern at level of debt

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has decided not to reissue Eastleigh Borough Council with a best value notice, but said it remains concerned about the size of the local authority’s debt.

Dec 19, 2024

Government consults on further reforms intended to make compulsory purchase process “faster and more efficient”

The Government has detailed a series of reforms aimed at expanding and simplifying compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in a consultation launched today (19 December).

Dec 19, 2024

Court of Appeal to hear challenge to order providing anonymity for judges who heard historic family proceedings concerning Sara Sharif

Two journalists have been given permission to appeal an order which prevents the media reporting the names of the judges who were involved in historic family proceedings that related to Sara Sharif.

Dec 19, 2024

Government mulls making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and PHV licensing

The Government is to consult on making all Local Transport Authorities – including ‘Strategic Authorities’ such as combined authorities – responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.

Dec 19, 2024

London borough obtains High Court injunction to stop unauthorised use of green belt land for parking

Hillingdon Council secured a High Court injunction this month to prevent the unauthorised parking of more than 300 vehicles on green belt land in Harlington.

Dec 19, 2024

Court of Appeal rejects appeal by council over designation as local authority in respect of interim care order

The Court of Appeal has criticised litigation between two councils over which of them is responsible for the care of a baby.

Dec 19, 2024

Judges reject appeal by council in dispute over entitlement to right to buy

The London Borough of Hackney has lost a Court of Appeal case over the eligibility for right to buy of a rabbi who occupied a home for only part of the time.

Dec 19, 2024

High Court rejects legal challenge over plan by mayor to remove low traffic neighbourhoods

Campaigners have lost a judicial review case over whether the elected mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets acted correctly in removing low traffic neighbourhoods.

Dec 19, 2024

Landlord wins appeal over HMO licence penalty amid dispute over whether five people lived in property

A landlord has successfully appealed to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) over whether a property he owns has enough occupants to qualify as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) liable for licensing by Cornwall Council.

Dec 18, 2024

Government launches consultation on stricter standards regime

The Government has launched a consultation on wide-ranging reforms to the local government standards system, including reintroducing powers of suspension and widening circumstances in which members can be disqualified.

Dec 18, 2024

Ministry claims no council will see reduction in core spending power under provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, but counties cry foul over “cherry-picking”

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement will provide £69bn for councils across the country, a real-terms increase of 3.5% from 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Dec 18, 2024

Government proposes to streamline “fragmented” local audit system with creation of national body

The Government is to consult on the establishment of a statutory and independent Local Audit Office (LAO) as part of a strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England.

Dec 18, 2024

Homes England launches Section 106 affordable housing “clearing service”

Homes England has set up a database of available Section 106 housing opportunities across England, excluding London.

Dec 18, 2024

County council fails in bid to strike out claim by care homes for £200k in fees

The High Court has rejected an application brought by a county council to strike out or for summary judgment in a claim brought by two care homes for payment of almost £200,000 in care home fees.

Dec 18, 2024

Prospect of stronger sanctions in standards cases welcomed but questions raised about proposal for national body

The potential reforms to the standards regime for local government in England outlined in the English Devolution White Paper this week have sparked a mixed response among lawyers, with some welcoming the prospect of greater sanctions and others questioning the need for a national body.

Dec 18, 2024

Local government to have representation on relaunched Net Zero Council

The Government has relaunched the Net Zero Council, which will have representation from local government and civil society for the first time.

Dec 17, 2024

Bus Services Bill to remove ban on councils setting up own bus companies

The ban on local authorities establishing their own bus companies will be lifted under the Bus Services Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords today (17 December).

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