Government to second civil servants into mayoral authorities
The Government is to second officials into mayoral authorities to work with mayors in a move which it claimed represents “the largest transfer of Whitehall capacity to local leaders yet”.
Monitoring officer to write to Secretary of State after council again unable to elect leader
Oldham Council’s Monitoring Officer is to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government after the local authority was again unable to elect a Leader at an extraordinary meeting of full council.
Watchdog acknowledges progress at fire and rescue authority but expresses concerns at funding
South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is making progress following the Welsh Government’s intervention two years ago, but “questions remain about how it will fund further improvements and measure their impact”, Audit Wales has warned.
Judge allows appeal in homelessness dispute over failure to take into account protected characteristics
A County Court judge has allowed an appeal in a homelessness case brought against the Royal Borough of Greenwich even though crucial points were not originally raised by the claimant.
People with disabilities being let down by public services due to poor or inaccessible communications, Ombudsman warns
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has issued a warning that people with disabilities are being let down by public services due to “poor or inaccessible communications”.
Welsh Government consults on revision to National Development Framework
The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation as part of a major revision of the National Development Framework.
High Court finds DWP breached principle of transparency in procurement but says claimant not entitled to damages
A High Court judge has found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) breached the principle of transparency in a procurement for the award of a contract for a strategic video channels solution, but has otherwise rejected the claim and concluded that the claimant was not entitled to damages.
Council of Europe praises UK for integrity in local government but urges it to go further
The UK has a very developed framework for preventing corruption and promoting integrity in local government but there are nonetheless several areas in which further progress is needed, according to an evaluation report published by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).
Government consults on giving power to councils to issue fly-tipping offenders with conditional cautions
The Government has launched a consultation on giving local authorities the power to issue conditional cautions to fly-tipping offenders, requiring them to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work.
Court of Appeal remits dispute over cycle superhighway injuries for fresh hearing
The Court of Appeal had advised two cyclists who were injured on a cycle path, and Transport For London (TfL) to seek alternative dispute resolution in a case found to raise no novel point of law.
Court of Protection recognises Scottish guardianship order after safeguards strengthened
The Court of Protection has recognised a Scottish guardianship order concerning a man deprived of his liberty in England, after finding that changes made since an earlier order provided sufficient safeguards for his Article 5 rights.
Ombudsman recommends £11,000 payout after London borough did not ensure young person received provision in EHC Plan
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised the London Borough of Bromley for failing to ensure a young person received the provision in his EHC Plan, and for poor complaint handling.
Judge rejects bid to challenge decision to decline to determine application for retrospective planning permission for Traveller site
A Planning Court judge has refused permission for an applicant to take Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to judicial review in a dispute over a Traveller site.
Welsh Ministers defend challenge to refusal of permission for 18 wind turbines
A wind farm operator has lost an appeal against a decision by Welsh Ministers to block construction of an 18-turbine facility in south Wales.
Revised NPPF clarifies roles of different types of plans and considerations in decision-making, Minister tells councils
Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook has told English local authorities the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes a series of changes to promote housebuilding as the Government seeks to meet its target of 300,000 new homes per year over the course of this Parliament.
Supreme Court allows environmental law charity to take over conduct of appeal after out-of-court settlement by parties
The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) has gained permission from the Supreme Court to take over the conduct of an appeal concerned with environmental accountability and the ability of those affected by environmental harm to seek legal redress.
Government insists press reports claiming revised National Planning Policy Framework makes it easier to approve unauthorised Traveller sites are “wrong”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has insisted that it is wrong to say that the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will make it easier for unauthorised Traveller developments to get planning permission.
Government urged to set out “clear roadmap” towards full incorporation of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law
More than 70 organisations have called on Government to set out a “clear roadmap” towards full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into UK law, as part of its forthcoming 10-year plan for Britain.
Police forces must make sure there is clear senior oversight for staff using Facial Recognition Technology: ICO
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has this week (18 August) published a new report outlining its expectations for the responsible use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by law enforcement, including the need for “lawful, proportionate and accountable deployment” supported by effective…
Council failed to properly have regard for Equality Act duties when woman with disability asked for reasonable adjustments, Ombudsman finds
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Birmingham City Council for its delay in meeting a woman’s care needs and arranging adaptations to her home that were required as a result of her disability.
Council launches rogue landlords taskforce after already issuing same number of enforcement notices than in previous financial year
A London council has launched a new taskforce to tackle non-compliant landlords, improve standards in the private rented sector and protect residents from unsafe housing conditions, after having already issued almost as many enforcement notices (153) this financial year as in the whole of the…
Council at fault for failing to inform man of section 47 investigation and poor record keeping, Ombudsman finds
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found Milton Keynes Council at fault for failing to inform a man of an investigation under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 following allegations made against him, and for poor record keeping.
Children’s Commissioner demands reform of Prevent programme
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has demanded reform of the Government’s anti-extremism programme, Prevent, after finding at least 65% of referrals involving children from schools and colleges were returned to education settings, almost always after receiving no…
Charity Commission warns of threat of increasingly complex attacks exploiting weakness of regulatory overlaps
The Charity Commission has seen an 8% increase over the last 12 months in the number of times it has passed on information to other agencies such as HMRC, the police and local authorities.
Parish and town councils should have “meaningful representation” in strategic decision-making and local growth plans: NALC
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has called for parish and town councils to be recognised as “key partners” in devolution, and for the creation of new parish and town councils to be supported in currently unparished areas.
One in four people in England and Wales live in “legal aid desert” areas
Almost one hundred local authority areas are classed as legal aid deserts, according to new research from LexisNexis.
Vulnerable woman placed in care home in England from Scotland now habitually resident south of the border, senior judge rules
The Court of Protection has addressed wider issues of practice for local authorities dealing with adults placed in England and Wales from Scotland, after finding that a woman’s habitual residence had transferred to England.
Solicitors Regulation Authority highlights concern over AI-generated inaccuracies and breaches of confidentiality
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published a warning notice to remind the legal profession of their professional obligations when using artificial intelligence (AI).
Government issues guidance for councils on rights to service for migrants subject to NRPF condition
The Home Office has issued cross-government guidance for local authorities in England on the rights and entitlements to service and support for migrants subject to a no recourse to public funds condition.
Revised National Planning Policy Framework to introduce default ‘yes’ for homes near well-connected stations
There will be a default ‘yes’ for homes within reasonable walking distance of well-connected stations under the latest version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), effective today (17 August), the Government has announced.
LGA welcomes “positive step” towards wider devolution in ‘Rewiring the State’ paper but warns of capacity pressures
The Local Government Association has described the Government's recently published statement on its devolution plans as a "positive step towards wider and deeper devolution" across England.
Hinkley Point C subsidiary must comply with environmental information rules, UTT rules
The subsidiary responsible for a new nuclear power station currently under construction is a public authority for the purposes of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the Upper Tribunal (UTT) has ruled.
LGA raises concerns over capital risk metrics proposed by Government
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that proposed capital risk metrics for councils could stifle local investment and innovation, and has called for greater consideration of local circumstances before ministers intervene.
Leaked monitoring officer report reveals council approach to reorganisation legal challenge warrants section 5A report
Suffolk County Council’s monitoring officer has concluded that actions taken in connection with the authority’s legal challenge to local government reorganisation warrant a section 5A report, while opposition councillors have criticised the council for keeping his findings confidential.
Council repays more than £330,000 after social housing tenants overpaid rent for years
Mid Devon District Council has repaid more than £330,000 so far after mistakenly overcharging 1,200 social housing tenants and undercharging another 1,600 due to an error in the historic calculation of social rents.
Council hit with £6,000 fine after workplace stepladder accident
Wirral Council has been fined £6,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries when a stepladder collapsed beneath him while working on a council-operated farm.
Judge agrees to withdrawal of deprivation of liberty order for 15 year old despite opposition of guardian
The High Court has agreed an application by the London Borough of Brent to withdraw a deprivation of liberty order (DOL), even though the child’s guardian opposed this.
High Court refuses permission for challenge to decision not to take enforcement action against breaches of planning control
The High Court has refused an application for judicial review of West Oxfordshire District Council’s decision not to become embroiled in a neighbour dispute.
Medway seeks urgent ministerial meeting over £26.4m adult social care overspend
Medway Council has requested an urgent meeting with ministers after warning that “structural funding constraints” are to blame for a massive overspend in its adult social care services budget.
Parish council fails in legal challenge over approval for sand and gravel extraction at former airfield
Hamble Parish Council has seen all its grounds for judicial review rejected by the High Court in a case concerning a planning inspector’s decision to allow an appeal to permit aggregates extraction.
High Court rejects challenge to council declining to determine planning application despite change in national Green Belt policy
A council may decline to determine a planning application even when policy changes have occurred that could affect it, the High Court has decided in a judicial review case.
London borough pens parking agreement with e-bike firms
Southwark Council has secured an agreement with three leading hire bike operators that will see bikes subject to stricter parking rules.
Upper Tribunal sets aside striking out of appeal against selective licensing financial penalty
The First-Tier Property Chamber ignored several relevant considerations in a case concerning a penalty imposed on a landlord by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, and its decision must be set aside.
High Court judge rejects legal challenge over £295k Community Infrastructure Levy demand
A property firm has lost a judicial review against Westminster City Council on liability for the community infrastructure levy (CIL) on a building that was split in two.
Mother wins appeal over ‘pool finding’ in relation to bruising on her son
The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has found that a mother should not have been found potentially responsible for injuries inflicted on a young child - anonymised as ‘Alfie’ - when the blame more likely lay with her former partner.
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Events
FOI: Contracts and Commercial Confidentiality - Act Now 
European Data Protection & Privacy Programme Management - DPO Ready - The Training Centre
24-08-2026
Online (live)
Awaab’s Law Phase 2: Preparing for Implementation - Devonshires 
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
NPPF 2026: An Initial Look at the New National Planning Policy Framework - Landmark Chambers
03-09-2026
Online (live)
Minerals webinar series - Part 3: Environmental assessment - Landmark Chambers
07-09-2026
Online (live)
Construction Law Update - Hugh James 
Creating and managing effective subsidy schemes - DWF 
PATC | Prosecution pitfalls - Hugh James 
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 