News

Apr 17, 2026

High Court rejects challenge to proposed closure of children’s centres

The High Court has dismissed a judicial review of a decision made by the London Borough of Ealing to close 10 out of 25 of its children centres.

Apr 17, 2026

Campaign group secures permission to advance all grounds in judicial review of Wales pylons scheme

A community group and charity who were granted the right to judicial review over plans to build more than 200 kilometres of high-voltage pylons and substations through rural Wales on four grounds but refused on two have now been granted permission on the additional two grounds, following an appeal.

Apr 17, 2026

County court grants council possession order in van dwellers case

Bristol City Council has secured a 21-day possession order to evict van dwellers from roads on the edge of the city, while a decision on extending a related injunction has been reserved.

Apr 17, 2026

Government supports Devolution Bill amendment put forward by planning KC over open spaces and statutory trusts

The Government has backed a Conservative peer’s amendment to clarify the law over open spaces held in statutory trust by local authorities.

Apr 17, 2026

Planning inspector makes partial costs award against council over change of position

A planning inspector has made a partial costs award against Somerset Council after a developer successfully appealed against its refusal of planning consent to convert a small castle.

Apr 17, 2026

Supreme Court to rule next week on power of court to revoke adoption orders

The Supreme Court will next week (22 April) hand down a landmark ruling on whether a court has jurisdiction to set aside a valid adoption order other than by way of appeal.

Apr 16, 2026

Mayor eyes legal challenge to development consent for major solar farm

Greater Lincolnshire’s elected mayor is looking for grounds to legally challenge the Government’s consent for a solar farm.

Apr 16, 2026

Forestry Commission secures record fine for illegal tree felling

A landowner has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £268,751 for illegally felling trees after an investigation by the Forestry Commission.

Apr 16, 2026

County council abandons legal threat over reorganisation decision

Essex County Council has dropped plans to pursue a legal challenge over the Government's decision to reorganise Greater Essex into five unitary authorities.

Apr 16, 2026

Government to examine deaths of care leavers following 91 notifications in 2024–25

The Government has launched a review into the deaths of care leavers, in response to the fact that a “disproportionate number” of young people who have been in care die young.

Apr 16, 2026

ICO censures raft of local authorities for non-compliance with FOI statistics reporting

The Information Commissioner has issued practice recommendations to 9 local authorities and one combined authority due to their failure to publish Freedom of Information compliance statistics as required of public authorities of their size under parts 8.5 and 8.6 of s45 of the Freedom of…

Apr 16, 2026

Electoral Commission launches pilot to detect deepfakes ahead of May elections

The Electoral Commission has announced the introduction of a pilot scheme designed to detect politically motivated deepfake content, as part of wider efforts to protect the integrity of elections in an increasingly complex digital environment.

Apr 16, 2026

Ethics and Integrity Commission chair backs ‘middle ground’ standards regime

The chair of the Ethics and Integrity Commission has reiterated support for a strengthened local government standards regime with greater enforcement powers.

Apr 16, 2026

Upper Tribunal upholds decision by First Tier Tribunal to name communication and interaction hub in Section I of EHC Plan

The Upper Tribunal has upheld a decision by the First-tier Tribunal to name in Section I of a child’s EHC plan a specialist "hub" run by a maintained special school, but located within a mainstream primary school.

Apr 15, 2026

Government to extend council tax repayment window and cap enforcement costs

The Government is set to extend the time households in England are given to settle council tax bills to more than two months as part of changes to how councils will be able to enforce late payments.

Apr 15, 2026

New ADCS president highlights importance of developing practice of safeguarding “in and across places”

The new Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) President, Ann Graham, has emphasised the importance of safeguarding “in and across places”, noting that children who are missing from one area are often missing together with their friends from another area, yet safeguarding systems…

Apr 15, 2026

Regulator hits borough council with lowest consumer grade after serious failings in its engagement with tenants

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has handed a C4 grading for Basildon Borough Council, after finding very serious failings during an inspection, including in the council's engagement with tenants and a lack of meaningful opportunities for them to scrutinise the landlord.

Apr 15, 2026

Places for People names ten firms to UK-wide framework for development legal services

Places for People Group has appointed ten firms to a £28m legal services framework for its developments division.

Apr 15, 2026

HMCTS to pilot AI transcription service for court records

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is piloting a new AI transcription service in the Crown Court in an effort to reduce the cost of accessing court records.

Apr 15, 2026

Southport inquiry finds “fundamental failure” by any organisation or multi agency arrangement to take ownership of risk that perpetrator posed

An inquiry into the Southport attacks in July 2024 has found a “fundamental failure” by any organisation, or multi-agency arrangement, to take ownership of the risk that the 17-year-old perpetrator posed, adding that essential information was “repeatedly lost, diluted or poorly managed” across…

Apr 15, 2026

District to explore judicial review over Hampshire reorganisation proposals

New Forest District Council looks set to seek legal advice on challenging local government reorganisation in Hampshire after a petition called on the district to launch a judicial review of the plans.

Apr 14, 2026

Monisha Shah to chair Legal Services Board

Monisha Shah has been appointed as Chair of the Legal Services Board for four years from 1 April 2026.

Apr 14, 2026

Councils to come under tougher rules for spending on road maintenance

Councils that fail to maintain their roads could risk losing up to a third of highways funding under new Government rules.

Apr 14, 2026

Unitary sends combined authority letter before claim over £20m highways funding shortfall

North Yorkshire Council has sent a pre-action protocol letter to York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, claiming the authority breached its constitution in relation to a funding decision.

Apr 14, 2026

Councils to receive extra £41m to support enforcement of new Renters’ Right Act powers

The Government is to provide an extra £41m in funding for councils to help cover the costs of new enforcement powers set out in the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Apr 14, 2026

High Court to hear judicial review challenge over Chinese embassy permission

The Government's decision to approve a Chinese "mega embassy" is set to be challenged in the High Court after campaigners received permission to bring a judicial review.

Apr 13, 2026

Law Society issues practice note on conduct of litigation following Mazur appeal

The Law Society has published new guidance on who can and cannot carry on the conduct of litigation, following the Court of Appeal judgment in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys.

Apr 13, 2026

Council failed to provide school place or alternative provision outside the home when child with EHC Plan moved to its area, Ombudsman finds

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has uncovered service failure by North Northamptonshire Council in failing to provide a school place, or alternative provision outside the home, when a child with an EHC Plan moved into its area.

Apr 13, 2026

Devonshires strengthens Housing Management & Property Litigation team with partner appointment

Devonshires has bolstered its Housing Management & Property Litigation practice with the appointment of Rebecca Eastwood as Partner.

Apr 13, 2026

Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal in out-of-borough placement dispute

The Supreme Court has refused a homeless applicant permission to appeal in a dispute over an out of borough placement.

Apr 13, 2026

Government facing legal challenge over failure to proactively publish energy reports

A claimant has launched a judicial review challenge against the Government, alleging its failure to proactively release a set of reports on energy plans for heating homes is in breach of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs).

Apr 10, 2026

County issues legal threat following delayed reorganisation decision

The Leader of West Sussex County Council has said the local authority may consider launching a judicial review of the Government’s approach to local government reorganisation in Sussex, following a delay to a final decision.

Apr 10, 2026

Judicial review proceedings launched in High Court over Oxford United stadium development

A campaign group has launched judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision by Cherwell District Council to grant planning permission for Oxford United Football Club’s proposed new stadium.

Apr 10, 2026

Upper Tribunal criticises way ‘Working Document’ was presented to tribunal

The Upper Tribunal has refused permission to appeal against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal to name a particular college in Section I of a young person’s EHC Plan, but has criticised the way the working document was presented to the tribunal.

Apr 10, 2026

ICO says Met Police FOI compliance has never risen above 75%

The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued an enforcement notice against the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) after finding the force has never exceeded a 75% compliance rate in dealing with Freedom of Information requests within the statutory time limit.

Apr 10, 2026

Accountancy bodies publish new edition of International Framework: Good Governance in the Public Sector

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) have released the 2026 Edition of the International Framework: Good Governance in the Public Sector.

Apr 09, 2026

Review to assess Home Office engagement with local authorities on asylum accommodation plans

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has launched an inspection of the Home Office's engagement with local authorities in the planning and development of asylum accommodation.

Apr 09, 2026

Councils are “raiding” their financial reserves to fund rising costs of adult social care: King’s Fund

An increase in adult social care spending has resulted in the rise of external debt and a fall in usable reserves as councils attempt to cover increased costs whilst meeting their statutory obligations, the King’s Fund’s annual social care 360 report has warned.

Apr 09, 2026

Landlord avoids £255k Community Infrastructure Levy charge after successful appeal

A landlord has successfully appealed a £255,000 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) issued by Westminster City Council in relation to an application to vary a planning permission.

Apr 09, 2026

Monitoring officer issues s.5A report over governance issues within major project

Ashfield District Council’s monitoring officer has issued a Section 5A report over governance and procurement issues in relation to a major industrial project.

Apr 09, 2026

Judge rejects challenge to enforcement notice appeal decision by planning inspector

The High Court has dismissed a challenge to a London Borough of Camden enforcement notice served during a dispute over whether two buildings were in residential use or had become short-term lets.

Apr 09, 2026

Failure to serve sealed claim in compliance with rules “fatal” to planning statutory review claim, judge rules

The High Court has refused leave to pursue a case where a sealed claim form was not served within the required six weeks under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), in a planning statutory review claim.

Apr 09, 2026

Council fined £50k after employee injured in ride-on lawnmower accident

Bassetlaw District Council has been fined £50,000 after being prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) over an incident in which an employee was seriously injured when a ride-on lawnmower overturned.

Apr 09, 2026

Planning Court refuses permission for legal challenge over approval of roadside services expansion

An amenity group has lost on all five grounds that it submitted to the High Court in a bid to judicially review a planning decision by South Norfolk District Council.

Apr 08, 2026

Judge rules it is in “best interests” of man who was previously resident in Spain for 30 years to remain in care home in Wales

A Court of Protection judge has ruled that it is in the best interests of a Welsh man who had lived in Spain for more than 30 years to remain in Wales in a care home, where he benefits from “frequent contact” with his family.