News

Feb 21, 2025

Rates for counsel undertaking work for central government to go up by a quarter from April

Rates for the Attorney General’s civil panel counsel are to be increased by 25% for all work carried out from 1 April 2025, the Treasury Solicitor has announced.

Feb 21, 2025

Four lawyers in running for vacant local government seat on Law Society Council

Four candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the vacant local government seat on the Law Society Council.

Feb 21, 2025

Council facing legal threat over management of rare dune habitat

Wirral Council has been threatened with a legal challenge over the potential clearing of rare saltmarsh and dune habitats.

Feb 21, 2025

Auditors highlight poor oversight and reporting at city council over troubled IT programme

External auditors reporting on Birmingham City Council's implementation of its Oracle system have highlighted a culture where "either bad news was not welcome, or officers felt uncomfortable to communicate bad news".

Feb 21, 2025

Church diocese threatens council with legal challenge over school closures decision

The Diocese of Portsmouth has sent a ‘letter before claim’ to Isle of Wight Council over the proposed closure of three Church of England (CofE) primary schools on the island.

Feb 21, 2025

LGA expresses “serious reservations” about Government approaches to national scheme of delegation for decision-making in planning system

The Local Government Association has said that in principle, a national scheme of delegation could be supported to drive clarity and consistency across planning committees and to improve speed and efficiencies in decision-making for local authorities.

Feb 21, 2025

CIPFA sets out five principles of reform for “broken” SEND system

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has set out five key principles for reform to England’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system for children and young people.

Feb 21, 2025

Governance handbook published to assist members of national park authorities in Wales

The Welsh Government has published a governance handbook for members of national park authorities to help them make effective decisions.

Feb 21, 2025

City council and procurement group to set up 27-lot flexible purchasing system for legal services worth up to £1bn

Bristol City Council and procurement solutions provider Constellia are to establish a flexible purchasing system for legal services – dubbed "Agora Legal" – that will be made available for use by all UK public sector bodies.

Feb 21, 2025

City council names five firms to £1.67m legal services framework

City of Doncaster Council has appointed five firms to a legal services framework estimated to be worth £1.67m.

Feb 20, 2025

Thirty councils to receive Exceptional Financial Support in 2025-26

The Government has agreed in principle to provide Exceptional Financial Support In the financial year 2025-26 to 30 councils who made a request for financial assistance "to handle pressures that they considered unmanageable and to enable them to set balanced budgets".

Feb 20, 2025

Government consults on powers for local authorities to regulate supported housing providers

The Government has launched a consultation on a licensing scheme for supported housing as well as a new duty on local authorities to produce 'supported housing strategies', as part of a crackdown on “rogue” providers.

Feb 20, 2025

City council cuts savings target by £15m, credits boost in Government funding

The City of Wolverhampton Council has partly credited the bump in Government funding for plans to cut the local authority’s savings target by almost half over the next two years.

Feb 20, 2025

Senior judge issues warning to would-be parents over commercial foreign surrogacy arrangements

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has put would-be parents of any age who are contemplating entering into a commercial foreign surrogacy arrangement on notice that the courts in England and Wales may refuse to grant an adoption order, with the result that the child that…

Feb 20, 2025

Ombudsman issues learning report for councils on fostering services

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has today (20 February) published a focus report on councils’ fostering services in England, which demonstrates what can and has gone wrong in the cases it has investigated.

Feb 20, 2025

Street racing injunction to be reviewed by High Court

The High Court will next week conduct a review hearing of an injunction banning street racing in the Black Country.

Feb 19, 2025

City council set to eliminate need for exceptional financial support after transformation savings and increase in government funding

Southampton City Council has said it can now balance its budget without taking Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the Government, although it hopes to use some unused EFS from 2024/25 to cover the costs of equal pay, transformation and restructuring.

Feb 19, 2025

Judges reject appeal over whether protective duty had arisen in school exclusion case where pupil was vulnerable to child criminal exploitation

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal over a High Court judge’s finding that the protective duty under Article 4 of the European Court of Human Rights had not been triggered at the time when a governing body’s disciplinary panel decided not to reinstate a pupil following his permanent…

Feb 19, 2025

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal over reasoning given by Upper Tribunal in age assessment case

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by a Sudanese national that the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) failed to give adequate reasons for accepting an age assessment made by West Berkshire Council.

Feb 19, 2025

Electoral administrators call for review of all existing electoral law and production of single Electoral Administration Act

The Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) has issued a wide-ranging report on electoral reform in the UK, containing some 57 recommendations, and warned that elections are being delivered in spite of “fragmented and outdated” legislation.

Feb 19, 2025

Landlord ordered to pay £37k after housing 18 tenants in three-bed home converted into bedsits

A landlord has been ordered to pay £37,000 in fines and costs after he was found to be housing 18 tenants, including children and infants, in a home in Edgware originally built as a three-bedroom linked terrace house.

Feb 18, 2025

Wiltshire Council to ditch appeal against employment tribunal judgment

Wiltshire Council is to withdraw an appeal against a finding by an Employment Tribunal that an email sent by the local authority’s chief executive to union members ahead of a vote on industrial action was unlawful as it sought to deter union members from voting in favour of a strike.

Feb 18, 2025

More than half of councils that support children with SEND warn of potential insolvency if “statutory override” runs out

More than half of councils that support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have warned they will become insolvent when the “statutory override” – a temporary accounting measure that keeps spending deficits relating to SEND off their main balance sheets – ends next year,…

Feb 18, 2025

Campaign group secures permission to apply for judicial review over redevelopment of former golf course in Wimbledon

A Planning Court judge has given campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) permission to bring a legal challenge over 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.

Feb 18, 2025

Judge grants city council possession order over square with homeless camp

Manchester City Council can proceed with evictions at a tent encampment in St Peter’s Square, a judge has ruled.

Feb 17, 2025

Consultations launched for six areas in Devolution Priority Programme

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched consultations for the six areas selected for its Devolution Priority Programme.

Feb 17, 2025

Office of the Public Guardian revises guidance on Court of Protection visitors

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has revised its guidance on Court of Protection visitors, their role in preparing reports and when reports may be released.

Feb 17, 2025

University to tender for retainers for legal services worth £1.75m

The University of Hertfordshire is conducting a tender exercise to set up retainers with a range of bidders for the provision of legal services estimated to be worth up to £1.75m.

Feb 17, 2025

Hugh James expands commercial team with partner hire

Law firm Hugh James has hired Liz Fletcher, a specialist in procurement, commercial and technology contract matters, as a partner in its commercial team.

Feb 14, 2025

Man who pretended to work for Greggs convicted of defrauding council out of small businesses grants during Covid

A man has been found guilty of defrauding Leeds City Council out of more than £710,000 which was meant to support small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Feb 14, 2025

City of London Corporation threatened with judicial review over decision to approve demolition and redevelopment at site it owns

The City of London Corporation is facing a potential judicial review of its decision to approve the demolition of the former Museum of London and Bastion House and redevelopment of the site into three office buildings.

Feb 14, 2025

Council defends appeal by taxi driver over refusal of licence because of 2012 caution

A former taxi driver has failed in an appeal over Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to refuse to grant him a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence due to a caution he received in 2012 for sexual assault.

Feb 14, 2025

Campaigners threaten legal action over transfer of care homes to private sector

A group campaigning to stop two council-run dementia care homes being transferred to the private sector have threatened legal action against Kirklees Council, accusing the authority of failing to follow a “recognised consultation".

Feb 14, 2025

Introduce sanctions if developers fail to build within certain time frame of securing planning permission, says think tank

The Government should explore the introduction of new laws to force developers to build within a certain time frame of securing planning permission, or face sanctions, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has suggested.

Feb 14, 2025

Charities and grassroots campaign group issue guide on how to appeal community protection notices

Liberty, Streets Kitchen and the Museum of Homelessness have published a new guide setting out how individuals can appeal a Community Protection Notice (CPNs) if they are issued one.

Feb 14, 2025

Councils warn of “impossible choices” without urgent action in Spending Review amid concern over potential £8bn funding gap

Councils in England face a funding gap of more than £8 billion by 2028/29 without adequate funding, the Local Government Association has warned in its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Spending Review.

Feb 14, 2025

Senior Court of Protection judge approves adapted checklist for assessing capacity after case highlights different approaches between social workers and clinicians

The Vice President of the Court of Protection has allowed an appeal against final declarations regarding the residence and care of a vulnerable man, observing an “evidential divide” on capacity between the clinicians and social workers.

Feb 14, 2025

Irwin Mitchell bolsters Manchester Court of Protection team with partner hire

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has added Georgina Garner as a partner in its Court of Protection team in Manchester.

Feb 13, 2025

Accounting watchdog opens investigation into two ex-employees of borough council

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has confirmed that it has opened an investigation regarding the conduct of two individual accountants in relation to Woking Borough Council’s operations and investment activities.

Feb 13, 2025

Tributes paid to “licensing lawyer’s licensing lawyer” Charles Holland

Tributes have been paid to Charles Holland, a leading licensing barrister who has died following a short illness.

Feb 13, 2025

Government issues National Procurement Policy Statement, unveils plans to tackle "rip-off" frameworks

The Government has published its long-awaited National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) which sets out eight actions contracting authorities should take “to return public procurement back into the service of the country and working people”.

Feb 13, 2025

More than 100 sites in England submitted for consideration as new towns

More than 100 sites across England have been put forward for consideration to be part of the next generation of new towns, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said.

Feb 12, 2025

Tribunal dismisses appeal against refusal of FOI request for legal advice held by external law firm in relation to CPO inquiry two decades ago

The First-Tier Tribunal has dismissed an appeal by a requester over documents held by an external law firm that advised Sheffield City Council on a CPO inquiry for a proposed redevelopment nearly 20 years ago.

Feb 12, 2025

High Court judge rejects legal challenge by council over Ombudsman report in nursery fees case

The High Court has dismissed a council’s application for judicial review against the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) over a report that upheld a complaint of maladministration against the local authority in a nursery school fees case.

Feb 12, 2025

Government to inject £350m in Affordable Homes Programme and Local Authority Housing Fund

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is to inject £300m into the Affordable Homes Programme and £50m into the Local Authority Housing Fund.

Feb 12, 2025

School employee wins Court of Appeal battle over dismissal for Facebook posts on teaching of “gender fluidity”

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal from a Christian school employee who was dismissed because she posted messages on her personal Facebook account opposing the teaching in schools, and in particular primary schools, of “gender fluidity” and that same-sex marriage is equivalent to marriage…

Feb 12, 2025

Judge quashes grant of planning permission for extension of holiday park over failure to give adequate reasons

The Planning Court has quashed the grant of planning permission for a multi-million pound extension of a caravan park, following a legal challenge brought by local residents.

Feb 12, 2025

Council asks police to examine objections to rugby club planning application

A council has made a referral to the police amid concerns that objections to a planning application for a new sports facility may not have been made by the person whose name was registered to the objection.

Feb 12, 2025

Welsh regional body concedes procurement challenge over £40m contract award for demolition of power station

Cardiff Capital Region has conceded liability, causation and sufficiently serious breach in a procurement challenge to the award of a £40 million contract for the demolition of Aberthaw Power Station.

Feb 11, 2025

Provisions to treat unaccompanied asylum seekers as adults if they refuse scientific age assessments to be scrapped

Provisions that would see unaccompanied asylum seekers treated as adults if they refused a scientific age assessment without “reasonable grounds” are set to be scrapped by Government.

Feb 11, 2025

Report calls for proactive, strategic approach to risk management in councils

Risk management should be embedded within local authorities' organisational structure and culture by establishing clear roles, responsibilities and reporting lines for this function, a report by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and Browne Jacobson has suggested.

Feb 10, 2025

Government issues AI Playbook to support public sector understand what AI can and cannot do

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has published an AI Playbook, setting out ten principles civil servants should uphold when using AI.

Feb 10, 2025

Government pursues digitalisation drive as part of plans to streamline conveyancing process

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has unveiled plans to modernise the way the conveyancing process works, in order to bring down current delays of almost five months and cut 'fall-throughs'.

Feb 10, 2025

Ombudsman issues guide for local authorities on handling complaints about adult social care

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has launched a new guide setting out how local authorities in England should handle complaints about adult social care, based on the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints Regulations 2009.

Feb 10, 2025

Supreme Court to hear key case next week on ‘appropriate assessment’ and subsequent approvals

The Supreme Court will next week consider whether Regulation 63 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (“the Habitats Regulations”) require an ‘appropriate assessment’ to be undertaken for subsequent approvals after the grant of outline planning permission at a further consent…

Feb 10, 2025

Tell landlord first about need for repairs, council says, after tenant ordered to pay £8k in costs after failed disrepair claim

City of York Council has called on tenants to report repairs to their landlord first, after a judge at York County Court last month ordered an unsuccessful disrepair claimant to pay almost £8,000 in costs.

Feb 10, 2025

University to procure £1.5m legal services framework

The University of Exeter is to procure a legal services framework worth an estimated £1.5m.

Feb 07, 2025

Minister urges councils not to submit competing reorganisation plans as Government issues statutory invitation to two-tier areas to develop unitary proposals

The Ministry for Housing, Local Government and Communities has urged councils set to embark on reorganisation to make "every effort to work together" to submit a single proposal to the Government rather than competing proposals.

Feb 07, 2025

CND threatens council with legal action over alleged failure to comply with Civil Contingencies Act in relation to storage of nuclear weapons at airbase

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has sent a pre-action protocol letter to Suffolk County Council and a letter to the Ministry of Defence, highlighting concerns over the potential stationing of nuclear weapons at an RAF base in Lakenheath.

Feb 07, 2025

Council must address conflict of interests in wholly owned company: External auditors

Spelthorne Borough Council has carried out a review after external auditors called on it to "urgently" assess the governance and oversight of a wholly owned subsidiary company, having found conflicts of interest connected to the company's staffing.

Feb 07, 2025

Government confirms introduction of ‘Awaab’s Law’ in phases from October 2025

A law to force social landlords to investigate and fix hazards within a set timescale will be introduced in phases from October 2025, the Government has announced.

Feb 06, 2025

Unitary launches legal bid over Government decision to pull rural services delivery grant

North Yorkshire Council has issued a pre-action protocol letter over the Government's decision to rescind the rural services delivery grant worth millions, a move the unitary authority had previously dubbed "Rayner's rural robbery".

Feb 06, 2025

District to adopt Code of Practice on Good Governance following LGA report

East Hertfordshire District Council is set to adopt the Code of Practice on Good Governance after a report prepared by the Local Government Association (LGA) referred to "breakdowns" at the statutory officer level.

Feb 06, 2025

Mother left £7k out of pocket after paying for therapy for her children while waiting for council to release funding

A mother from Somerset was left more than £7,000 out of pocket while she waited for the council to release funds for her children’s “much-needed” therapy, an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has found.

Feb 06, 2025

Cornerstone Barristers names Biles Davies as new CEO

Cornerstone Barristers has appointed Nadia Biles Davies as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Feb 06, 2025

High Court rejects judicial review bid from operator of odorous landfill

A landfill operator who sought a judicial review against the Environment Agency's decision to issue a closure notice for the site has had their application refused by the High Court.

Feb 06, 2025

Local authorities cannot authorise deprivations of liberty of children in care, Court of Appeal rules

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal over whether a local authority can authorise the deprivation of liberty of a 14-year-old boy in exercise of its parental responsibility under a care order.

Feb 05, 2025

Government chooses six areas for fast-track devolution, agrees to postpone elections to nine authorities

Six areas in England have been selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, with mayors to be elected by May 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced.

Feb 05, 2025

Foreign national offender claimant wins legal challenge against Home Office over accommodation, but fails in parallel claim against council

The Home Office has lost a case about the allocation of bail accommodation for a foreign national offender and has been ordered by the High Court to make various changes to this system as well as pay 85% of claimant BLZ’s costs.

Feb 05, 2025

Government to amend time limits and burden of proof when bringing PI claims for child sexual abuse, change law of apologies

The three-year time limit for victims of child sexual abuse on turning 18 to bring personal injury claims is to be removed, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

Feb 05, 2025

Court of Appeal orders rehearing in care proceedings over “incomplete” risk assessment by judge

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against a Family Court order concerning where two young children should live.

Feb 05, 2025

County council defeats High Court challenge to closure of drop-in facilities for adults with mental health difficulties

Devon County Council was not required to take into account various statutory duties under the Care Act and other statutory provisions when it decided to close a non-statutory service, the High Court has found.

Feb 05, 2025

Headteacher loses appeal against ban for Amazon purchases using school account

A headteacher found to have spent school funds on martini glasses, champagne flutes and a giant Jenga set has lost an appeal against a ban from the profession.

Feb 05, 2025

Court tells council to review decision over whether individual was intentionally homeless after being evicted following misrepresentations to obtain tenancy

A County Court judge has confessed to both “significant” and “considerable” hesitation in deciding a case involving whether a person can be deemed intentionally homeless when they have obtained a tenancy following misrepresentations to a local housing authority, which then evicts them as a result.

Feb 05, 2025

Court of Appeal to hold urgent hearing in case on permanent exclusion from school and relevance of vulnerability to child criminal exploitation

The Court of Appeal will this week (6 February) hear on an urgent basis an appeal against a High Court judge’s rejection of a judicial review claim over the decision by a school governing body's disciplinary panel not to reinstate a teenage boy to his school following a permanent exclusion.

Feb 04, 2025

TLT bolsters energy, planning, infrastructure and public law practices with hire of 29-lawyer strong team

Law firm TLT has hired a team of eight partners and 21 associates from Broadfield (formerly BDB Pitmans) that specialises in energy, infrastructure, public law and planning.

Feb 04, 2025

TfL consults on plans for regulation of pedicabs in London

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on how it plans to regulate pedicabs for the first time, having been given the power to do so through the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024.

Feb 04, 2025

Councils issue warning over removal of ‘fire and rehire’ without replacement mechanism for making contractual changes

Removal of the possibility of so-called ‘fire and rehire’, without a replacement mechanism for making contractual changes to terms and conditions, will impact on councils’ ability to implement equality proofed pay structures or deliver local government reorganisation, the Local Government…

Feb 04, 2025

High Court refuses application for deprivation of liberty order regarding disabled 15-year-old subject to care order

A judge has refused an application by a local authority for a declaration from the High Court that it is lawful and in the best interests of a 15-year-old boy with "profound enduring disabilities", who is the subject of a care order, to be deprived of his liberty.

Feb 03, 2025

Government confirms final settlement for local government of £69bn for 2025-26 with just six authorities getting above threshold council tax increases

The Government has confirmed a final local government finance settlement for 2025-26 of £69bn, which it claims will provide councils with a 6.8% cash-terms increase in core spending power.

Feb 03, 2025

Council prosecution sees man handed suspended sentence over imported e-scooters

Islington Council has successfully prosecuted a trader who imported nearly 1,000 e-scooters, e-bikes and scooters, many of which were found to be non-compliant with UK product safety standards.

Feb 03, 2025

Councillor jailed after sustained campaign against head of legal and chief executive

A councillor at Torridge District Council has been jailed for 18 weeks for harassment of the local authority’s head of legal and governance.

Feb 03, 2025

Ofsted sets out proposals for new approach to inspections including introduction of report cards

Ofsted has today (3 February) launched a 12-week consultation seeking the views of parents, carers, professionals and learners on a new approach to inspecting and reporting on education providers, which includes replacing the ‘single word judgement’ with a 5-point grading scale for each evaluation…

Jan 31, 2025

City council struggling with “significant” governance weaknesses: external auditors

External auditors have called on Birmingham City Council to tackle a series of cultural challenges at the local authority, including the alleged suppression of bad news and silo working in parts of the organisation.

Jan 31, 2025

Head of Government Legal Department and interim Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman among nine new honorary King’s Counsel

The Treasury Solicitor, HM Procurator General and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department (GLD), Susanna McGibbon, has been appointed an honorary King’s Counsel.

Jan 31, 2025

Court of Appeal to hear case next week on ability of local authority to consent to deprivation of liberty of child subject to care order

The Court of Appeal will next week hear an appeal over a High Court ruling that a local authority, which holds ‘corporate’ parental responsibility for a child under the age of 16, has the power to consent to a deprivation of his liberty.

Jan 31, 2025

Government used “out of date” report for local government reorganisation policy, Districts say

There is “little evidence" behind the Government's requirement for all two-tier areas to reorganise into unitary councils covering a population of more than 500,000 people, the District Councils' Network (DCN) has claimed.

Jan 31, 2025

High Court judge criticises “unconscionable delay” in care case, extension of statutory time limits “by default”

A High Court judge has made a care order in relation to a four-year-old girl (F), finding that her best interests will be met by an adoptive placement outside her family, while criticising the “unconscionable delay” in the case, which took almost 30 months to reach a conclusion.

Jan 30, 2025

More than 200 registered providers and councils sign up to clearing service designed to unblock delivery of s106 affordable homes

Some 140 registered providers and more than 70 local authorities have registered as potential buyers through Homes England’s new section 106 affordable housing clearing service in its first 50 days.

Jan 30, 2025

Proposed changes to judicial review for major infrastructure projects risk “sidelining public accountability”: JUSTICE

Government plans to change the judicial review process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) could risk "sidelining public accountability, diluting the rule of law and causing practical issues in the courts", a legal reform group has warned.

Jan 30, 2025

Care home providers win High Court battle with council over minimal uplift in fees

A group of local care homes has won an irrationality case in the High Court against Stoke-on-Trent City Council over the local authority’s decision to pay only a minimal uplift in fees for home residents.

Jan 30, 2025

Judge orders city council to undertake needs assessment again in ‘no recourse to public funds’ case

The High Court has quashed an assessment made by Coventry City Council in a 'no recourse to public funds' case and ordered the authority to re-take the decision taking into account why the children concerned were held not have any unmet welfare needs given the updated evidence involved.

Jan 30, 2025

Guidance issued on neurodiversity in family justice system in bid to ensure better participation

The Family Justice Council has today (30 January) published guidance for practitioners on neurodiversity in the family justice system.

Jan 30, 2025

Law reform charity proposes rights-based framework for AI use in justice system

Law reform charity JUSTICE has proposed the first rights-based framework to guide AI use across the UK justice system in a report that has urged the deployment of the technology be guided by a “clear purpose and responsibility”.

Jan 30, 2025

Judicial review bid over permission for 120-unit residential development dismissed as out of time

An electricity supplier has been refused permission to take Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to judicial review despite the council’s failure to publish a local press notice concerning a planning application.

Jan 30, 2025

Housing Ombudsman criticises "callous and uncaring" systems that undermine landlord handling of disabilities and mental health

The Housing Ombudsman has uncovered what it calls “callous and uncaring systems and processes” in its latest Learning from severe maladministration report, which looked at adaptations and landlords’ responses to mental and physical health needs.

Jan 29, 2025

Supreme Court dismisses application by father for writ of habeas corpus over children in care

The Supreme Court has rejected 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 29, 2025

South Coast council becomes latest authority to be hit with "serious failings" grading from Regulator of Social Housing

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued another C3 grading to a local authority, this time to Portsmouth City Council, after an investigation found the council had fallen short of consumer standards, in particular those relating to the Safety and Quality Standard.

Jan 29, 2025

Welsh Government pursues appeal to Supreme Court in case which led to warnings it would be contempt if members of local authority did not adopt local plan

The Welsh Government has applied to the Supreme Court to appeal a Court of Appeal decision that found Wrexham Borough Council did not have to adopt its local development plan (LDP) despite a High Court judge previously saying otherwise.

Jan 29, 2025

Ombudsman in Wales criticises public bodies over failure to align service delivery with duties under equalities legislation

Public bodies in Wales have failed to consistently align service delivery with their legal duties under equalities and human rights legislation, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Michelle Morris has said.

Jan 29, 2025

Judge dismisses claim by US TV actor that his house was not liable for council tax

The High Court has rejected an attempt by American actor Mercer Boffey to argue that his house in Richmond is not liable for council tax.

Jan 28, 2025

Government acknowledges progress at city council but warns of potential “slippage” in some areas

The Local Government Minister has welcomed continued progress at Liverpool City Council, while also raising concerns about the "risk of slippage" in challenging legacy areas including property, procurement, and housing.

Jan 28, 2025

Officers jointly issue section 114 report over “unlawful” pension fund payments

Barnet Council's monitoring officer and its Section 151 officer have jointly issued a section 114 report after finding a series of payments in and out of its pension fund that they believed were unlawful.

Jan 28, 2025

Major social landlord to procure £1.5m legal services framework

Midland Heart is to procure its latest legal services framework agreement, which is estimated to be worth £1.5m.

Jan 28, 2025

Family justice and social care systems paying “insufficient attention” to ensuring rights of parents with learning disabilities are upheld: Nuffield NFJO

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) has highlighted the “important” role of advocates and intermediaries in enabling parents with learning disabilities to engage fully in court proceedings, after warning that family justice and social care systems are paying “insufficient attention” to…

Jan 28, 2025

Information Rights Tribunal dismisses appeal over council decision to withhold confidential report prepared by independent monitoring officer on governance deficiencies

The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has dismissed an appeal by an appellant who sought the disclosure of a confidential report detailing governance woes at Thanet District Council.

Jan 28, 2025

London borough facing judicial review claim in dispute over letting of properties on private market and threat of eviction

The London Borough of Lambeth is facing a judicial review challenge from a private resident of a housing estate who is threatened with eviction amid claims the council breached the Localism Act 2011 and the Housing Act 1985.

Jan 28, 2025

Mills & Reeve bolsters education team with partner hire

Law firm Mills & Reeve has hired disputes specialist Catherine Savage as a partner in its education team.

Jan 28, 2025

Judicial review claims challenging “safety valve” deals entered into by two authorities to be heard in High Court this week

Three linked claims challenging so-called “safety valve” agreements reached by Devon County Council and Bristol City Council with the Department of Education are being heard in the High Court this week (28 – 30 January).

Jan 27, 2025

Supreme Court to hear key case this week on aggregation of public interest factor when applying freedom of information exemptions

The Supreme Court will this week (28 January) consider whether public interest factors for and against disclosure when applying exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be aggregated.

Jan 27, 2025

MPs launch inquiry into effectiveness of current land value capture methods

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry that will consider potential new mechanisms for land value capture (LVC) in order to help boost house building and fund affordable housing and public infrastructure.

Jan 27, 2025

Council prosecution leads to £2m fine for building materials firm

A prosecution brought by Lewes District Council has resulted in a £2m fine for builders' merchant Travis Perkins after a piece of timber fell from one of the firm's lorries and killed a man.

Jan 27, 2025

Select committee warns of overreliance on temporary accommodation amid unsustainable pressure on council finances

The influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned of an overreliance on the use of temporary accommodation, “due in part to a dwindling and increasingly costly housing stock”.

Jan 27, 2025

Journalists win appeal over naming of judges who decided historic care proceedings relating to Sara Sharif

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by two journalists against a judge’s decision to order the anonymisation of the names of the circuit judges that had decided historic care proceedings relating to Sara Sharif, who was murdered by her father and step-mother in 2023.

Jan 27, 2025

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