News

Jan 30, 2026

Richard Blakeway to step down as Housing Ombudsman following completion of two term limit

Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman, has confirmed he will step down as Housing Ombudsman in July having served the ‘standard’ two terms of three years, plus an extension.

Jan 30, 2026

Standards investigation finds six councillors breached code over ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp group

An independent investigator has said six councillors have breached Tameside Council's code of conduct over their involvement in a controversial group chat which garnered national attention and led to local MP Andrew Gwynne being suspended from the Labour Party.

Jan 30, 2026

Transport for London confirms new Legal Directors following strategic review

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed the appointment of two new Legal Directors following a strategic review of the legal department's leadership structure.

Jan 30, 2026

Judge rejects application by council for declaration that first respondent was not biological mother

The Family Court has refused an application by a London borough for a declaration that a woman was not the biological mother of two children, while making final care orders placing the children in long-term foster care.

Jan 30, 2026

Local Government Secretary reverses position to postpone Pendle elections as Essex bid for delay fails

The Secretary of State for Local Government, Steve Reed, has approved Pendle Borough Council's request to delay local elections, following a last-minute representation from the local authority.

Jan 30, 2026

Gypsy and Traveller Law Network to be launched next month

A network of legal professionals representing Gypsy and Traveller clients, particularly around accommodation matters, is to be launched next month.

Jan 29, 2026

Legal Services Board criticises differences in clarity of advice from regulators on conduct of litigation

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has highlighted differences in the clarity and consistency of guidance that legal services regulators have given on the conduct of litigation.

Jan 29, 2026

Burges Salmon advises council on £750m+ regeneration scheme near railway station

Law firm Burges Salmon has advised Stevenage Borough Council on its partnership with Muse, English Cities Fund (ECF) and Homes England in relation to the £750 million–£1 billion mixed-use redevelopment of Station Gateway, Stevenage.

Jan 29, 2026

SCIE calls for national standards in adult social care

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has called for national standards in adult social care, after warning that social care in England is marked by “stark geographic variation”.

Jan 29, 2026

Charity refused permission for judicial review over swimming arrangements at Hampstead Heath on basis claim is premature and should have been brought by individual

The High Court has refused Sex Matters permission for a judicial review against the admission arrangements at two of the open-air swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath, on the basis that the claim is “premature”, that the more appropriate person to bring the claim would be an individual, and that the…

Jan 29, 2026

Council set to bring in protocol to deal with low level member on member complaints in accordance with Public Services Ombudsman for Wales guidance

Monmouthshire County Council is expected to implement a local resolution protocol to allow low level member on member complaints to be settled without reference to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Jan 29, 2026

Claimant fails in challenge to decision by inspector to grant permission for gypsy/traveller site following council refusal

An attempt to bring a review of a planning inspector’s decision to allow a Gypsy/ Traveller site in Worcestershire “really is a merits challenge”, HHJ Karen Walden-Smith has found in the High Court.

Jan 29, 2026

Council wins statutory review challenge over finding by planning inspector that entire site was previously developed land

Ribble Valley Borough Council has overturned a planning inspector’s decision in a rare case of the High Court upholding an irrationality challenge.

Jan 29, 2026

County council defeats High Court challenge to traffic regulation order

The Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) has failed on all five grounds it argued in a High Court challenge to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) made by Lincolnshire County Council.

Jan 29, 2026

Judge dismisses challenge to closure of adult education centre despite consultation failures

The High Court has decided the outcome for a claimant would have been the same even had the London Borough of Bromley correctly consulted service users before deciding to close an adult education centre, some of whose attendees have learning difficulties.

Jan 28, 2026

Solicitors Regulation Authority issues formal warning on ‘no win, no fee’ arrangements

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a formal warning on ‘no win, no fee’ arrangements to law firms and solicitors, amid concerns over how the market for high-volume consumer claims operates and the risks this can pose to the public.

Jan 28, 2026

Government confirms social rent convergence plans and raises Housing Revenue Account threshold

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has unveiled a package of measures aimed at accelerating social and affordable housebuilding, including confirming how social rent convergence will be implemented, allowing councils to build up to 1,000 new homes without having to open a new…

Jan 28, 2026

Commissioners praise improvements at Thurrock, flag local government reorganisation risk to progress

Commissioners at Thurrock Council have flagged concerns about local government reorganisation (LGR) putting pressure on the council’s transformation programme.

Jan 28, 2026

Police force fined for failing to protect officers during riot training exercise

Derbyshire Police has been fined £60,000 after four officers taking part in a riot training exercise sustained burns to their lower bodies.

Jan 28, 2026

South Coast council becomes seventh local authority to secure top grade from Regulator for Social Housing

The Regulator of Social Housing has awarded Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) a C1 grading following an inspection, meaning it meets the outcomes of RSH’s consumer standards.

Jan 27, 2026

Councils are responsible for children with SEN who are “ordinarily resident”, even when temporarily abroad: Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal brought by Hampshire County Council in a case concerning the council’s decision to cease to maintain an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for a disabled child when the family temporarily relocated abroad due to the father’s service in the Royal Navy.

Jan 27, 2026

New consumer protection rules for heat network customers go live

New consumer protection rules governing heat networks in England, Scotland and Wales have come into force today, with Ofgem named as regulator and given powers to tackle unfair price increases and poor service.

Jan 27, 2026

Report calls for young people to be offered meetings with judges responsible for decisions about their futures

A pilot to enhance the “direct participation” of young people in care proceedings by enabling them to meet regularly with the judges responsible for decisions about their futures has found that most “felt heard” and “appreciated being treated as individuals”.

Jan 27, 2026

Parish and town councils warn of financial hit as principal authority elections delayed

Parish and town councils have expressed concern over having to shoulder the full financial burden of running their own local elections in areas where principal authorities have been given permission to delay elections.

Jan 27, 2026

Government concedes judicial review over “serious logical error” in data centre approval

The Government has abandoned efforts to defend a judicial review challenge regarding a decision to approve a data centre without requiring an environmental impact assessment, following the Supreme Court findings in CG Fry & Son Ltd v SSHCLG.

Jan 27, 2026

Local government should have “full and formal role” in care pay plan negotiations, say county councils

The County Councils Network has called for local government to have a “full and formal role” in negotiations to improve the pay and conditions for care workers, with local authorities the largest commissioners of adult social care in England and holders of responsibilities to local care markets.

Jan 27, 2026

Planning consents for Grade I listed house challenged over ‘post-fire significance’ approach

A borough council is facing a judicial review challenge after approving plans for a Grade I listed country house, which the claimants argue will fail to restore the property’s historically significant interiors.

Jan 26, 2026

Councillor who “made up his mind” ahead of planning vote breached code of conduct

A councillor who voiced opposition to a planning application in a consultation response ahead of voting on it breached Wokingham Borough Council's code of conduct, a standards panel has concluded.

Jan 26, 2026

Supreme Court to hear appeal next week over power of court to revoke adoption orders

The Supreme Court will next week (4-5 February) consider whether a court has jurisdiction to set aside a valid adoption order other than by way of appeal.

Jan 26, 2026

Chief constable to build costs of ASB lawyers into force budget after successful pilot

The Chief Constable for Devon & Cornwall has decided to build the cost of ASB lawyers into the force’s budget for 2026/27, following a successful pilot.

Jan 26, 2026

Council defers planning application after advertising notice in wrong paper

North Northamptonshire Council has been forced to defer a planning application after an administrative error saw the council publish notice of the application in the wrong local newspaper.

Jan 26, 2026

Homes England to procure £75.6m framework for property and investment-related legal services

Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, is to procure a national framework of legal professional service providers to deliver a range of property and investment related legal services.

Jan 26, 2026

Select committee launches inquiry into work and performance of Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the work and performance of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) - inviting people who have recently submitted and concluded a complaint to the body to fill out a survey on how it went.

Jan 26, 2026

Leader of Swansea Council says it is considering “every option, including legal avenues” over future of regional rugby as Ospreys owners named preferred bidders for Cardiff Rugby

The Leader of Swansea Council last week revealed that it is considering “every option, including legal avenues” to safeguard the future of regional rugby in the city.

Jan 23, 2026

Council obtains 10-year banning order against landlord following “long history of non-compliance”

Gateshead Council has obtained a 10-year banning order against a landlord who “repeatedly” failed to meet basic housing standards and put the health and wellbeing of residents at risk.

Jan 23, 2026

High Court agrees to hear challenge over lawfulness of council tax reduction scheme

The High Court has granted a disabled Somerset resident permission to proceed with a judicial review challenging the lawfulness of Somerset Council’s tax reduction scheme, amid claims it is “discriminatory”, in breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty, and “irrational”.

Jan 23, 2026

Walker Morris advises Secretary of State on remediation contribution orders test case

Law firm Walker Morris is advising the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in a test case against eleven respondents under the Building Safety Act 2022 over seven residential developments in Manchester.

Jan 23, 2026

Cornerstone Barristers names Andrew Bisbey as Senior Clerk

Cornerstone Barristers has appointed Andrew Bisbey as its new Senior Clerk. Bisbey joins Cornerstone from No5 Barristers’ Chambers, where he spent over 20 years in clerking, most recently serving as Director of Clerking for Planning & Environment.

Jan 23, 2026

Planning, children and public lawyers strongly represented in list of new King’s Counsel

Planning, children and public law specialists are among the 96 lawyers to be appointed as King’s Counsel in the latest appointments round.

Jan 23, 2026

East Midlands council appoints Corporate Director for Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer on permanent basis

West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed the permanent appointment of Sarah Hall as Corporate Director for Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer.

Jan 23, 2026

London borough acted unlawfully in removing low traffic neighbourhood without mayoral approval, Court of Appeal rules

A decision by Tower Hamlets council to remove a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme without obtaining the approval of the Mayor of London was unlawful, the Court of Appeal has found.

Jan 23, 2026

High Court dismisses challenge to decision by planning inspector to use written representations for appeal over former pub

The High Court has rejected a judicial challenge by a campaign group over a decision by a planning inspector to choose written representations rather than a hearing or inquiry.

Jan 23, 2026

Latest Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy includes focus on improving diversity in senior judiciary

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has included a new focus area for the first year of its Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030, which is to expand the diversity in the pool of applicants to the High Court and above.

Jan 22, 2026

Almost half of all councils undergoing reorganisation to have elections delayed

The Government has confirmed plans to postpone elections for 29 councils in order to allow them to focus on local government reorganisation.

Jan 22, 2026

Judge lifts automatic suspension on award by TfL of revenue collection contract

The High Court has lifted the suspension of a disputed revenue collection contract awarded by Transport for London (TfL) after concluding that an aggrieved bidder had an adequate remedy in damages and that TfL’s work would be disrupted by further delay.