CQC updates approach to local authority assessments
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published additional information on its updated approach to local authority assurance assessments, following engagement with stakeholders including the Local Government Association (LGA), Ofsted and local authorities.
ICO sets out plans for statutory AI code of practice and procurement guidance
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out plans to develop a statutory code of practice on artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, alongside new guidance to help organisations – including public bodies – ensure good data protection practice when procuring AI tools.
Judge upholds care home placement but encourages council to explore ways of facilitating “dignified contact” between mother and daughter
The Court of Protection has dismissed an appeal brought by a daughter challenging a decision that her mother should remain in a care home and continue to have only supervised and limited contact with her.
Three North West councils to share chief executive and monitoring officer ahead of local government reorganisation
West Lancashire Borough Council, Chorley Council and South Ribble Borough Council have formally approved plans to share a chief executive and a monitoring officer ahead of local government organisation (LGR) in Lancashire.
Landlord and courts to be given new powers to remove domestic abuse perpetrators from social housing
Landlords and courts will be able to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing – without the victim having to leave first – under the Social Housing Bill, which returns to Parliament today for its second reading.
Council names 10 chambers to barristers framework
Bedford Borough Council has appointed ten sets of chambers to a barristers’ framework.
Former Family President appointed Patron of Family Rights Group
The former President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has been appointed as a new patron of Family Rights Group (FRG).
DfE issues guidance for local authorities on pupil planning areas
The Department for Education (DfE) has issued guidance for local authorities when determining or changing pupil planning area structures for the annual school capacity (SCAP) survey.
Council abandons plans for Oxford Street pedestrianisation judicial review
Westminster City Council's newly appointed administration has said it will not pursue a judicial review over plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street after previously announcing a "legal fighting fund" to challenge the project.
Council left domestic abuse victim to sofa surf for nearly two years, Ombudsman finds
A council failed to deal with the homeless application of a resident after she fled domestic abuse, leaving her in unsuitable accommodation, sleeping on the sofas of family and friends, for 21 months.
Home Office unveils plans to implement Facial Age Estimation technology at border in 2027
The Home Office has announced plans to test Facial Age Estimation (FAE) technology throughout 2026, with a view to implement it at the border in 2027.
Judge finds woman in contempt over unauthorised home hidden inside barn
A woman who failed to comply with a court injunction requiring the removal of an unauthorised dwelling concealed within a barn has been found in contempt of court.
Council paid £470k in clean air zone fines to itself, report finds
Birmingham City Council has paid almost £500,000 to itself in charges and fines for council-owned vehicles that fail to comply with the authority's own Clean Air Zone (CAZ) policy.
City council fires warning of legal action over unauthorised attachment of flags to street furniture
Birmingham City Council has warned people not to attach flags or other unauthorised items to street furniture “or face possible legal action”.
High Court grants claimant permission for judicial review over 2023 council meeting question ban
A High Court judge has granted a claimant permission for a judicial review challenge over a council's decision in July 2023 to bar him from asking an oral question at a meeting.
Ombudsman criticises council over failure to send invoices for care of service user to appointee for more than three years
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Worcestershire County Council for its failure to send invoices for a service user's care to his appointee for more than three years, resulting in a large debt owed to the council.
Council recommended to pay £6k for failures in handling education of child with special educational needs
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found fault with a city council’s handling of a child’s education, after it delayed completing an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment in line with statutory timescales, and failed to maintain oversight of the child’s alternative…
Plan to merge town and parish councils paused after judicial review threat
Plans to merge two parish councils into one in Somerset have been paused in light of a judicial review threat alleging flaws in the consultation and decision-making process. Members of Somerset Council backed a motion last week to delay a decision on combining Huish Episcopi Parish Council and…
Government announces new intervention powers to tackle risky council investments
The Government has announced plans to expand its powers of intervention to address excessive risk in local authority borrowing and investment.
Court of Appeal sets aside dismissal of application for placement order, finding welfare analysis by recorder “went awry”
The Court of Appeal has allowed a local authority’s appeal against a recorder’s dismissal of its application for a placement order for a young girl, finding there was “no robust assessment” of how long-term fostering could meet the child’s need for permanence.
Councils launch judicial review challenge over ministerial approval of largest solar farm in UK
Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council have formally issued judicial review proceedings over the Government’s approval of what would be the UK’s largest solar farm.
Regulator finds serious failings at council after 4,000 tenancies overcharged rent
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published a regulatory judgement for Rugby Borough Council outlining serious failings in the delivery the outcomes of the Rent Standard.
Legal challenge over decision on reorganisation “would fail”, council told
The Cabinet at New Forest District Council will next week (3 June) consider the local authority’s response to the Government’s preferred option for local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent, having received advice that a legal challenge would have no real prospects of success.
Judge criticises Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability over delays in considering best interests and making applications to Court of Protection
The Court of Protection has raised concerns over delays by the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability (RHND) and an integrated care board in addressing the best interests of a patient in a prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) and bringing an application to withdraw clinically assisted nutrition…
Housing Ombudsman urges landlords to “avoid apathy” on window disrepair after rise in severe maladministration findings
Some 9% of the Housing Ombudsman’s findings relating to windows resulted in severe maladministration in 2025-26 when the norm is around 2%, it has emerged.
Supreme Court to rule next week on deprivations of liberty and valid consent
The Supreme Court is set to hand down next week (2 June) its much-anticipated ruling on deprivations of liberty, capacity and valid consent.
Welsh council in breach of duty in 2014 Act over provision of respite care, High Court finds
The High Court has allowed a judicial review claim brought by the sister of a man who requires full-time care, finding that the local authority was in breach of its duties to provide care and support under the Social Services Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
Sasha White KC named Joint Head of Landmark Chambers
Leading planning barrister Sasha White KC has been appointed Joint Head of Landmark Chambers, replacing Jenny Wigley KC following the conclusion of her term in the role.
City of London instructs officers “to pursue steps to lawfully remove” Freedom of the City from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
The City of London Corporation last week passed a motion censuring Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over his failure to relinquish his Freedom of the City of London.
Thinktank urges Government to close regulatory gap on “unreliable” AI services during elections
One third (34.1%) of responses across chatbots about elections contained factual errors, whilst reliability varied significantly across services, a report by thinktank Demos has claimed.
Report on government transparency releases suggests “enormous room for improvement”
Although there has been some improvement in transparency releases since the Labour government came into office, there is “enormous room for improvement”, a report commissioned by the Ethics and Integrity Commission has found.
High Court finds “no arguable grounds” for challenge to risk assessment by Welsh council and alleged failure to meet needs
A High Court judge has found there were “no arguable grounds” for the grant of permission for a judicial review against Ceredigion County Council.
Meaningful devolution and sufficient funding key to delivery of 'Neighbourhood Guarantee', say councils
Meaningful devolution, backed by sufficient and sustainable funding for councils, is key to giving communities greater control over local priorities, the Local Government Association has said in response to the Government’s proposal for a ‘Neighbourhood Guarantee’ that sets clear expectations…
Empower councils to drive changes that improve lives of children with SEND, says LGA
The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for sufficient funding and a cross-government response in order to tackle the SEND crisis, while highlighting the “critical” role of health partners in effective joint working in local systems.
Report on housing in London highlights need for long-term, multi-pronged reform
Tackling the housing crisis in London requires an understanding of the multiple drivers of the failure of the housing system, the Centre for London thinktank has found.
Court of Appeal refuses extension of time for appeal over airport expansion development consent order ruling
The Court of Appeal last week refused to grant an extension of time for an appeal over the rejection of a legal challenge to a development consent order (DCO) allowing the expansion of council-owned Luton Airport to 32 million passengers a year.
ADASS and CQC refresh joint working protocol to include stronger safeguarding arrangements and emphasis on sharing data
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have updated their Joint Working Protocol agreement that sets out how they will work together to share information and promote quality and safety.
Council to hold market engagement over £48m framework for legal services supporting LGPS funds
Norfolk County Council has issued a preliminary market engagement notice on its plans to let a multi-provider framework agreement for the provision of specialist support for pension legal services primarily in the support of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
London Mayor blocks £50m Metropolitan police deal with US tech company Palantir, claiming Met “only engaged with one potential supplier”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has blocked a £50m Metropolitan Police deal with US tech company Palantir, after the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime was not satisfied the process followed by the Met “adequately ensured or demonstrated value for money”.
Government lays Equality and Human Rights Commission draft updated Code of Practice in Parliament
Single-sex spaces must be used on the basis of biological sex, new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has confirmed.
Children’s Homes Association calls for “national plan” to ensure illegal homes for children designed out of system by 2030
The Children’s Homes Association (CHA) has called on the Department for Education and local authorities to work with CHA, its members and the wider sector to implement a national plan to end the use of illegal children’s homes by 2030.
NHS trust dismisses 11 staff members over Nottingham attack victims' records
Eleven members of staff have been dismissed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust for inappropriately accessing the medical records of the Nottingham attack victims.
Police arrest five in investigation into alleged local election fraud
Greater Manchester Police have arrested five people on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud as part of an investigation into alleged offences committed in the lead up to the local elections.
Council's "fundamental" misapplication of the law should be a wake-up call to local authorities: Ombudsman
South Gloucestershire Council turned away a domestic abuse survivor and her young children when they urgently needed help, “fundamentally misapplying the law designed to protect victims”, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.
Government age assessment plans risk children being sent to unsuitable settings: social workers
Government plans to remove councils’ powers to make age assessments for unaccompanied asylum seekers risk children being put in unsuitable adult settings, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has claimed.
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£62,522 - £71,895 per annum
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£51,458 - £56,875 per annum
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£70,575 - £75,180 per annum
Litigation Lawyer (Local Government)
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Directory
Events
Law Enforcement Data Processing and Part 3 of the DPA 2018 - Act Now
01-06-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
LIDW 2026: What Next for the UK as a Leading Centre for Dispute Resolution? Arbitration, Mediation, the Courts and Commercial Reality - 39 Essex Chambers
03-06-2026
London
LIDW 2026: Enduring Foundations, High-Stakes Futures: Navigating Nuclear Project Disputes in a New Era of Energy Demand - 39 Essex Chambers
03-06-2026
London
Drawing the Line: Handling Serious Misconduct Cases and Statutory Referrals in Education - Sharpe Pritchard
04-06-2026 9:30 am
Online (live)
Minerals webinar series - Part 1: Minerals plan-making: the next phase - Landmark Chambers
08-06-2026
Online (live)
Tackling London’s temporary accommodation crisis: a Project 123 call to arms and Temporary Accommodation Network event - Devonshires
08-06-2026 9:00 am
London
AI and Information Governance: Bridging Innovation and Compliance - Act Now
08-06-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
PATC | Planning and Development Conference - Hugh James 
Government contract templates - DWF 
LPAs and the DCO Examination Process - Practical Tips for LPAs - Francis Taylor Building
09-06-2026 1:00 pm
London
Public Rights Over Land Conference 2026 - New Square Chambers
Supported Housing Consultation: the Government's response and what is to come - Devonshires
11-06-2026 11:00 am
Online (live)
Managing Inquests: A Practical Guide for Local Authorities - Devonshires 
Kings Chambers Property Flagship | Laying the Foundations (Leeds) 
Talent management: the legal and practical issues involved in recruitment and retention - Blake Morgan
16-06-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
How to Handle a Subject Access Request - Act Now 
International Relocation - 42BR 