Feb 27, 2026

Government launches pilot of seven new “Kinship Zones” across England providing additional financial support

The Department for Education has launched a pilot in seven local authority area ‘Kinship Zones’ - with kinship carers to be provided with funding per child, equivalent to what foster carers receive.

Feb 27, 2026

High Court grants relief to by-election candidate over 81,000 leaflets missing imprint

The Reform UK candidate and his election agent were granted relief by the High Court ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election after more than 80,000 by-election leaflets were distributed without the required imprint.

Feb 27, 2026

Approach in parental alienation case was “fundamentally flawed” and every agency was at fault, Family President rules

The President of the Family Division has set aside findings made by a judge in 2019 that two children had been alienated from their father as a result of the mother's “highly negative attitude” towards him - finding that the approach, which included the instruction of an unregulated expert, was…

Feb 27, 2026

Government crackdown on public sector fraud saves £7.53bn, says Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office has said £7.53 billion has been protected for the public purse in the last financial year through “aggressive fraud prevention and recovery”.

Feb 27, 2026

School governing body given permission for challenge to independent appeals panel admission decision

The High Court has granted permission for a judicial review challenge against a decision by an Independent Appeals Panel in relation to the admission of a child into a primary school for Year 5.

Feb 27, 2026

Bill to set up new body holding public authorities in Wales to account on environmental law passes Senedd

The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, which establishes a new framework for environmental protection, has passed the Senedd.

Feb 26, 2026

Specialist housing barrister returns to Forbes Solicitors as partner

Barrister Lucie Wood has joined Forbes Solicitors as a partner in its Housing & Regeneration team, returning to the firm where she first started as a legal clerk and after six years at Cobden House Chambers.

Feb 26, 2026

Disabled young woman failed by council following misunderstanding of way education transport should be funded for different age groups: Ombudsman

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has agreed to apologise and reconsider if it should provide free transport to a disabled young woman trying to get to college, after an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found fault with its actions.

Feb 26, 2026

Council wins High Court battle over decision of planning inspector on infrastructure contribution

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council has overturned in the High Court a planning inspector’s decision that a developer could secure permission without contributing to infrastructure provision.

Feb 26, 2026

Select committee launches inquiry on cross-border healthcare arrangements between England and Wales

The Welsh Affairs Committee has this month launched an inquiry into the challenges faced by people accessing cross-border healthcare.

Feb 26, 2026

Judge tells claimant in homelessness case to pursue s.202 review, not judicial review

A homelessness applicant to the London Borough of Bromley should have pursued her right to a review of its housing decision instead of launching a judicial review that became academic, the High Court has said.

Feb 26, 2026

Housing Ombudsman calls on landlords to provide “‘meaningful apologies” in complaint handling

The Housing Ombudsman has issued advice to housing providers highlighting the importance and power of meaningful apologies to residents who have experienced issues because of fault from their landlords.

Feb 26, 2026

Public body wins Court of Appeal dispute over expert determination concerning London Stadium

An expert determination by a king’s counsel was not in manifest error when it considered the price payable under a concession agreement for a share transaction concerning the former Olympic Stadium in London, now used by West Ham United Football Club.

Feb 26, 2026

Ombudsman tells council to repay planning application fee to developer over “avoidable errors”

Maidstone Borough Council has been asked to apologise to a local developer and pay him £3,968 by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who recommended applicant Mr X should apply to the courts if he wanted further compensation for the £12,000 he said he spent on a mishandled planning…

Feb 26, 2026

Duncan Field to become managing partner of planning law firm Town Legal

Duncan Field has been named managing partner of leading planning law firm Town Legal, with effect from the start of April 2026.

Feb 26, 2026

CIPFA warns of potential instability if cost-capping introduced in children’s residential care market

The Government’s reforms to the children’s residential care market could lead to higher costs for councils and greater market instability.

Feb 26, 2026

Government to set up “blitz” courts as part of measures to tackle criminal case backlog

A series of ‘blitz’ courts is to be created to expedite hearings of particular classes of cases, starting in London with a focus on assaults on emergency workers.

Feb 25, 2026

High Court considers judicial review of Ealing children’s centre closures

The High Court is this week hearing a judicial review of a decision made by the London Borough of Ealing to close 10 out of 25 of its children centres.

Feb 25, 2026

Borough council hit with lowest possible consumer grade by Regulator of Social Housing

Runnymede Borough Council has failed to meet the outcomes of the consumer standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and has received a C4 rating “due to very serious failings”.

Feb 25, 2026

Government to consult on changes to School Admissions Code to “promote fairness for all families”

The Government has announced plans to consult on changes to the School Admissions Code to “promote fairness for all families” – particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Feb 25, 2026

Defra issues guidance for councils for first time on how to seize and crush vehicles used for fly-tipping

The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has issued guidance for local authorities that for the first time advises them on how to seize and crush vehicles used to dump waste.

Feb 25, 2026

Civil Justice Council working group on use of AI in preparing court documents issues consultation

A working group set up by the Civil Justice Council (CJC) to examine the use of AI by legal representatives for preparing court documents has issued an interim report setting out its initial thinking and a consultation with a proposed way forward.

Feb 25, 2026

High Court to hear challenge to licensing scheme for releasing gamebirds on or near special protection areas

The High Court is set to hear a judicial review claim brought against Natural England (NE) over a licensing scheme it implemented for releasing gamebirds in or near special protection areas (SPAs).

Feb 25, 2026

Plans to reform deprivation funding for schools announced in White Paper

The Government has announced plans to reform deprivation funding for schools, by using household income rather than the “binary indicator” of whether a child receives free school meals or not.

Feb 24, 2026

County Councils Network welcomes proposals to “rebalance” tribunal as part of SEND reforms

The County Councils Network (CCN) has suggested that while it is “important” to retain the SEND tribunal system, proposals published by the Government yesterday (23 February) to “rebalance the process” are welcome.

Feb 24, 2026

Ministers urged to scrap draft policy claimed to curtail ability of councils to require net zero standards for new homes

A group of more than 60 councils, businesses and NGOs have urged the Government to ditch a proposed policy in the draft National Planning Policy Framework that they claim could “unduly curtail local authorities’ ability to require net zero standards for new homes”.

Feb 24, 2026

Court of Appeal to hear dispute over whether individual was intentionally homeless after being evicted following misrepresentations to obtain tenancy

The Court of Appeal will this week (25 February) hear City of Wolverhampton Council’s appeal in a case concerning whether a person can be deemed intentionally homeless when they obtained a tenancy following misrepresentations made by them and the local housing authority evicted them as a result.

Feb 24, 2026

High Court refuses anti-abortion protester permission for judicial review over conviction

The High Court has refused an anti-abortion protester permission for a judicial review challenge after the Crown Court dismissed his appeal over his conviction for breaching a safe zone around a clinic.

Feb 24, 2026

Government confirms 35 councils to receive £1.5bn in exceptional financial support

The Government has agreed to provide around £1.5 billion in exceptional financial support (EFS) to 35 councils for the coming financial year.

Feb 23, 2026

Judge refuses permission on papers for judicial review of selective licensing policy in Thurrock

A High Court judge has refused on the papers permission for a judicial review challenge over Thurrock Council’s selective licensing policy.

Feb 23, 2026

City council secures High Court interim injunction to stop blockades at waste depots

Birmingham City Council has obtained a High Court injunction against persons unknown in a bid to tackle blockading or obstruction at its four waste depots.

Feb 23, 2026

Government proposes greater role for mediation in SEND disputes, with Tribunal as “backstop”

The Government has set out an increased role for mediation of disputes about special educational needs, with the SEND Tribunal remaining “as a genuine last resort” but no longer with the power to name the placement for the child.

Feb 23, 2026

Equalities watchdog concludes regulatory action on single-sex space policies

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it has concluded its regulatory action following the review of policies identified through the UK Government's 2024 call for input exercise on single-sex spaces.

Feb 23, 2026

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales consults on draft Strategic Plan 2026–2029

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has launched a public consultation on its draft Strategic Plan for 2026–2029, which it says sets out an “ambitious but realistic” programme of work.

Feb 23, 2026

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to investigate two housing associations over damp and mould

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is to conduct ‘own initiative’ investigations into disrepair, damp and mould at two housing associations.

Feb 23, 2026

Councillors should be barred from sitting on Safety Advisory Groups in light of flawed football ban, MPs say

The Home Affairs Committee has said that Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs) should not include councillors, in a report on Birmingham City Council’s decision to block Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football game.

Feb 23, 2026

District urges town and parish councils to ensure councillors follow guidance on responsible use of social media

Tendring District Council has urged town and parish councils to ensure their councillors are following guidance on the “responsible use of social media”, following a standards investigation.

Feb 23, 2026

North East housing association to hold pre market engagement on expanded legal services framework

North East social landlord Karbon Homes is to hold preliminary market engagement on renewal of its legal services framework, which it has opened out to other housing associations.

Feb 20, 2026

Court of Appeal to hear Mazur appeal next week

The Court of Appeal will next week consider CILEx's challenge to the High Court’s ruling in Julia Mazur & Ors v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.

Feb 20, 2026

Welsh council seeks injunction to halt deal threatening future of provincial rugby side

Swansea Council has applied for a High Court injunction to halt the proposed deal between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Y11 to buy Cardiff Rugby, fearing that the process would lead to the end of the Ospreys and men's professional regional rugby in Swansea.

Feb 20, 2026

County council to pull out of devolution and local government reorganisation deal after elections u-turn

The Leader of Norfolk County Council has said it will pull out of devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) following the Government’s decision to reverse the cancellation of local elections on legal advice.

Feb 20, 2026

National price bands for independent special school provision to give councils “confidence to challenge poor value”: DfE

The Government has unveiled plans for new national price bands aimed at ending “unjustified” fee variation for independent special school provision, a move it says will give councils the confidence to challenge poor value placements.

Feb 20, 2026

High Court quashes Care Act assessment over failure to identify overnight needs

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets unlawfully assessed the needs of an applicant under section 9 of the Care Act 2014 by failing to identify overnight care needs in an “unexplained leap of reasoning”, the High Court has found.

Feb 19, 2026

Thinktank calls for setting up of neighbourhood boards with 50% or more community representation if reorganisation goes ahead

Neighbourhood boards that are “inclusive, empowered and well-resourced” and have 50% or more community representation should be established if local government reorganisation goes ahead, a leading thinktank has argued amid concerns at the impact of unitarisation on local democracy, representation…

Feb 19, 2026

Crown Commercial Service issues tender notice for £600m Legal Panel for the Public Sector

The Crown Commercial Services has issued a tender notice for its proposed Legal Panel for the Public Sector, which is worth an estimated £600m over five years.

The SEND White Paper: the legal perspective - Landmark Chambers

Join Landmark Chambers' barristers for an in-depth discussion on the much-anticipated White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’.

On Monday 23 February, the Government published the much-anticipated White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’. In this webinar, we discuss the proposals from a legal perspective – will they work, will they fix the system, and what possible legal challenges lie ahead?

Fiona Scolding KC, Leon Glenister, Katharine Elliot, and Joe Thomas bring extensive and wide-ranging experience representing parents, local authorities, and the Department for Education, which places them in a rare position to deliver insight that spans the entire sector.

Date and time
Tuesday 03 March 2026 | 11:00am - 12:30pm

CPD
1.5