Refusing to set a budget

What are the consequences if councillors are unable or refuse to set a budget? Geoff Wild explains. Read more

  NEWS

Mar 18, 2024

London borough to remove Palestinian flags amid legal threat

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has decided to remove Palestinian flags from council buildings and infrastructure after receiving a letter before claim that argued the flag-flying breached the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Mar 08, 2024

Tees Valley Mayor sets up cross-authority working group to implement recommendations of independent review as Gove gives six-month deadline for update

The Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, has set up a cross-authority working group including statutory officers from all five constituent authorities of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) to consider and agree an action plan for implementation of the recommendations contained in the recent independent review of the Teesworks Joint Venture.

  FEATURES AND ANALYSIS

February 27, 2024

Malicious communications and the right to freedom of expression

An appellant has successfully overturned his conviction of a single count under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 over an email he sent to his town councillor. Chantel Gaber and Dominic Thomas analyse the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
January 19, 2024

Devolution and effective scrutiny

The Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the 2023 Autumn Statement set out various changes for devolution. Tiffany Cloynes looks at the Government’s proposals, including the creation of Combined County Authorities (CCAs), and highlights the importance of scrutiny in ensuring effective governance.

  MORE NEWS

Mar 06, 2024

Spring Budget 2024: key policy measures

Local Government Lawyer rounds up some of the key policy measures in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Budget 2024 affecting the sector.
Feb 26, 2024

Oflog is “not independent and could be subject to political direction”: LGA

The Office for Local Government (Oflog) is not an independent body, and this lack of independence has potential implications for public trust in its work, the Local Government Association has claimed in a submission to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee’s inquiry into the new body.

  MORE FEATURES

January 10, 2024

Local Plan intervention by the Ministry

William Upton KC takes a look at recent local plan action by the Ministers and the Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
November 28, 2023

As easy as falling off a [Of] Log?

Mohammad Sajjad explores what the new regime involving the Office for Local Government will mean for local authorities.
November 28, 2023

Public sector consultations

Matthew Wyard, Jim Hirschmann and Rosa Thomas analyse the framework concerning the duty to consult in public law. [1]
November 27, 2023

The new dilemma: AI and public law

Can artificial intelligence replace professionals in courts and write judgments in public law? Richard Clayton KC looks at the issues involved.
October 26, 2023

Facing financial failure

Adam Carey looks at the difficulties a monitoring officer may experience following the issuance of a section 114 notice, and how they can navigate the process.
October 26, 2023

So who is looking at governance?

So much attention is on the finances - balancing the budget, section 114 Notices, diminishing reserves, more for less - it is constant and a real problem for Local Government, writes Lisa Kirkman.
October 26, 2023

What do we have to do?

Ian Hunt considers the thorny issue of essential functions and statutory powers in straitened times.
October 26, 2023

The Levelling Up Fund: Round 3

Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund is to be launched in November 2023. Jonathan Branton and Alexander Rose look at the lessons learned so far and provide tips on how to secure a grant.
October 20, 2023

Drafting local authority constitutions

Local authority governance experts Simon Goacher and Paul Feild examine the role of council constitutions in the effective governance of local authorities.
October 20, 2023

S114 notices and real estate

Rita Bange looks at the impact of s114 notices from a real estate and regeneration perspective.
October 13, 2023

S114 update: Appointment of Commissioners

Amardeep Gill and Imelda Kavanagh continue their examination of the consequences of a council issuing a s114 notice by considering what the role of appointed commissioners could be should this form of intervention be decided upon.