Apr 26, 2024

Council criticised for failing to ensure that notices and penalty demand were received by landlord

Manchester City Council should have made greater efforts to ensure that an improvement notice ands subsequent penalty demand reached a landlord, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has said, upholding an appeal against a decision of the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

Apr 26, 2024

Council secures court victory over unpaid business rates

Middlesbrough Council has won a magistrates’ court case over unpaid business rates totalling almost £300,000.

Apr 26, 2024

Council mulls legal options for evicting Israeli arms manufacturer

Somerset Council has agreed to explore its legal options for evicting an Israeli-owned weapons manufacturer from an office building the local authority owns after receiving legal advice from a KC on behalf of a pro-Palestinian pressure group.

Apr 26, 2024

Council to pay over £8k after failing to educate girl for 18 months

Suffolk County Council failed to provide a young girl with alternative education provision for 18 months after she could no longer attend school, an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

Apr 25, 2024

City college loses JR over Ofsted 'good' rather than 'outstanding' rating

The High Court has rejected a judicial review claim brought by a City Technology College, which challenged a decision by Ofsted to rate the leadership and management at the school as 'good', rather than 'outstanding'.

Apr 25, 2024

Civic group claims officers mislead councillors in planning legal challenge

Bristol City Council's decision to grant permission for a 28-storey development was the result of "misleading" advice from officers, a pre-action protocol letter has claimed.

Apr 25, 2024

High Court issues ruling on ‘suitability’ of B&B accommodation for homeless family

His Honour Judge Tindal has heard a High Court case concerning homelessness on which be could find no direct authority.

Apr 25, 2024

Landlord wins Upper Tribunal appeal over penalty imposed for failure to comply with improvement notice relating to her tenanted property

Manchester City Council should have made greater efforts to ensure that an improvement notice and subsequent penalty demand reached a landlord, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has said, upholding an appeal against a decision of the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

Apr 25, 2024

Independent review ordered by Housing Ombudsman makes 15 recommendations to social landlord to tackle damp and mould failings

An independent review ordered by Housing Ombudsman into how Orbit Group has handled damp and mould has made 15 recommendations to the landlord.

Apr 24, 2024

Welsh Government to revise guidance on exemptions to 20 mph speed limit

The Welsh Government has signalled a partial climb down from its controversial imposition of a 20mph traffic speed limit.

Apr 24, 2024

Unregistered placements for vulnerable young people “highly unsatisfactory”, senior judge tells MPs

There is “legitimate public concern” as to the accommodation where vulnerable young people are being placed, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has warned MPs.

Apr 24, 2024

Council to ask DEFRA for permission to seek legal action in landfill odour dispute

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is set to ask permission from the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to take legal action against a landfill operator over odours emanating from the site.

Apr 24, 2024

Court of Protection orders mother for present time to leave home owned by disabled son

A Court of Protection judge has ordered a mother to leave the home owned by her disabled adult son, finding it was not in his best interests for her to live in the same house “at the present time”.

Apr 24, 2024

Auditors call for improved member-officer relations at council for second year running

External auditors have told Teignbridge District Council for the second year running that it needs to improve relationships between its members and officers.

Apr 24, 2024

High Court to hear legal challenge brought by school over ‘inadequate’ rating that followed second Ofsted inspection

The High Court is this week (24-25 April) hearing a school’s legal challenge over an inspection report issued by Ofsted following two separate inspections.

Apr 24, 2024

Welsh watchdog eyes return to pre-pandemic timescales for audit work

Audit Wales has unveiled plans to improve the timeliness of its performance audit work at NHS and local government bodies and to restore the auditing of accounts of the 800 public bodies across Wales to pre-pandemic timescales over the next few years.

Apr 23, 2024

Judge makes best interest decision on end of life treatment for young child without relying on parental consent

A High Court judge has allowed a local authority’s application for leave to invoke the inherent jurisdiction in relation to the withdrawal of medical treatment and the provision of end of life care for a young child.

Apr 23, 2024

Council hires barrister to conduct review of assessment process for Education, Health and Care plans

Hertfordshire County Council has instructed a barrister to carry out an independent review on the effectiveness of its Education Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment process.

Apr 23, 2024

Judge remits FOI case after finding First-Tier Tribunal was wrong to strike out proceedings, amid doubts over reliability of previous evidence from council

A decision by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) in 2022 to strike out proceedings concerning a freedom of information (FOI) request submitted to Northumberland County Council involved an error in a point of law and should be remitted for a rehearing, an Upper Tribunal judge has decided.

Apr 23, 2024

Public want to know more about council decision making, survey suggests

More than a quarter of the public (26%) wish to have more of a say in how decisions are taken in their local areas, a survey from the LGiU has suggested.

Apr 23, 2024

Households have approached councils more than 80,000 times for homelessness support due to Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices since Government vowed to bring in ban: research

Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions have led to households being forced to approach their local authority for homelessness support after receiving a notice more than 80,000 times since the Government announced it would ban the practice, research by Homeless Link has suggested.

Apr 22, 2024

Cabinet Office confirms planned ‘go-live’ date of 28 October 2024 for new procurement regime

The Cabinet Office has confirmed that it is working towards a ‘go-live’ date for the new procurement regime of Monday 28 October 2024.

Apr 22, 2024

Government issues updated statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has issued updated statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny, to “take account of deeper devolution and the creation of combined county authorities through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023”.

Apr 22, 2024

Judge allows urgent application by council for judicial review after it published incorrect versions of neighbourhood plans ahead of referendum

A borough council was forced to apply to the High Court for judicial review after discovering that the versions of two proposed neighbourhood plans it published ahead of referendums were materially incorrect, it has emerged.

Apr 22, 2024

Landlady hit by second confiscation order over sub-division of property and failure to comply with enforcement notices

Barking and Dagenham Council has obtained a second confiscation order against a landlady who illegally converted her property into two separate flats and continued to ignore enforcement notices.

Apr 22, 2024

Government reveals guidelines for new council ‘productivity plans’

The guidelines for productivity plans, which the Government asked councils to produce when it announced the Local Government Finance Settlement, have been revealed.

Apr 22, 2024

Welsh community councils rapped over non-compliant registers of interests

An investigation by Newport City Council has found that all 14 of its town and community councils are failing to publish a compliant Register of Interests (RoI) on their websites.

Apr 22, 2024

Councils to have 10-year window for bringing planning enforcement action from this week

A single 10-year time limit for bringing enforcement action over planning breaches is set to come into force this week (25 April) as part of enforcement reforms set out in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Apr 19, 2024

Capsticks makes record number of promotions across firm

Capsticks has announced a record number of promotions at the firm, after promoting 47 people across its legal and business service teams.

Apr 19, 2024

County council to pay more than £13k for EHC plan failures

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has found Cambridgeshire County Council at fault for its delays in reviewing a boy’s EHC Plan, its failure to consider provision for adulthood and its failure to provide educational support.

Apr 19, 2024

Council did not appear to conduct competitive procurement exercises for £500k social media payments, director of legal says

An investigation into £500,000 worth of payments made by Essex County Council for social media campaigns has been unable to find what the selection process was like for awarding the work or whether there was a competitive process involved.

Apr 19, 2024

ADSO welcomes draft Code of Practice on Good Governance for Statutory Officers, calls for Monitoring Officer role to be renamed

The Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) has voiced support for LLG, CIPFA and SOLACE's proposed Code of Practice on Good Governance for Statutory Officers and has called for the monitoring officer role to be renamed in legislation 'Chief Governance Officer'.

Apr 18, 2024

High Court orders demolition of woodland buildings constructed in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

A man has been ordered to demolish two woodland buildings he constructed on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, following a High Court injunction secured by Wiltshire Council.

Apr 18, 2024

Residents who lost their homes due to fire launch High Court claim against developer and housing association

Fifty victims of a fire in south-west London in 2019 have this month issued a High Court claim against Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) housing association and house builder St James.

Apr 18, 2024

“Disproportionately” high rates of children in care in the North, report finds

Children in the North are at greater risk of entering care compared to their southern counterparts, a new study has revealed.

Apr 18, 2024

Muneer vows to put LLG “front and centre” in local government legal and governance sphere

Aneeka Muneer has vowed to place LLG “front and centre in the local government legal and governance sphere”, after being appointed President of the organisation at its annual general meeting this week.

Apr 18, 2024

Appellant wins High Court dispute over right to buy council flat

A rabbi who mostly lived away from his council flat was still entitled to buy it from the London Borough of Hackney since the council could not establish that his main place of residence was elsewhere.

Apr 18, 2024

Councils express concern at unintended impact of Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill on LGPS

The Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill gives “significant concerns about the effects the current drafting will have on the operation of the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS)”, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.

Apr 18, 2024

Asylum seeker obtains court order against council for interim accommodation

Barristers chambers Garden Court has gained a High Court order requiring an unnamed council to secure suitable interim accommodation under section 188(1) of the Housing Act 1996 for an asylum seeker.

Apr 18, 2024

Council wins Court of Protection appeal over ruling on capacity of 20-year-old man

The Court of Protection has allowed an unnamed local authority’s appeal against a court decision that a 20-year-old man, ZZ, has capacity to make decisions about residence, engage in sexual relations and marriage.

Apr 18, 2024

Ghuman named Director of Law and Governance – Monitoring Officer at Slough

Slough Borough Council has appointed Sukhdave Ghuman as Director of Law and Governance – Monitoring Officer.

Apr 17, 2024

DHSC issues call for evidence as part of review of statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers in England

The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a call for evidence on the operation of the statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers in England, following concerns raised in the Government’s response to the Hillsborough disaster report in December 2023.

Apr 17, 2024

Three in five social landlords make changes following Ombudsman report on noise complaints

The Housing Ombudsman has hailed the response of many social landlords to its October 2022 Spotlight report on noise complaints, saying that 60% of landlords who responded had self-assessed against its recommendations and were implementing an action plan.

Apr 17, 2024

High Court upholds prohibition by school on prayer rituals

The High Court has dismissed a secondary school pupil’s challenge over the lawfulness of a policy at her London school to prohibit prayer rituals for all of its pupils.

Apr 17, 2024

Levelling Up Committee chair questions Gove over two-year-long wait for response to Ombudsman review

The Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, Clive Betts MP, has written to the Government about its lack of response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's Triennial Review, which was published more than two years ago.

Apr 17, 2024

Judge expresses regret at ending of pilot and disbanding of team behind only Family Drug and Alcohol Court in Wales

A circuit judge sitting in the Family Court has expressed his “obvious regret” that funding could not be secured for the Cardiff and Vale Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) Pilot to be extended, noting the “clear implications” for families and professionals involved in cases still before the…

Apr 17, 2024

Top public law silk stood down from independent review at Welsh ombudsman over Labour links

James Goudie KC will no longer conduct an independent review into social media posts made by an officer at the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales after concerns were voiced about the barrister's ties to the Labour party.

Apr 16, 2024

Oflog remit should be extended to local government audit, CIPFA CEO suggests

The chief executive of CIPFA, Rob Whiteman, has said Government plans for Oflog will leave the new body with a "limited scope" and has suggested the regulator would be better placed as system leader for local government audit.

Apr 16, 2024

Council proposals to cut respite services put on hold following threat of legal action

The parents of a disabled child have successfully halted Derbyshire County Council’s proposals to cut respite services in the local area, after threatening to launch legal action.

Apr 16, 2024

Information watchdog publishes guidance on transparency in health and social care

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new guidance to “improve transparency” in health and social care.

Apr 16, 2024

Judges allow appeal over flawed reasoning in fact-finding judgment

The Court of Appeal have allowed a challenge by the parents of a young girl to a finding made in care proceedings that, when she was a small baby, she suffered an abusive head injury inflicted by one or other of the parents.

Apr 16, 2024

Supreme Court hears appeals over reporting restriction orders in withdrawal of treatment cases

The Supreme Court is this week hearing an appeal over the discharge of reporting restriction orders (RROs) protecting the identity of medical professionals involved in the care of patients in respect of whom an application to withdraw treatment had been made.

Apr 16, 2024

Councils placed 706 children in unregulated homes in 2022-23, report finds

Hundreds of vulnerable children in England are being sent to homes not registered with Ofsted every year because of a “chronic shortage” of places in secure local authority units, an investigation by The Observer has revealed.

Apr 15, 2024

High Court gives green light to challenge to "overreaching” local energy efficiency standards guidance

The High Court has agreed to hear a judicial review claim challenging guidance from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that puts limitations on how councils should set local energy efficiency standards for housing that go beyond national regulations.

Apr 15, 2024

Concerns over violence and threatening behaviour sees robing pilot introduced for judges in Central Family Court

Judges sitting at the Central Family Court will wear robes during proceedings from this week (15 April 2024), in a pilot intended to explore the impact of increased formality in family courts.

Apr 15, 2024

Council loses appeal over FOI request for names of those who submitted consultation responses as part of their public-facing roles

Cambridgeshire County Council must release the names of individuals in a public-facing role, including councillors and officials, who submitted consultation responses on behalf of stakeholder groups, despite a promise in the consultation document that said the local authority would not publish any…

Apr 15, 2024

Councils call for permitted development rights to be urgently revoked

There is "no place in the current or future planning system for permitted development (PD) rights", in particular those which permit the creation of new homes, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.

Apr 15, 2024

Devonshires bolsters housing development team with double partner hire

Law firm Devonshires has strengthened its Real Estate and Projects team with two new partner hires.

Apr 12, 2024

Council chief executive named as third commissioner sent into Nottingham

The Chief Executive of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sharon Kemp, has been selected as the third commissioner to be appointed to Nottingham City Council.

Apr 12, 2024

Information watchdog seeks views on accuracy of generative AI models in third call for evidence

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today (12 April) launched the latest instalment in its consultation series examining how data protection law applies to the development and use of generative AI.

Apr 12, 2024

Landlord who harassed local government legal staff member found in contempt of court

A large-scale landlord in Kent, Fergus Wilson, has been found in contempt of court after breaching a final injunction order that sought to stop him from harassing staff at Ashford Borough Council.

Apr 11, 2024

City council must reveal names of councillors summonsed to court over council tax arrears, information watchdog finds

Liverpool City Council must reveal the identities of two councillors who have received a court summons over council tax arrears, a decision notice from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has concluded.

Apr 11, 2024

Council possession claim rejected after it dismissed long-term homosexual partner of tenant as friend in succession case

Islington Council has been ordered to pay costs after the dismissal of possession proceedings it brought against a tenant that the council did not consider was in a homosexual relationship with the former tenant, who had passed away.

Apr 11, 2024

Judge urges police to “carefully consider” position and role of Family Court when determining bail conditions

The High Court has ruled that a family court judge was in a “much better position” than the Police to determine whether unsupervised contact with a child could be appropriately managed.

Apr 11, 2024

Council readies itself for legal action over long-running quarry odour dispute

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is preparing legal action against the operators of a quarry site for alleged breaches of an abatement notice, which was aimed at reducing gasses emanating from the site.

Apr 11, 2024

Judge rejects challenge to decision by Assistant Coroner not to hold Article 2 inquest into death of woman in fire at home

The High Court has rejected a judicial review challenge to an assistant coroner's decision not to hold an Article 2 inquest examining whether two public bodies had any responsibility for a woman’s death.

Apr 11, 2024

High Court dismisses procurement challenge over rejection of bid for non-compliance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) did not act improperly when it exclude a non-compliant bid from a tender process, the Technology and Construction Court has found.

Apr 11, 2024

Judge rejects claim planning inspector dealt with application in procedurally unfair way

The Planning Inspectorate acted properly in rejecting an application for a solar park because of concerns that archaeology below the site had not been adequately assessed, the High Court has ruled.

Apr 11, 2024

Regulator fines auditors over local authority pension fund failures

Audit firm Grant Thornton must pay a £40,000 penalty after the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) found failures in its audit of an unnamed local authority’s pension fund.

Apr 11, 2024

Minister intervenes to halt permit approvals for waste incinerators

A rarely used Whitehall intervention has seen all permit approvals for new waste incinerators halted until at least 24 May, including one that is the subject of a threatened judicial review by a council.

Apr 10, 2024

BDB Pitmans hires public law and commercial litigation specialist

Public law and commercial litigation lawyer Oliver Wright has joined BDB Pitmans as a partner.

Apr 10, 2024

Government consults on new Locally-led Urban Development Corporation model

The Government has launched a consultation on the Locally-led Urban Development Corporation (LUDC) model.

Apr 10, 2024

Leading social housing junior joins Cornerstone Barristers

Victoria Osler, a specialist in property, housing and public law, has joined Cornerstone Barristers.

Apr 10, 2024

Chartered Institute of Housing and councils back plans for Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing but question timing, resourcing

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have welcomed the Government’s proposed standard for the competence and conduct of social housing staff, but called for changes to the timetable for its implementation.

Apr 10, 2024

Disabled claimant loses judicial review challenge over alleged inaction by council in addressing noise and smells

A woman with a heightened sensitivity or hypersensitivity to noise and to smell has lost a judicial review in the High Court after Mr Justice Murray decided there was nothing more the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC) could reasonably have done to relieve the situation.

Apr 10, 2024

Council chief executive sent unlawful email to union members, tribunal concludes

An email sent by Wiltshire Council's chief executive to union members ahead of a vote on industrial action was unlawful as it sought to deter members from voting in favour of a strike, an Employment Tribunal has found.

Apr 10, 2024

Lack of funding for local authorities to enforce regulations may ‘embolden’ unscrupulous pet breeders to flout rules, says select committee

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee has called for a list of licensed pet breeders to be made public, noting that more than half of the puppies entering the market come from unlicensed breeders.

Apr 10, 2024

Council prosecution secures £90,000 fine and costs in go-kart death case

A Barking and Dagenham Council prosecution has seen a go kart company ordered to pay almost £120,000 over an accident that saw a driver strangled by her own clothing.

Apr 10, 2024

Sharratts bolsters Development Team with hire of affordable housing specialist as partner

Law firm Sharratts has bolstered its Development Team with the hire of Kevin Edwards as a partner.

Apr 10, 2024

Social housing and planning lawyers promoted to partner in latest promotions round at Winckworth Sherwood

Law firm Winckworth Sherwood has promoted Liam Hale in its Social Housing team and Matt Steinbrecher in its Planning Law team to partner.

Apr 09, 2024

Homes England should have stronger relationships with councils, review says

Homes England should have "even stronger relationships" with local government in order to boost housing delivery, a Government review of the non-departmental body has found.

Apr 09, 2024

Ombudsman names eight landlords in new approach to highlighting and sharing learning from severe maladministration

The Housing Ombudsman has published its first ‘learning from severe maladministration’ report, featuring cases on discrimination, staff conduct and a lack of adjustments due to vulnerabilities.

Apr 09, 2024

Consultation launched to establish how to reform law of apologies in civil proceedings

The Government has this week (8 April) launched a consultation on clarifying the law to encourage organisations to apologise to those who have been wronged.

Apr 09, 2024

Seven in eight teachers and support staff say SEND resources “insufficient”: NEU

The Government has done little to help schools and local authorities in meeting the challenge of increased SEND need, the National Education Union (NEU) has claimed.

Apr 09, 2024

Dame Christine Gilbert to lead independent review into Ofsted response to death of headteacher

Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, has announced the appointment of Dame Christine Gilbert to lead an independent learning review into Ofsted’s response to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Apr 09, 2024

Few legal associates plan to leave private practice for in-house, LexisNexis finds

Only 12% of legal associates have plans to leave private practice for alternative careers such as in-house, Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs), or academic career opportunities, according to research by LexisNexis.

Apr 09, 2024

High Court finds Westminster housing policy indirectly discriminatory towards women needing to move to escape violence

A claimant has won a judicial review challenge in the High Court over Westminster City Council’s decision to refuse to agree to her request for a "reciprocal transfer" into accommodation in its area.

Apr 09, 2024

City council wins appeal over offer of accommodation with one bedroom to father of four

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by Cambridge City Council over whether it was justified in offering the claimant/respondent accommodation with one bedroom despite him wanting a home large enough for his children to stay overnight when visiting.

Apr 08, 2024

Council agrees to independent investigation into novel £72m pension deal

The terms of an independent investigation into a £72m pension deal struck by Plymouth City Council that was "not in line with normal accounting practice" have been revealed.

Apr 08, 2024

Family Justice Council seeks two public law solicitors including one local authority lawyer

The Family Justice Council (FJC) is looking to appoint two practising solicitors specialising in public law family work – one local authority lawyer and one private practice lawyer.

Apr 08, 2024

Face to face hearings suspended in Mental Health Hospitals and Trusts not compliant with minimum safety standards

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has suspended face to face hearings at some Mental Health Hospitals and Trusts, citing “national security concerns”.

Apr 08, 2024

Special Development Order puts end to council enforcement action against asylum seeker airbase

West Lindsey District Council has withdrawn its enforcement notice at RAF Scampton in light of a Special Development Order (SDO) that has put an end to planning enforcement action relating to the site.

Apr 08, 2024

Ofsted publishes updated policies for complaints about inspections and when it will pause inspections

Pausing an inspection in exceptional circumstances now applies to all types of providers, in accordance with Ofsted’s updated complaints and pausing policy.

Apr 08, 2024

Major social landlord seeks engagement with legal services providers

Housing association Midland Heart, which has 34,000 homes across the UK, serving 55 local authorities, has called for expressions of interest in the supply of legal services.

Apr 06, 2024

Children’s Homes Association says organisations must be ultimately owned in UK to be member

The Children’s Homes Association (CHA) has announced changes to its membership criteria from 6 April 2024, including a new requirement for organisations to be ultimately owned in the UK.

Apr 05, 2024

Day-to-day adoption practice by regional adoption agencies “strong”, but challenges remain: Ofsted

Demand for adoption support often exceeds the resources available to regional adoption agencies (RAAs), meaning some individuals and families do not receive the support they need, when they need it.

Apr 05, 2024

Police launch investigation over “verbal threats” at planning committee

Police are investigating an incident involving "verbal threats" made at an Arun District Council planning committee meeting last month.

Apr 05, 2024

Local authority defeats High Court council tax challenge by claimant who said she had not consented to be taxed

The High Court has rejected a challenge to a council tax bill argued on the basis that since the claimant had not consented to be taxed the council could not collect it.

Apr 05, 2024

Courts to be able to hand down 'Serious Disruption Prevention Orders' from today

Courts can from today (5 April) impose orders to prevent individuals from causing repeated serious disruption.

Apr 05, 2024

Council worker in adult social financial services team jailed after diverting council funds into own accounts

A Nottinghamshire County Council worker has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of redirecting council funds into personal bank accounts for four years.

Apr 05, 2024

High Court orders council to pay costs after it agreed to reconsider financial assessment for man with needs for care and support

Bolton Council must pay costs in a dispute over a care package and disability-related expenditure (DRE) after Mr Justice Fordham said he was “unpersuaded” by the council’s list of reasons why it should not.

Apr 05, 2024

Kent outlines “urgent” need for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to be transferred to other UK local authorities

Kent County Council has warned it is now “extremely close” to its current capacity for caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children, and has highlighted an “urgent” need for children to be transferred to other UK local authorities.

Apr 05, 2024

Council “passed the buck” to neighbouring area instead of arranging provision of alternative education for young girl, Ombudsman finds

Essex County Council is to review its alternative educational provision following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Apr 05, 2024

Welsh Government failing to ensure councils meet duties regarding gypsy and traveller sites, Ombudsman says

The Welsh Government has failed to ensure that local authorities are carrying out their legal duties with respect to the provision of accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has said.

Apr 05, 2024

Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal over responsibilities of Information Commissioner when determining complaints from data subjects

The Supreme Court has refused permission to appeal in a dispute over the UK Information Commissioner's responsibilities when a data subject lodges a complaint that a data controller has infringed data protection law.

Apr 04, 2024

Government makes pavement licensing regime permanent

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has commenced the pavement licensing provisions laid out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, establishing a permanent pavement licensing regime for England.

Apr 04, 2024

Boat owners prevented from long-term mooring on stretch of Thames after Environment Agency brings trespass proceedings

The Environment Agency has “successfully pursued” ten boat-owners through the courts, who had moored continuously on the River Thames for several years.

Apr 04, 2024

Government refuses council request for public inquiry into financial failures

The Government has rejected Thurrock Council's request that it conduct a public inquiry into the local authority's financial collapse.

Apr 04, 2024

Biodiversity net gain requirement now in force for majority of developments

Local planning authorities must now consider Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for most developments, following the implementation of the measures for small developments earlier this week (2 April).

Apr 04, 2024

Select committee chair questions Government on ‘UK connection’ and other proposed tests for social housing allocation

The chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee, Clive Betts MP, has written to the Social Housing Minister, Baroness Scott, calling for answers to a series of questions on the Government’s proposed reforms to how social housing is allocated in England.

Apr 04, 2024

Owners of demolished Crooked House pub launch appeal over planning enforcement notice

South Staffordshire Council has said owners of the demolished Crooked House pub in Himley have appealed against its enforcement notice, which requires the building's reconstruction.

Apr 03, 2024

Regulator writes to remind social landlords of new standards and responsibilities as consumer reforms come into force

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has written to the chief executives of all social housing landlords reminding them of changes to its regulatory powers and the new standards that they must now meet, following commencement of the four new consumer standards on 1 April.

Apr 03, 2024

Cafcass receives ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgment

Children and families who experience family court proceedings receive an “outstanding” service from Cafcass, Ofsted has found.

Apr 03, 2024

Ofsted to publish school inspection reports – including those giving ‘inadequate’ rating – during purdah

Ofsted has announced that it will publish inspection reports for local authority schools including those assessed to be ‘inadequate’ in the run up to the local elections in England.

Apr 03, 2024

Legal Services Act does not appear to provide stable long-term framework for regulation of legal professions: Justice Committee

The Legal Services Act 2007 does not appear to provide a stable long-term framework for the regulation of the legal professions, the Justice Committee has warned.

Apr 03, 2024

Government issues guidance on how to disapply social rent controls

The Government has published new guidance setting out how councils can seek to disapply the Government-set rent controls on their social housing in situations where it would cause financial difficulty.

Apr 03, 2024

Devonshires promotes record number of solicitors to partner

Law firm Devonshires has promoted 11 solicitors to partner in its annual promotions round and chosen its Head of Construction, Engineering and Procurement, Mark London, as its next senior partner.

Apr 03, 2024

Weightmans elects ex-head of local government litigation as senior partner

National law firm Weightmans has elected Peter Wake, who was its head of local government litigation for many years, as its new senior partner for a three-year term.

Apr 03, 2024

LGA expresses concerns that proposed amendments will weaken Renters Reform Bill and delay ‘no fault’ evictions ban

The Local Government Association (LGA) has voiced concern that proposed amendments to the Renters Reform Bill tabled by the Government could weaken key measures, including the ban on Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, the redress scheme and essential enforcement measures.

Apr 03, 2024

Councils vote to support campaign for greater transparency over contaminated land and waters following death of child

Brighton and Hove City Council and Adur District Council have voted to support the campaign for Zane’s Law, which would ensure councils keep public registers of land that may be contaminated.