News

Nov 17, 2025

SEND system faces “total collapse” without major reform to services: CCN

Research carried out by County Council’s Network (CCN) has warned of a SEND system “on course for total collapse”, with local authorities facing deficits of £18bn by the end of this Parliament.

Nov 14, 2025

High Court dismisses Coventry City Council challenge to asylum dispersal policy

The Administrative Court has rejected Coventry City Council’s judicial review claim against the Home Secretary over the placement of asylum seekers in the city, ruling that the Secretary of State had acted lawfully in fulfilling her statutory duty to provide accommodation.

Nov 14, 2025

Renters to see the end of Section 21 ‘No-fault Evictions’ by May 2026

The Renters Right Act 2025 will be put into force from the 1st May 2026, the government has announced.

Nov 14, 2025

London borough launches judicial review challenge over Fair Funding Review

Richmond Council is threatening a judicial review over the Government's fair funding reforms, which it claims have hit the London borough with the "steepest reduction" in funding of any council across the country.

Nov 14, 2025

Campaigners take legal advice after council rejects community value bid for London market

Campaigners have said they have taken legal advice following a decision by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to refuse an asset of community value application from traders at the historic Shepherd's Bush Market.

Nov 14, 2025

Where children's guardian and social workers have opposing views, difference of opinion should be “summarised clearly” for judge: Sara Sharif Independent Review

An independent review into the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has identified multiple failings from agencies in the lead up to her murder in 2023, finding that "the system failed to keep her safe”.

Nov 14, 2025

Regulator of Social Housing and Charity Commission unveils cooperation plan of action

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and the Charity Commission have published a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), setting out how the two organisations will continue to work with each other.

Nov 14, 2025

Consultant brands Isle of Wight Council “dysfunctional” in governance report

An independent governance consultant has said Isle of Wight Council is "dysfunctional" in a report that raised a number of concerns, including a claim that some officers are reluctant to attend committee meetings for fear they would be "ridiculed" by members.

Nov 14, 2025

Minister writes letter of concern as London councillors stand in Bangladesh elections

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to Tower Hamlets Council after it emerged that two of its serving councillors are campaigning to become MPs in Bangladesh.

Nov 14, 2025

Police and crime commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales, with roles to be absorbed by regional mayors

The Home Office has this week (13 November) revealed that Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are to be abolished in England and Wales, with their roles to be absorbed by regional mayors “wherever possible”.

Nov 13, 2025

Upper Tribunal allows appeal in “waking day curriculum” case

The Upper Tribunal has concluded that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” in its approach to deciding whether a child’s special educational needs could reasonably be met within day special school provision or whether the child reasonably required educational provision extending beyond the normal…

Nov 13, 2025

Browne Jacobson and CBI launch partnership to advise Government on new PPP models

Browne Jacobson and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have announced a partnership to develop research aimed at advising Whitehall policymakers on how to leverage private sector investment to deliver public sector projects.

Nov 13, 2025

County gets government go-ahead for lane rental scheme

Oxfordshire County Council has gained government permission to introduce a lane rental scheme, under which utilities will be charged per day for digging up highways.

Nov 13, 2025

Pub unused for 11 years can be listed as an ACV, tribunal rules

An Oxfordshire pub can be listed as an asset of community value even though it has been disused for 11 years, the First-Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) has found.

Nov 13, 2025

Flat leaseholders win potentially pyrrhic victory against council

Two leaseholders may face higher bills for service charges despite winning a case against the London Borough of Hackney.

Nov 13, 2025

High Court dismisses appeal over alleged breach of neighbourhood plan

The High Court has rejected a parish council’s claim that a planning inspector erred by failing to take proper account of a neighbourhood plan that took effect while he was deliberating.

Nov 13, 2025

Government publishes new guidance on the disposal of public sector land

The Cabinet Office has issued new guidance on disposing of unwanted government real estate.

Nov 12, 2025

Court of Appeal judges call time on “academic” case

The Court of Appeal has warned that it will be reluctant to spend its time on cases that have become “academic” by the time they reach the hearing stage.

Nov 12, 2025

Authority offers council-owned farms to developers looking for BNG sites

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has revealed plans to turn three council-owned farms into biodiversity net gain (BNG) units that can be bought by developers who need to offset lost habitats when they build.

Nov 12, 2025

Family court judge describes near £300,000 17-week specialist placement cost as “astronomical”

A family court judge has outlined his concern after a council agreed to pay £289,000 for one child to attend a specialist placement for 17 weeks, warning that local authorities are "at the mercy" of the private sector due to a lack of suitable accommodation.

Nov 12, 2025

Giant St Georges Cross on pub frontage to be investigated for planning breaches

A man who painted a giant St George's Cross on the façade of his pub is to be investigated for planning enforcement breaches by Wiltshire Council.

Nov 12, 2025

High Court rejects full injunction for Epping asylum hotel

A High Court judge has refused Epping Forest District Council's bid for a final injunction to block the Home Office from accommodating asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Nov 11, 2025

Tributes paid to ‘leading figure’ in local government law Stephen Taylor

Tributes have been paid to a "leading figure" in local government and monitoring officer Stephen Taylor, who passed away last week.

Nov 11, 2025

Claimants to challenge Government in High Court over smartphone use in schools

Two fathers are pursuing a judicial review to challenge the Department for Education's guidance on phones in schools, calling for a “nationwide” ban on smartphones.

Nov 11, 2025

Government commits to mandatory code of conduct for members

The Government has committed to implementing a mandatory code of conduct for councillors and new powers to suspend elected members, as part of an effort to curb “toxic and intimidating” cultures in local government.

Nov 11, 2025

Criminal investigation launched into “serious internal housing fraud” at London borough

A criminal investigation is underway after Newham Council uncovered a "serious internal housing fraud" which saw an officer give 35 properties intended for use as temporary accommodation to ineligible individuals.

Nov 11, 2025

Council refers itself to ICO after publishing personal data of 600 local plan respondents

South Gloucestershire Council has referred itself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after the personal details of more than 600 respondents to its local plan consultation were accidentally published online.

Nov 11, 2025

Council network’s analysis finds £268m drained from local authorities annually

A funding freeze on Government support for temporary accommodation is draining district councils of £268m a year – enough money to build over a thousand social homes annually, new analysis from the District Councils' Network (DCN) reveals.

Nov 10, 2025

Welsh Ombudsman uncovers systemic failures and years of disrepair at housing association

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has found housing association Trivallis guilty of maladministration and service failure relating to how it responded to reports of damp and mould and a broken boiler in one of its properties.

Nov 10, 2025

Borough council resolves to take legal action over asylum hotel

Broxbourne Borough Council has passed a motion resolving to take legal action where applicable over an asylum hotel in its area.

Nov 10, 2025

Locals prepared to launch judicial review over roadside service station

Residents have threatened a judicial review challenge of South Norfolk Council's decision to approve the expansion of a roadside service station, claiming the move would "destroy" countryside within sight of a national park.

Nov 10, 2025

Housing condition claims against councils rise nearly 400% in five years: report

Housing conditions claims against local authorities have risen by almost 400% in the last five years, according to research by a law firm.

Nov 07, 2025

County council criticises community governance review carried out by district

West Sussex County Council has described a community governance review by Mid Sussex District Council as "premature" in light of local governance reorganisation.

Nov 07, 2025

Councillor apologises after toilet visit during virtual meeting

Glasgow City Council has removed a committee meeting video from its website after a councillor forgot to turn off his laptop's webcam while taking a bathroom break.

Nov 07, 2025

Council sends pre-action protocol letter to Mayor of London and Met Police over counter closure

The London Borough of Harrow has sent a letter before action to the Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police over the closure of the front counters at Harrow and Pinner police stations.

Nov 07, 2025

North East transport body to procure legal advisors for £430m Metro Go signalling project

Nexus, the trading name of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, has issued a planned procurement notice for the appointment of legal advisors to provide support for its £430m Metro Go Project.

Nov 07, 2025

Mayors handed greater control over £39bn affordable housing fund

The Government has set out how it plans to deliver its 'Social and Affordable Homes Programme' for 2026-2036, which is set to hand mayoral strategic authorities greater control over billions in funding earmarked for building homes.

Nov 07, 2025

Judge wrong to make “life-changing orders” with “limited explanation” at conclusion of Issues Resolution Hearing

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a judge was wrong to make “life-changing orders, with such limited explanation” at the conclusion of an Issues Resolution Hearing (IRH) in care proceedings.

Nov 06, 2025

District mulling legal action over plan to place refugees on army base

Wealden District Council has said it is considering a legal challenge over the Home Office's decision to use a local army base to accommodate asylum seekers.

Nov 06, 2025

Court of Appeal rejects challenge to incinerator planning permission

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal over the Communities Secretary’s decision to approve plans for a large waste incinerator on the Isle of Portland, which had initially been refused by Dorset Council.

Nov 06, 2025

Judgment reserved following hearing of election petition over Runcorn & Helsby by-election

Judgment has been reserved following a hearing this week of an election petition brought against the successful Reform UK candidate and the returning officer in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

Nov 06, 2025

TfL made changes to vehicle scrapping schemes without following due process or informing public, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Transport for London (TfL) for the way it ran two vehicle scrappage schemes, finding that it made changes “without following due process” or informing the public.

Nov 06, 2025

Council defeats judicial review challenge by unsuccessful bidder over sale of library building

The High Court has rejected as unarguable all eight grounds put by a local trust in a dispute over a council’s disposal of a library building in King’s Lynn.

Nov 06, 2025

Council designates rural settlements as towns for purposes of planning considerations in bid to maintain integrity of Green Belt

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has designated certain rural settlements as towns after receiving legal advice that this would become a ‘material consideration’ and could better enable it to protect green belts from development.

Nov 06, 2025

High Court judge refuses application by mother for order prohibiting council from getting child vaccinated

The High Court has refused a mother’s application for an order under the inherent jurisdiction preventing a local authority from having her child vaccinated.

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