Jul 11, 2025

North Wales landlord names local council and eight law firms to £4.2m legal services framework

Social landlord Cartrefi Conwy has appointed Conwy County Borough Council and eight law firms to a legal services framework estimated to be worth £4.2m over 48 months.

Jul 10, 2025

Council ordered to pay costs after settling judicial review claim over failure to take enforcement action on church conversion

The High Court has ordered Runnymede Borough Council to pay £17k in costs to a claimant and reconsider an enforcement decision relating to works to a Grade II listed church building, following the settlement of a judicial review claim.

Jul 10, 2025

Reform unveils first DOGE-led cuts targeting net zero projects and office move at Kent

The Reform UK administration at Kent County Council has announced a set of cuts to its net zero programmes and a plan to halt its office move in light of work carried out by its newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.

Jul 10, 2025

Government should develop National Care Offer for consistent standard of financial and housing support for care leavers, MPs say

The Education Committee has warned that overstretched children’s social care services have led to an “alarming” number of children leaving the care system and becoming homeless, not in employment or not in education.

Jul 10, 2025

Judge quashes decision by planning inspector over failure to take account of unilateral undertaking by developer

The High Court has quashed a decision by a planning inspector who failed to take account of a unilateral undertaking by developer Tiwana Construction to provide affordable housing.

Jul 10, 2025

Government announces £50m funding for council-run placements for children at risk of deprivation of liberty

The Department for Education has announced that up to 200 places in council-run children’s homes will be created for children at risk of being deprived of their liberty.

Jul 10, 2025

High Court issues ruling on costs charged by borough at summons stage of council tax dispute

Surrey Heath Borough Council issued an unlawful council tax summons but this should not be quashed because the complainant failed to exhaust other options before launching a judicial review, the High Court has found.

Jul 10, 2025

Judge sets out learning from positive Deprivation of Liberty case involving young woman turning 18

A High Court judge has outlined what can be learned from matters going well in a Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) case involving a 17-year-old woman who has now turned 18.

Jul 10, 2025

Deputy leader of Eastbourne accuses Brighton of “exporting” most challenging homeless people

Eastbourne Borough Council’s deputy leader has accused Brighton & Hove City Council of contributing to the deaths of vulnerable homeless people by “exporting” them to his borough with minimal support.

Jul 10, 2025

Financial position, political instability, and still-developing cultural change programme pose risk to recovery: Slough Commissioners

The Local Government Minister has warned that a "clearer articulation of the future vision is still required and a substantial transformation program still needs to be designed and delivered" in order for Slough Borough Council to live within its means.

Jul 09, 2025

Ministerial envoys sent into North West council as part of five-year intervention

The Local Government Minister, Jim McMahon, has sent four envoys into Warrington Borough Council and issued a series of directions as part of an intervention package that will be in place until 31 July 2030.

Jul 09, 2025

Envoys highlight “problematic” member behaviour at London borough, call for greater buy-in to improvement journey

Ministerial envoys sent into Tower Hamlets Council have praised small improvements but raised concerns over poor behaviour in the council chamber and limited buy-in to the London borough's improvement journey.

Jul 09, 2025

Council prosecution secures £75k fine for landlord behind illegal Airbnb listings

A landlord has been ordered to pay a fine of £75,000 plus costs, after being found guilty of illegally letting two North London flats for short-term rental bookings on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Jul 09, 2025

Council investigation sees resident handed suspended sentence over unlawful sub-letting of council property

A Bristol resident has been convicted of unlawfully subletting their allocated social housing and sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Jul 09, 2025

High Court judge tells council to issue fresh Housing Needs Assessment and Personal Housing Plan

The High Court has found against the London Borough of Waltham Forest on one of four grounds argued by claimant AA in a judicial review challenge concerning a personal housing plan.

Jul 09, 2025

Government to press ahead with reforms to Right to Buy

The Right to Buy (RTB) council homes will be drastically curtailed under Government plans, and there will be moves to make it easier for councils to use receipts to build new social housing.

Jul 09, 2025

Two Liverpool sets merge to form 79 member-strong Hundred Court Chambers

Atlantic Chambers and Oriel Chambers have merged, with the combined set to be known as Hundred Court Chambers.

Jul 09, 2025

Ex-employee charged following investigation into potential fraud offences and malpractice at council

A former employee has been charged with “fraud by abuse of position” following an investigation into potential fraud offences and malpractice at Bolton Council.

Jul 08, 2025

Council to refund Godalming resident following review of Community Infrastructure Levy case

Waverley Borough Council has agreed to refund the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid by a local resident when carrying out a home improvement, following a “detailed review” of the case.

Jul 08, 2025

London borough facing judicial review threat over road crossing painted in colours of transgender pride flag

A Christian campaign group is backing a potential judicial review challenge against Camden Council over a road crossing which is painted with the transgender pride flag colours.

Jul 08, 2025

PINS to roll out new online appeals service to all local planning authorities by December 2025

The Planning Inspectorate has announced that it will roll out its new digital appeals service nationally following a successful pilot with five London boroughs.

Jul 08, 2025

Judge allows employee of unsuccessful bidder to be part of confidentiality ring in legal challenge over award of e-bike concession contract

Liverpool City Council is facing a legal challenge from Lime Technology over the procurement of an e-scooter and e-bike concession contract, it has emerged.

Jul 08, 2025

5 Essex Chambers silk named Interim Biometrics Commissioner

Francesca Whitelaw KC of 5 Essex Chambers has been appointed Interim Biometrics Commissioner, effective from the beginning of this month.

Jul 08, 2025

Ombudsman urges councils to address issues faced by disabled people when accessing homelessness support services

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has issued a good practice guide for housing officers on homelessness decisions and disabled people, suggesting a range of changes councils can make to improve services.

Jul 08, 2025

Kent leader calls on Government to prioritise progressing immigration decisions for individuals who arrive in UK as minors

The leader of Kent County Council has urged the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to tackle delays in processing asylum claims for those unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children who turn 18.

Jul 07, 2025

Supreme Court to hear case on ending of section 193 Housing Act duty

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a dispute over whether a local authority’s duty to house homeless applicants under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 ends by operation of law or whether the local authority is required to make a decision that the duty has ended.

Jul 07, 2025

Letter to Guardian from celebrities and others warns government against removing EHCPs

A letter sent to The Guardian signed by celebrities including Chris Packham, Sally Phillips and Jane Asher and more than 100 others has called on the Government not to remove the right to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) from children attending mainstream schools.

Jul 07, 2025

London borough leaves domestic abuse survivor street homeless for five weeks, Ombudsman finds

A man who escaped his abusive relatives was left street homeless for five weeks despite asking the London Borough of Waltham Forest for help, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has concluded.

Jul 04, 2025

Court of Appeal allows appeal against BBC in open justice case

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought on behalf of two children against an order granting an application by the BBC for access to documents in care proceedings, and the partial variation of reporting restrictions on the basis that the open justice principle applied.

Jul 04, 2025

Court of Appeal allows liability claim against council over “dangerous” hole in grass verge

The Court of Appeal has upheld a man’s appeal against a judge’s decision to reject his claim for liability against Hertfordshire County Council in relation to a hole in a grass verge which caused him to fall off his bicycle.

Jul 03, 2025

New Hillsborough Law will include legal duty of candour, says Prime Minister

Sir Keir Starmer has told the House of Commons he is "fully committed" to bringing in legislation which would force public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries, with "criminal sanctions for those that refuse to comply", after concerns were raised that the government wanted to "water down"…

Jul 03, 2025

Social landlords should monitor hate crime incidents across homes and may need to work with other bodies to resolve ASB: Housing Ombudsman

In its latest ‘learning from severe maladministration’ report, the Housing Ombudsman has urged landlords to focus on hate incidents in antisocial behaviour (ASB).

Jul 03, 2025

Flying Pride Flag needs “advertising consent” says planning authority in Warwickshire row

A Progress Pride flag at the centre of a row between Reform UK and the chief executive of Warwickshire County Council had not been granted permission to be flown, the planning authority for Warwick has revealed.

Jul 03, 2025

MPs call for new commissioner to help curb council legal disputes over street works

The Transport Committee has suggested creating a commissioner for street works in an effort to avoid disputes between local authorities and utility companies going to court.

Jul 03, 2025

Government opens consultation on reformed Decent Homes Standard to include privately rented housing

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on plans to update the Decent Homes Standard, which currently only applies to social housing, to include privately rented housing.

Jul 03, 2025

Government to review local authority legislation and statutory duties in bid to reduce bureaucracy

The Government is set to deploy artificial intelligence to plough through some 20,000 pieces of legislation that apply to local authorities to see which remain necessary.

Jul 02, 2025

Renters Reform Bill to be delayed until Autumn: report

The Renters Rights Bill is likely to be delayed into the autumn because of a logjam of legislation.

Jul 02, 2025

Warwickshire Chief Exec defies Reform council leader's request to remove Pride flag

Warwickshire County Council’s chief executive refused a call from the ruling Reform UK party to remove the Pride flag from the shire hall.

Jul 02, 2025

Judge criticises claim against council in private dispute

An Ealing resident who used judicial review to ventilate “what is quintessentially a private law dispute between neighbours about actual or potential acts of trespass and alleged antisocial behaviour”, has lost her case over the construction of a parking crossover.

Jul 02, 2025

Parents to take legal action against council and charity over abuse of disabled children

The parents of children who were potentially abused by a Walsall paedophile are set to take legal action against Solihull Council and charity Social Life Opportunities (Solo), which provides organised activities for children with special educational needs.

Jul 02, 2025

Council backtracks on planning refusal at planning inquiry over five year housing land supply

A 95-home housing development has been approved after Peterborough City Council decided not to contest a planning appeal in light of new figures that showed the local authority did not have a five-year housing land supply.

Jul 02, 2025

“Deep-rooted reform” of asylum and care system for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children needed in capital: London Councils

A report commissioned by London Councils and the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services has called for “system-wide reform” and a “child-centred approach” to improve protection for children and young people seeking asylum in London.

Jul 02, 2025

First Tier Tribunal issues lifetime banning order for four landlords

West Northamptonshire Council has secured lifetime banning orders under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 for four landlords after a council investigation uncovered a rent-to-rent scheme.

Jul 02, 2025

Court of Appeal refuses permission to bring legal challenge against EHRC over consultation period

The Court of Appeal has refused to grant civil liberties organisation Liberty permission to bring a legal challenge against the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over the lawfulness of its consultation on an updated Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations.

Jul 01, 2025

High Court overrules planning inspector over decorative shroud on listed building

A planning inspector erred in law by failing to explain why a scaffolding shroud should be allowed to stand for five years when even the applicant only wanted it there for six months, the High Court has ruled.

Jul 01, 2025

Building safety regulator faces shake-up in bid to improve performance

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR)will move from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) into the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) under reforms building safety minister Alex Norris said would speed up reviews of proposed building and remediations.

Jul 01, 2025

Schools adjudicator overturns decision by council to close primary school citing “notable deficiencies” in statutory process

The Schools Adjudicator has overturned a decision by Lambeth Council to close a voluntary aided primary school, finding “notable deficiencies” in its decision-making process.

Jul 01, 2025

Borough council consults on creating new parish councils ahead of local government reorganisation

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has launched a consultation on whether new parish council areas and councils should be established as part of a community governance review for the borough.

Jul 01, 2025

Pre-action protocol letter sent over plans for cycleway through nature reserve

Newcastle City Council is facing a judicial review challenge over its decision to approve a new footpath and cycleway to be built through a nature reserve.

Jul 01, 2025

Government issues draft guidance for “Awaab’s Law” set to come into force from October 2025

The government has published draft guidance on social landlords’ responsibilities under “Awaab’s Law” which will require social landlords to address emergency and damp and mould hazards that present a “significant risk of harm” to tenants in fixed timeframes.

Jul 01, 2025

Commuter who suffered serious injuries falling down gap between platform and Tube launches High Court claim against TfL

A woman who lost an arm and a leg in a tragic incident on the London Underground has launched a personal injury claim against Transport for London (TfL).

Jun 30, 2025

High Court injunction blocks unauthorised encampments at 12 sites

Rushmoor Council has secured an interim injunction prohibiting unauthorised encampments across 12 individual sites in the borough.

Jun 30, 2025

MHCLG civil servants start industrial action over return to office mandate

Union members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have begun industrial action today (30 June) in protest against office closures and moves to make them work from the office.

Jun 30, 2025

Council wrongly withdrew woman’s care package without considering how her needs would be met pending sale of land, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found fault with how Somerset Council withdrew an elderly woman’s care package without properly considering how her needs could be met until her land was sold.

Jun 30, 2025

Council wrongly decided man deprived himself of assets for purpose of reducing care fees, Ombudsman finds

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that a decision by Sheffield City Council that a man had deprived himself of assets for the purpose of reducing his care fees, was “not supported by all the available evidence”.

Jun 30, 2025

Half of all councillors have had untrue information about them published, LGA survey finds

Just over half of councillors (52%) have reported having untrue or misleading information about their political or personal conduct publicly published, a survey conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found.

Jun 30, 2025

Permission granted for Court of Appeal hearing against Portland waste incinerator

Permission has been granted for a Court of Appeal hearing against a government decision to approve plans for a large waste incinerator on the Isle of Portland, which had initially been refused by Dorset Council.

Jun 27, 2025

Cabinet office launches 10-week Procurement Reform Consultation

The Cabinet Office has this week launched a ten-week public consultation on plans for further reforms to public procurement.

Jun 27, 2025

Figures showing “record breaking” demand for support spark renewed calls for government to write off SEND deficits

The County Councils Network (CCN) has described the SEND system as being in “desperate need of reform” after figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) show that more than 400 young people each day approached their council for special needs support last year.

Jun 27, 2025

Council told to apologise to private landlord after taking "too long" to apply to Court of Protection for permission to end woman's tenancy after she lost capacity

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has upheld a complaint from a private landlord that the London Borough of Haringey took too long to end the tenancy of one of its tenants, who had lost the capacity to make that decision for herself, resulting in the landlord losing out on housing…

Jun 26, 2025

Six judges promoted to Court of Appeal

The appointment of six Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal has been approved.

Jun 26, 2025

Next Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman confirmed

Paula Sussex has become the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), with effect from today (26 June 2025).

Jun 26, 2025

University names law firm as single service provider on £2.5m+ contract

Aston University has appointed law firm Pinsent Masons to a £2.5m-plus contract servicing all of its legal needs in the UK and overseas.

Jun 26, 2025

TfL to press ahead with pedicab regulation in London following consultation

A consultation on regulating pedicabs in London has shown “overwhelming support” for the move, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

Jun 26, 2025

Ombudsman issues guidance for councils on Disabled Facilities Grants

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued guidance to officers in local councils to improve their practice when dealing with people who need housing adaptations, often through what are called ‘Disabled Facilities Grants’ (DFGs).

Jun 26, 2025

Judicial review over reorganisation of air ambulance services in Wales fails

The High Court has dismissed a judicial review claim against a decision by the NHS in Wales to restructure the deployment of its Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS).

Jun 26, 2025

London borough avoids contempt finding after completing works in disrepair case

The London Borough of Hackney has avoided the risk of contempt proceedings against its chief executive by carrying out disrepair works that were the subject of a court order with a penal notice.

Jun 26, 2025

Scope of expedited part 1 written representations process to be expanded to deal with wider range of planning appeals: Ministry

Under a new planning appeals process, the majority of written representation appeals will accept only the evidence put before the local planning authority during application, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced.

Jun 26, 2025

Government should tailor governance and audit requirements for small public bodies, says spending watchdog

Small government bodies find it challenging to comply with requirements on how they should be run effectively and find the preparation and audit of their annual reports and accounts “increasingly costly and time-consuming”, a National Audit Office report has revealed.

Jun 25, 2025

EHRC adds “clarification” to interim guidance on practical implications of Supreme Court judgment on definition of sex in Equality Act

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has added a point of “clarification” to its interim update on the practical implications of the Supreme Court’s judgment on the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010, in relation to the provision of single sex toilets in the workplace.

Jun 25, 2025

Upper Tribunal issues ruling on HMOs and residential letting agents operating on ‘let only’ basis

A residential letting agent who is instructed on a ‘let only’ basis - and who has no further involvement with the property after receiving a single instalment of rent on the day of the letting - cannot be a ‘person managing’ a house in multiple occupation (HMO) within the meaning of section 263(3)…

Jun 25, 2025

Weightmans boosts fraud department with Abrahams hire

National law firm Weightmans has strengthened its fraud department with the hire of Kate Abrahams, previously the head of intelligence and data analytics at DAC Beachcroft, as a consultant.

Jun 25, 2025

Sharpe Pritchard bolsters private sector energy and infrastructure offering with double hire

Law firm Sharpe Pritchard has hired two senior legal specialists to meet rising private sector demand for advice on energy and infrastructure projects.

Jun 25, 2025

Local government reform to create “empowered frontline local councillors” with clear accountability, minister insists

The Government is to review how local authorities can integrate community engagement into their core functions, the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution has said.

Jun 25, 2025

School ordered to provide information on legal costs of harassment claim brought by headteacher against two parents

A secondary school which warned parents it could not meet “rapid rises” in gas and electric costs from the school’s budget has been ordered by the First-tier Tribunal to disclose information on the legal costs of a harassment claim brought by the school’s headteacher against the parents of two…

Jun 25, 2025

Law graduate practised as solicitor at county council despite being unqualified to do so, SRA finds

A law graduate who had completed her training but who had not been admitted to the Roll practised and acted as a solicitor at a county council for more than three weeks, despite knowing she was unqualified to do so.

Jun 25, 2025

Permission to appeal application lodged with Supreme Court in dispute over health care plan for 12-year-old boy

An application for permission to appeal has been lodged at the Supreme Court on behalf of a 12-year-old boy, who brought a judicial review against the North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) in relation to his health care plan.

Jun 25, 2025

Local government “unsustainable” in Wales without significant further investment, working group warns

Critical decisions are needed to ensure the sustainability of local government in Wales, including a change in approach to the funding and delivery of social care, an Independent Working Group has said.

Jun 25, 2025

Later life social housing provider hit with C3 governance grading by regulator

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has handed a governance grading of G3, not meeting the RSH’s requirements, to Anchor, the largest provider in England of specialist housing and care for those in later life.

Jun 25, 2025

Government to abolish committee system in drive to simplify governance for councils in England

The Government is to introduce legislation to abolish the committee system, requiring those councils in England operating this model to transition to the leader and cabinet model.

Jun 25, 2025

Nine out of ten councillors may be “culled” in reorganisation, local government academics warn

An essay written by two leading local government academics and published by thinktank Localis has warned that nine out of ten councillors may be lost in the process of local government reorganisation, in what the authors describe as a “hollowing-out of local democracy”.

Jun 24, 2025

Court of Appeal finds in favour of council in dispute over findings of suitability of offered accommodation in absence of lawful housing needs assessment

Parliament cannot have intended that an otherwise lawful offer of accommodation by a local authority could be invalidated for lack of an assessment under section 189A(1) of the Housing Act 1996, the Court of Appeal has found.

Jun 24, 2025

Council erred in law when drawing up pathway plan by taking account provision to claimant of NASS accommodation: High Court

A local authority cannot take into account that a qualifying young person is being provided with, or might be provided with, National Asylum Seeker Service (NASS) accommodation under s95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 when deciding whether there are exceptional circumstances for the…

Jun 24, 2025

Unions write joint letter to Education Secretary calling for delay to introduction of revised inspection arrangements

A group of education unions have written to the Secretary of State for Education expressing “profound concern” about the implications of revised arrangements for Ofsted inspection reform, asking her to delay their introduction to the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

Jun 24, 2025

Borough advertises 11 vacancies after town council left without councillors or clerk

Yarm Town Council has been left with no councillors after the last four remaining members all resigned.

Jun 24, 2025

Law Commission to review law on kinship care in bid to improve “complex” landscape

The Law Commission has published terms of reference for a review into the legal statuses and orders affecting children living in kinship care and kinship carers.

Jun 24, 2025

Blakeway to stay on as Housing Ombudsman until end of July 2026

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has approved a further extension of Richard Blakeway as the Housing Ombudsman until the end of July 2026.

Jun 23, 2025

Welsh Government and local councils ink strategic partnership agreement

The Welsh Government and the 22 local councils in Wales have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening the relationship between national and local government.

Jun 23, 2025

Major social landlord recovers more than 70 social homes in drive to tackle tenancy misuse

One of the largest housing associations in the country, Bromford, has revealed that it recovered 73 properties in the last year during a drive to address tenancy misuse.

Jun 23, 2025

High Court quashes planning permission for intensive poultry farm over environmental impact assessment approach

A High Court judge has quashed Shropshire Council's approval of a large-scale poultry farm near Shrewsbury, ruling that the local authority failed to properly assess the environmental impact of spreading digestate on third-party land.

Jun 23, 2025

District councils should seize local government reorganisation as opportunity to redesign adult social care services: report

District councils should be confident to use their “unique attributes” to devise new approaches for adult social care following local government reorganisation (LGR), a new report has said.

Jun 20, 2025

Mayor of London cleared of breach of code of conduct over Taylor Swift concert tickets

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, did not breach the Greater London Authority’s Code of Conduct when he accepted tickets for a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley in August last year, its Monitoring Officer has concluded.

Jun 20, 2025

Government to overhaul funding methodology for local government

The Government has announced plans to overhaul the funding methodology for local government and push back the expiration date for the dedicated schools grant statutory override by a year.

Jun 20, 2025

London borough appeared “very confused” as to correct approach on designating illegal landfill as “contaminated land”, High Court finds

The High Court has told Havering Council to reconsider its decision not to identify an illegal landfill as 'contaminated land', after raising concerns that the London borough appeared "to have been very confused about the correct legal approach" to the site.

Jun 20, 2025

Department of Health and Social Care issues code of practice on standards of training on learning disability and autism

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a code of practice setting out standards for training on learning disability and autism for Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered health and social care providers and their staff.

Jun 20, 2025

Public bodies urged not to leave consideration of form of contract to last minute as Government unveils £9bn investment to tackle infrastructure backlogs

The Government has announced that it will allocate at least £9 billion in 2025-26 to address the critical maintenance needs of health, education and justice estates, rising to over £10 billion per year by 2034-35.

Jun 20, 2025

Housing Ombudsman report reveals leaseholders “left feeling isolated and exposed” by treatment from local authorities

A report into the failings of social landlords has revealed a series of cases, including one woman losing seven potential buyers for her home, in which leaseholders were left feeling isolated and exposed by an unresponsive system.

Jun 20, 2025

Council finances "fast approaching a cliff-edge", says chair of Public Accounts Committee

Local government finance is in a "perilous state", despite a real-terms funding increase in central government grants, council tax, and locally retained business rates of 4%, the Public Accounts Committee has warned.

Jun 19, 2025

Minister set to extend Thurrock intervention for further three years

The Minister for Local Government has said he is minded to continue the intervention at Thurrock Council following the publication of a fifth commissioners' report, which described the council's position as "fragile".

Jun 19, 2025

Ombudsman asks London borough to review how it deals with homelessness applicants who have been issued with section 21 eviction notice

The London Borough of Hillingdon failed to take steps to alleviate the risk of homelessness to a resident and delayed moving her to interim accommodation, after she received an eviction notice.

Jun 19, 2025

Government to remove local connection rules for care leavers under 25 and domestic abuse survivors

The Government is to exempt young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse from local connection requirements in a bid to improve their access to social housing.

Jun 19, 2025

Disabled people seeking social housing facing avoidable injustices, Ombudsman says

Disabled people in England are facing "disproportionate challenges" when navigating local authorities' housing and homelessness services, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has warned.

Jun 19, 2025

Judges allow appeal by council over refusal of Family Court to make care order

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a local authority over the refusal of a Family Court judge to make a care order in respect of a girl, who is rising 2.

Jun 19, 2025

City council told to pay financial remedy to complainant over delays in dealing with child protection issues

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has recommended that Stoke-on-Trent City Council pay nearly £5,000 to a resident who complained that the local authority did not deal with child protection issues properly.

Jun 19, 2025

High-profile public and private family law specialist joins 4PB

Public and private family law barrister Bibi Badejo, who is also a leading advocacy trainer, has joined 4PB.

Jun 19, 2025

NHS trust breached Equality Act over uniform policy aimed at curbing political symbols, staff claim

Three NHS workers have launched legal action against an NHS trust claiming that a new uniform policy unlawfully discriminates against them – and is in breach of the Equality Act 2010 – because of their pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist beliefs.

Jun 19, 2025

Judge rules on dispute between councils over designation after one-year-old child placed with maternal grandmother

A Family Court judge has said he was "inexorably led" to the finding that North Yorkshire Council should be the designated local authority for a one-year-old child who is subject to a care order, despite the council insisting that Birmingham City Council should remain the designated authority.

Jun 19, 2025

Resident loses challenge to possession order as landlord pursues demolition of estate

The last resident of an estate due for demolition must pay social landlord Co-op Homes £7,500 in costs after losing a challenge to a possession order.

Jun 19, 2025

Minister expresses doubt over replacing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards with Liberty Protection Safeguards

The Minister of State for Care has said he is “not entirely convinced” that replacing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) with the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) will achieve the stated objectives of the exercise.

Jun 18, 2025

Government announces National Housing Bank to help finance home building

The Government has launched a 'National Housing Bank' that will see more than 500,000 homes built with the help of £16bn of new public investment.

Jun 18, 2025

Solicitors charity offers new ‘reverse mentoring’ toolkit to legal employers

Lawyers welfare charity Law Care has joined with the University of Leeds to launch a new ‘Reverse Mentoring Toolkit’ to assist legal employers in improving the mental health of their staff.

Jun 18, 2025

Academy defeats High Court legal challenge to permanent exclusion

The High Court has rejected a claim that a girl should not have been permanently excluded from school because her Article 4 ECHR rights were infringed.

Jun 18, 2025

Borough council secures £57k in costs after defeating two licensing appeals

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council has defeated two appeals against licensing decisions affecting local bars, winning costs of some £57,000.

Jun 18, 2025

Consultation on Surrey reorganisation kicks off

The Government has launched a consultation on local government reorganisation in Surrey, asking for views on whether to adopt a two-unitary structure or a three-unitary structure for the county.

Jun 18, 2025

Soho Society fails in legal challenge to grant of licence for gin distillery

Westminster Magistrates’ Court has refused to intervene in a case in which the Soho Society claimed Westminster City Council was endangering public safety by granting a licence for tasting rooms and a gin distillery beneath an inhabited building.

Jun 17, 2025

Transport body appoints five law firms to professional services framework

Transport for Greater Manchester has appointed five law firms to the legal services lot of its 2025 professional services framework.

Jun 17, 2025

Government accepts all 12 recommendations in “damning” report from Baroness Casey on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse

The Government has accepted all 12 of the recommendations in Baroness Louise Casey's national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation, including her calls for a national inquiry, unique reference numbers for children and an immediate end to 'out of area taxis'.

Jun 17, 2025

Education Secretary appoints Gilbert as next chair of Ofsted

Dame Christine Gilbert, a former Chief Inspector and the author of the Independent Learning Review for Ofsted, has been appointed as the watchdog’s next chair.

Jun 17, 2025

Planning inspector allows appeal over council refusal for traveller site on disused car park

A planning inspector has granted permission for traveller families to remain on a disused car park, overturning a council refusal and marking the latest defeat for Medway Council after a court also dismissed its eviction attempt last month.

Jun 17, 2025

Education purchasing body to undertake market engagement as it brings legal framework management back in-house

The Crescent Purchasing Consortium, a not-for-profit organisation that provides frameworks and procurement consultancy services for the education sector, is to hold preliminary market engagement as the first step in bringing its legal services framework agreement back in-house.