May 12, 2025

London borough action plan sees use of hotel and B&Bs for temporary accommodation cut by 84%

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has reduced its use of hotel and B&Bs for households in temporary accommodation by 84% in the last 18 months, with just three families currently in hotels.

May 12, 2025

Bevan Brittan appoints record number of new partners

National law firm Bevan Brittan has promoted six new partners – its highest number in a single year – as part of its 2025 promotion round.

May 12, 2025

­­­Browne Jacobson boosts planning team with appointment of new partner

Law firm Browne Jacobson has bolstered its planning team with the appointment of Will Thomas as Partner.

May 12, 2025

Largest council in Scotland names nine providers to £22m legal services framework

Glasgow City Council has appointed nine firms to a legal services framework estimated to be worth £22m over four years.

May 12, 2025

Council told to maintain “better oversight” of nurseries providing free places following investigation by Ombudsman

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has told Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to maintain “better oversight” of nurseries’ charging structures when they are providing the Government’s free places scheme, after the issue was highlighted in a father’s complaint.

May 12, 2025

Casey Commission to set out initial plan for national care service by 2026

The government has announced that an independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, tasked with setting out the plan for implementing a National Care Service will report by 2026, and make “longer-term” recommendations for the transformation of adult social care by…

May 09, 2025

High Court finds council consultation on low traffic neighbourhood scheme was flawed

The High Court has upheld part of a campaign group's judicial review claim against Lambeth Council's implementation of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN).

May 09, 2025

Minister launches five-year intervention into borough council

The Government has appointed a four-person team of inspectors to Spelthorne Borough Council as part of its intervention at the local authority.

May 09, 2025

New protocol on communications between judges in United Kingdom in cases involving adults who lack capacity published by Judiciary

A new Protocol regulating communications between judges in Scotland, England & Wales, and Northern Ireland has been agreed for cases involving adults who lack capacity.

May 09, 2025

Minister minded to send ministerial envoys into Warrington

The Local Government and English Devolution Minister has said he is "minded to" send ministerial envoys into Warrington Borough Council after a damning best value inspection report highlighted concerns about the council's investment decisions and governance.

May 09, 2025

Financial regulator sanctions former Thurrock chief finance officer

The Financial Reporting Council has sanctioned Thurrock Council's former chief finance officer (CFO) as part of a settlement that was agreed after he admitted misconduct in relation to his time at the financially beleaguered council.

May 09, 2025

Government issues best value notices for two councils

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued best value notices for Newham Council and Cheshire East Council.

May 08, 2025

Legal challenge against proposed housing development on site of Zoo Gardens being heard in court

A legal challenge against Bristol City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a housing development on the site of Bristol Zoo Gardens is being heard over two days this week (7 - 8 May).

May 08, 2025

Nottingham operating beyond its means, but shows signs of improvement: Commissioners

Nottingham City Council continues to operate "beyond its means" and is still dependent upon essential financial support from the Government but has adopted a "clear direction in instituting a wide range of reforms", commissioners have said.

May 08, 2025

Council issues two fixed penalty notices for breaches of PSPO aimed at protecting Lake District from effects of wild camping

Cumberland Council has issued two Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 each in response to anti-social behaviour and the breaching of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at protecting the environment from so-called “fly campers” in the Lake District.

May 08, 2025

Private road residents apply to Land Registry to block council access to building site

Epsom residents are attempting to block the local council's access to a site where it plans to build temporary housing, the BBC has reported.

May 08, 2025

Judge blasts claimant lawyers for “appalling professional behaviour” in JR proceedings

A claimant legal team demonstrated “appalling professional misbehaviour” by submitting fake cases to the Administrative Court in a judicial review against the London Borough of Haringey and should be reported to their respective professional bodies, Mr Justice Ritchie has said.

May 08, 2025

Legal challenge launched over Luton Airport expansion plan

Campaigners have commenced the first steps of legal action against the government in relation to the proposed expansion of Luton Airport, arguing that development consent was “granted unlawfully”.

May 08, 2025

Legal action over Walleys Quarry dropped after defendant company is liquidated

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has been forced to drop its £1m legal action against the operator of a landfill blamed for offensive odours after the company entered liquidation.

May 08, 2025

Man given suspended prison sentence for fraudulently claiming to be homeless

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after fraudulently claiming to be homeless when applying for housing to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

May 08, 2025

Protesters fail in JR bid over "incorrect" planning guidance

An attempt to judicially review Manchester City Council’s decision to allow construction of a nine story block of student accommodation in Hulme has failed.

May 08, 2025

Judge overrules council's definition of suitable accommodation

The Central London County Court has overturned a decision by the London Borough of Hounslow on the suitability of accommodation offered to a family with a disabled son.

May 08, 2025

Council tells company behind illegal wood felling ordered to replant hundreds of trees

Dorset Council has warned that a company behind the illegal felling of 0.6 hectares of wood must replant hundreds of trees or face further enforcement action.

May 08, 2025

LGA issues workbook for councillors on handling complaints

The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a councillor's workbook on handling complaints for service improvement.

May 08, 2025

Council facing legal threat after biker dies on “degraded road surface”

A widow has launched a High Court legal challenge against North Northamptonshire Council after her husband died while riding a motorbike on a "degraded road surface".Mrs Newcombe's husband died after crashing his motorbike on the A43 in Northamptonshire in September 2022.

May 07, 2025

Parents threaten legal action over primary school closures

A group of parents are planning legal action against a decision by Islington Council to close two primary schools due to reduced pupil demand in the area.

May 07, 2025

Council’s incorrect guidance telling private tenant to stay in housing leads to substantial unnecessary costs

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council wrongly told a private tenant to remain in his property despite his landlord serving eviction notices and then delayed responding to his complaint, causing the landlord to incur unnecessary costs, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has found.

May 07, 2025

Report urges Bar Standards Board to tackle systemic obstacles to tech uptake

The inconsistent use of technology at the Bar is driven by structural factors such as limited funding, time constraints, and the self-employed nature of the profession, a report for the Bar Standards Board has found.

May 07, 2025

Ombudsman rejects father’s claim that council failed to consider his concerns that child was victim of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) by Proxy

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has concluded that Lincolnshire County Council consulted medical professionals and considered a father’s concerns in line with relevant policies “without fault”, after he complained the council failed to consider his concerns that his child is a victim…

May 07, 2025

School leaders' union threaten legal action against Ofsted over report card reforms

The school leaders’ union NAHT has threatened legal action against Ofsted over its plans for a new approach to school inspections, which includes the introduction of report cards, arguing that the consultation on the proposals is “inadequate”.

May 07, 2025

Council failed to complete actions agreed in mediation in relation to child’s Education, Health and Care Plan, Ombudsman finds

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has been recommended to pay £5,300 after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found it failed to provide two terms of special educational provision for a child, and failed to complete actions it agreed in mediation.

May 06, 2025

NFJO highlights evidence on number of mothers and fathers who experience recurrent care proceedings in England and Wales

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) has published a report highlighting evidence on the number of mothers and fathers who experience recurrent care proceedings in England and Wales, their circumstances and the impact of having children removed in this way.

May 06, 2025

Reform UK signals legal challenges against asylum hotel use

Reform UK's chairman has vowed to use "every instrument of power available" - including judicial review, injunctions and planning laws - to stop asylum hotels in the local authority areas in which they won control at last week's local elections.

May 06, 2025

Planning and Infrastructure Bill represents legislative “regression”, environmental watchdog says

The provisions in the Government's forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill are a "regression", the Office for Environmental Protection has warned.

May 06, 2025

Council to implement action plan addressing backlog of “several hundreds” of medical priority reviews after Ombudsman finds fault in housing priority case

Camden Council has agreed to produce an action plan to address a large backlog of medical priority assessments and reviews, following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

May 06, 2025

LGA publishes guide to procuring AI

The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a guide providing councils in England with questions to help them comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and data protection law when procuring artificial intelligence (AI) based technology.

May 02, 2025

London borough left family of five adults in single room for eight months, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found Westminster City Council at fault regarding the treatment of a resident and her family after the group were left in unsuitable accommodation, in the form of a single, overcrowded room, for eight months.

May 02, 2025

Council found at fault for failing to offer alternative educational provision when looked after child moved in with new family

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has in part upheld a parent's complaint in relation to Manchester City Council’s education provision for his adoptive son, finding that the local authority “failed to consider its section 19 duties”, leading to the child missing out on education.

May 02, 2025

Welsh environmental watchdog to appoint two providers to £1.56m parliamentary legal services framework

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a tender for its Parliamentary Legal Services Framework 2025-2029, which is estimated to be worth £1.56m over the four years.

May 02, 2025

High Court hears legal challenge to proposed zip wire in “tranquil” quarry

The High Court has this week heard a legal challenge to the Lake District National Park Authority’s decision to grant planning permission for a major new adventure attraction at a quarry.

May 02, 2025

Court of Appeal issues reasons for allowing appeal over whether councils can authorise deprivation of liberty where care order in place

The Court of Appeal has issued a written ruling outlining its reasons for allowing an appeal against a decision by Mrs Justice Lieven that a local authority could authorise the deprivation of liberty of a 14-year-old boy in exercise of its parental responsibility under a care order.

May 02, 2025

Council prosecution sees man fined over noisy cockerel

A man who breached a noise abatement notice after failing to silence his cockerel has been handed a £200 fine and ordered to pay £3,650 in legal costs.

May 02, 2025

Government promises to help reduce £2.1bn Woking debt ahead of reorganisation

The Government has confirmed it will provide financial support to help reduce Woking Borough Council's debt ahead of local government reorganisation in Surrey, the council has revealed.

May 02, 2025

City council sets date for referendum on adopting directly elected mayor

Plymouth City Council is set to hold a referendum on adopting a directly elected mayor model of governance.

May 01, 2025

High Court allows appeal by council over grant by inspector of permission for development in ancient woodland

A planning inspector's decision to allow an appeal of Wealden District Council's refusal of plans to build camping facilities on ancient woodland has been quashed by the High Court.

May 01, 2025

Defendant who ignored planning injunctions handed suspended sentence

The High Court has sentenced a woman to four months in jail, suspended for four years, after ignoring two consecutive injunctions prohibiting her from parking a caravan on a site in the South Downs National Park.

May 01, 2025

Six teams in running for Legal Team of the Year at LLG Awards 2025

LLG (Lawyers in Local Government) has announced the shortlists for the LLG Awards 2025, including for the inaugural ‘Rising Star’ award named in honour of the late Suki Binjal.

May 01, 2025

County council loses High Court appeal over award of damages for boardwalk slip

Suffolk County Council has failed in a bid to overturn a damages award to a pedestrian who broke her ankle in an accident on a right of way boardwalk.

May 01, 2025

Motorcyclist fails in High Court claim against London borough over accident involving manhole cover

A motorcyclist has lost his claim for damages against the London Borough of Hillingdon over an accident involving a manhole cover.

May 01, 2025

Civil Justice Council calls for single digital court for enforcement of judgments

A single unified digital court should be created for enforcement of judgments - whether given in the High Court or a county court - with all debts recorded, including those falling outside the courts.

May 01, 2025

London borough decides against building homes on football pitches after legal threat

Islington Council has withdrawn a proposal to remove football pitches from ground level to the roof of new homes following a threat of legal action.

May 01, 2025

Kensington & Chelsea sues fridge-freezer manufacturer in latest Grenfell proceedings

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has issued legal proceedings against Beko Europe, manufacturer of the fridge freezer deemed to be the source of the Grenfell tower fire.

Apr 30, 2025

Legal challenge over council failure to secure child’s special educational needs and EOTIS in interim succeeds

A family’s claim for judicial review challenging the London Borough of Hounslow over its failure to secure their teenage son’s special educational needs, and its failure to secure education other than in school (EOTIS) in the interim, has succeeded.

Apr 30, 2025

Welsh Senedd member claims its Code of Conduct unfairly prevents politicians from defending reputation, calls for urgent reform

A Welsh Senedd member found to have breached the Code of Conduct after confidential information was shared with the press has called for reform of the Code, arguing it unfairly prevents members from defending themselves against "unfounded allegations".

Apr 30, 2025

Regulator of Social Housing names and shames trio of councils for failing to meet consumer standards

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has handed three councils C3 grades requiring them to make significant improvement towards meeting its consumer standards.

Apr 30, 2025

Red tape hampering council enforcement against fly-tipping to be cut, Defra says

The Government has promised a fresh crackdown on "cowboy waste operators" to tackle fly-tipping, alongside plans to "slash red tape" blocking councils from seizing and crushing vehicles involved in offences.

Apr 29, 2025

Council loses legal challenge over decision by integrated care board not to contribute towards costs of children's home placement

The High Court has rejected a council’s claim for judicial review in relation to a decision by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) to decline to make a financial contribution towards the costs of funding a young person’s placement at a specialist children's home.

Apr 29, 2025

Plan to spend £1m on grounds maintenance rescinded after “unsafe” decision-making process

Waverley Borough Council has rescinded a decision to spend £1m on bringing its grounds maintenance services in-house after the opposition leader questioned whether sufficient information had been provided to make the decision.

Apr 29, 2025

Group of local authorities demands greater licensing and planning powers over gambling premises

Almost 40 local authorities have called on the Government to hand councils more licensing powers over gambling venues by amending the "desperately out of date" Gambling Act 2005.

Apr 29, 2025

DAC Beachcroft advises university on £10m fit out works contract for new London campus

The Construction and Engineering team at law firm DAC Beachcroft has advised the University of Sunderland on a £10m fit out works contract for a new London campus at Harbour Exchange in Canary Wharf.

Apr 29, 2025

Ashfords bolsters procurement team with partner hire

Law firm Ashfords has appointed James Falle as a procurement partner in its public sector team.

Apr 29, 2025

Practice direction issued on bundles in SEND tribunals

The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has issued a practice direction to ensure consistency in the preparation of hearing bundles in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals and disability discrimination in schools’ claims.

Apr 29, 2025

Surveyors professional body issues warning to members of “serious consequences” over quality of expert witness functions in housing disrepair sector

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued a practice alert after receiving reports condemning the quality of expert witness functions being performed in the housing disrepair sector by its members.

Apr 28, 2025

HMRC to crack down on “tax avoidance” by residential care providers through use of VAT grouping structures

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning to residential care providers over a VAT grouping structure that it has labelled a form of tax avoidance.

Apr 28, 2025

Council criticised for delay in completing safeguarding investigation which led to adult son being stopped from visiting father “longer than necessary”

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council at fault for its delay in completing a safeguarding investigation about a father’s care of his adult son, which led to the son’s weekend visits home being stopped “longer than necessary”.

Apr 28, 2025

Government to axe Valuation Office Agency

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), the arm’s-length body (ALB) responsible for valuing properties for council tax and business rates, is to be scrapped, the Government has announced.

Apr 28, 2025

Judge dismisses application for declaration of non-parentage 

The Family Court has dismissed a man’s application for a declaration of non-parentage of a young boy, on whose birth certificate he appears as the father, finding it would not be in the child’s best interests for the application to proceed.

Apr 28, 2025

HSE prosecution sees social housing provider fined £140k over exposure of employees to risks from vibrating tools

Social landlord Stonewater has been fined £140,000 after two employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

Apr 28, 2025

Equality and Human Rights Commission issues interim note on Supreme Court decision on gender definitions in Equality Act 2010

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued an interim update on the practical implications of the Supreme Court's judgment concerning the definition of 'man' and 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010.

Apr 28, 2025

Council told to pay £8k after failing to provide boy with education and SEN provision during 18-month period

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found West Sussex County Council at fault for failing to provide a boy with complex needs with an education in school or through an alternative provision placement over an 18-month period.

Apr 28, 2025

Electoral registration officer rejects objection to Reform candidate nomination for mayoral election

The electoral registration officer at North Kesteven District Council has dismissed a challenge to Reform UK candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns' eligibility to stand in the forthcoming Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election.

Apr 25, 2025

G15 group of housing associations issues s106 guidance for developers

The G15 group of London's largest housing associations has published new guidance on s106 contributions, urging early collaboration and shared decision-making in S106 affordable housing delivery.

Apr 25, 2025

Stoke-on-Trent pledges to fund £3.5m backstop as controversial schools PFI contract nears end

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said it will fund a "backstop" of up to £3.5m to ensure completion of school maintenance works that may not be delivered by its PFI contractor.

Apr 25, 2025

Amendments to Planning and Infrastructure Bill to cut pre-consultation period for major infrastructure in half: Government

The Government has announced plans to scrap statutory consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects, claiming the move will slash the average two-year statutory pre-consultation period by half.

Apr 25, 2025

Police and Crime Commissioner puts judicial review over "unfair" Home Office funding formula on hold

Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has suspended a judicial review challenge over the Home Office’s police funding formula after the Government department agreed to hand Lincolnshire Police £5.7m in short term funding.

Apr 25, 2025

Court of Appeal sets aside direction from judge to local authority to investigate circumstances of children not subject to proceedings

The Court of Appeal has set aside a judge’s direction for a local authority to investigate the circumstances of three children who were not the subject of proceedings, and to make the children subject to interim supervision orders, finding he was not entitled to do so.

Apr 25, 2025

LLG to create professional body for all monitoring officers by end of 2025, support members affected by reorganisation, says incoming President

The Director of Legal and Assurance at Essex County Council, Paul Turner, has been appointed President of LLG (Lawyers in Local Government) at the organisation’s annual general meeting this week.

Apr 25, 2025

Housing Ombudsman sets out communication tests amid concerns of inadvertent stigmatisation of residents

The Housing Ombudsman has identified four key tests to ensure effective communication with residents and avoid inadvertent stigmatisation.

Apr 24, 2025

Major social landlord brings first prosecution for tenancy fraud

L&Q has brought its first tenancy fraud prosecution, in a case where a former resident was found guilty of having illegally sublet his home and given false details in a Right to Acquire application.

Apr 24, 2025

Integrated care board wins appeal over mandatory order requiring arrangement of new health care plan for severely disabled boy

The Court of Appeal has allowed a cross-appeal brought by an Integrated Care Board (ICB) and dismissed an appeal and notice to affirm brought on behalf of a 12-year-old boy.

Apr 24, 2025

Court of Appeal rejects appeal over planning committee breach, with outcome highly likely to be the same even if conduct had not occurred

An objector to a planning decision by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has lost her case in the Court of Appeal even though a regulation was breached by its planning committee.

Apr 24, 2025

Hoarding tenant fails in High Court challenge to grant of possession order in favour of social landlord

The High Court has upheld a possession order granted to Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP) against a tenant who is a hoarder, rejecting a submission that the first instance judge's conclusion that the social landlord had acted proportionately was wrong.

Apr 24, 2025

Transport for London excludes firm from tender over change to diversity commitments

Transport for London (TfL) has blocked an advertising consultancy from bidding for a marketing contract after the firm rowed back on its Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) goals.

Apr 24, 2025

Court of Appeal rejects appeal by traders over convictions for selling counterfeit goods

The Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld jail sentences imposed in a case brought by City of Wolverhampton Council against counterfeit traders, saying one aspect of the appellants' argument lacked “any sense of reality”.

Apr 24, 2025

Campaigners lose Court of Appeal battle over permission for exploration for hydrocarbons in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

A planning inspector was right to take account of the benefits, but not the harm, of potential future production of hydrocarbons when allowing an appeal for permission for exploratory works, the Court of Appeal has found.

Apr 24, 2025

Councillor breached code of conduct when calling interim chief executive a “buffoon”

A Southampton councillor has been found in breach of the code of conduct by calling its interim chief executive a buffoon, despite arguing the term had a different meaning in 1638.

Apr 24, 2025

SLCC urges Government to make it easier to transfer land from principal councils

The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) has asked housing and local government minister Baroness Taylor to make it easier to transfer land and buildings from principal councils in England to parish and town councils in their areas.

Apr 23, 2025

Senior Court of Protection judge rejects application by Scottish local authority for recognition and enforcement of guardianship order made in Scotland

The Vice President of the Court of Protection has ruled that a guardianship order made in Scotland does not give the local authority power to authorise the deprivation of a man’s liberty in England.

Apr 23, 2025

University to appoint single legal services provider to £2.52m contract

Aston University has issued a tender notice for the procurement of a single service provider who will be able to service all of its needs in the UK and overseas.

Apr 23, 2025

City council says it should be excluded from reorganisation, despite small size

The leader of Portsmouth City Council has urged the Government to exclude the authority from reorganisation plans, raising fears over joining neighbouring authorities saddled with "eye watering deficits".

Apr 23, 2025

Council “hugely disappointed” in planning inspector call to withdraw local plan over failure to meet duty to cooperate

Horsham District Council has written to Planning and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook and lodged a formal complaint with the Planning Inspectorate after being advised to withdraw its local plan over a failure to meet the duty to cooperate.

Apr 23, 2025

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary issues refreshed guidance on use of AI by judicial office holders

Senior judges have issued updated guidance aimed at assisting judicial office holders in relation to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Apr 23, 2025

Family Drug and Alcohol court launched in Liverpool

Liverpool has this month become the latest city to launch a Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC), with the aim of providing opportunities to support families to stay together.

Apr 22, 2025

Council to pay £6k after failings see child miss out on education for 12 months

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found Cheshire West and Chester Council at fault for a series of delays leading to a boy with special educational needs (SEN) missing out on education for 12 months.

Apr 22, 2025

Taxi licensing powers should be devolved to mayoral combined authorities, Andy Burnham says

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has called for taxi licensing powers to be handed to Mayoral Combined Authorities in an effort to reform what he described as a "broken licensing" system.

Apr 22, 2025

Judge criticises First-tier Tribunal over decision to raise point of own initiative in service charges dispute

The Chamber President of the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has issued points for the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) to “keep firmly in mind” when deciding whether to raise a point of its own initiative.

Apr 22, 2025

London borough stands firm on refusal to follow recommendation of Ombudsman on treatment of homeless pregnant woman

Hounslow Council has decided not to accept a recommendation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) to offer a woman and her baby its next available suitable accommodation.

Apr 22, 2025

Man jailed after defrauding council of £700k in Covid support

A man who posed as a group property manager for Greggs has been jailed for four years after fraudulently claiming more than £710,000 from Leeds City Council in Covid-19 support grants intended for small businesses.

Apr 22, 2025

Court hands former social housing tenant one of ‘largest of its kind’ unlawful profit orders after unlawful subletting of property over eight years

A former PA Housing tenant has been ordered to pay back more than £95,000, including £75,000 under an unlawful profit order (UPO), after an investigation into the unlawful subletting of her Kingston property.

Apr 22, 2025

Not-for-profit company that built 460-seat theatre without permission loses appeal against enforcement notice

A planning inspector's decision to uphold Fareham Borough Council's enforcement notice against a theatre company that built a 460-seat theatre without planning permission was lawful, a High Court judge has found.

Apr 22, 2025

Senior judge hails progress on bringing care cases within timeframe of Public Law Outline but admits situation in London is “not so rosy”

Progress in bringing all care cases back within the structure and timeframe of the Public Law Outline has been “very real, and impressive” in most areas, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has said.

Apr 17, 2025

Mandatory ban on councils making ransomware payments would be “powerful deterrent”: Local Government Association

The Local Government Association has backed Home Office proposals to ban local authorities from making ransomware payments, noting that the move would act as a "powerful deterrent".

Apr 17, 2025

Supreme Court backs “biological” definition of woman for purposes of Equality Act

The Supreme Court has ruled that a person with a full gender recognition certificate which recognises their gender as female, is not a “woman” for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010), and that the meaning of the word woman in the 2010 Act is “biological”.

Apr 17, 2025

Equalities watchdog to work “at pace” to incorporate Supreme Court ruling on gender and Equality Act into revised Code of Practice

The chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said the regulator will be “working at pace” to incorporate into its revised Code of Practice the implications of this week’s Supreme Court landmark ruling on gender recognition certificates and the definition of ‘sex’, ‘man’ and…

Apr 17, 2025

County council hit with £6m fine over busway deaths

Cambridgeshire County Council has been fined £6 million after pleading guilty to serious safety failings on its guided busway that led to three deaths and multiple injuries.

Apr 17, 2025

London borough seeking legal advice after 500-year-old oak tree felled

Enfield Council is seeking legal advice after an ancient oak tree on land leased to restaurant chain Toby Carvery was chopped down earlier this month.

Apr 17, 2025

Advertising giant loses High Court battle over refusal of permission for advertising on building near M4

Advertising firm Ocean Outdoor UK has lost a High Court case over whether the London Borough of Hounslow and a planning inspector should have allowed it to display an advertisement on a building.

Apr 17, 2025

High Court gives permission to Travellers for judicial review of decision by council to decline to determine application

The High Court has given permission for judicial review of a planning decision by Crawley Borough Council in a dispute over land used by two Irish traveller claimants.

Apr 17, 2025

Campaigners seek oral renewal hearing over judicial review against proposed third prison in village

Local campaigners have vowed to challenge the Government's decision to call in and approve a planning application for a third prison in a Lancashire village following the High Court's decision to refuse their judicial review application.

Apr 17, 2025

Planning Court judge rejects claim by parish council that leader of district gave binding promise on routing of ‘greenway’

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s leader did not give a binding promise at a local meeting that a ’greenway’ would skirt Grantchester, and in any event would have no power to do so, the High Court has found.

Apr 16, 2025

Judge dismisses challenge over whether grant of permission for 133-home scheme was unlawful because biodiversity gain planning condition ought to have been imposed but was not

The question of when a planning application is ‘made’ is wholly dependent on context and in particular on the construction of the relevant regulatory or statutory provision, the High Court has found in a case concerning Bolton Council.

Apr 16, 2025

Family President expresses hope of “very substantial reduction” in number of public law children cases where councils have to cover shortfall in expert fees

The President of the Family Division has backed a set of ‘general principles’ which aim to reduce the number of cases in which a local authority is expected to cover a shortfall in expert fees in public law children cases.

Apr 16, 2025

Court of Appeal to hear appeal over decision by mayor to remove low traffic neighbourhoods

Campaigners seeking to challenge a plan by Tower Hamlets Council to remove low-traffic neighbourhoods have received permission from the Court of Appeal to appeal an earlier refusal from the High Court.

Apr 16, 2025

Essex planning officers make submissions to Court of Appeal over written ministerial statement on local energy efficiency standards

Submissions have been filed this month on behalf of the Essex Planning Officers Association (“EPOA”) at the Court of Appeal in support of a challenge to the previous government’s written ministerial statement (“WMS”) on local energy efficiency standards.

Apr 16, 2025

Judge gives green light for judicial review over common law powers of Work and Pensions Secretary

A deputy High Court judge has given a claimant permission to bring a judicial review concerning the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ common law powers.

Apr 16, 2025

Council puts brakes on proposed school closure following legal action

Leeds City Council has said it will not issue a statutory notice to close a primary school in Yeadon at the end of the academic year, after being sent a letter before action claiming that there were “significant flaws” in the local authority’s consultation process.

Apr 15, 2025

Council obtains legal advice suggesting it can depart from standard method for calculating housing need

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) could see its housing target reduced from 1,142 to 828 new homes per year following legal advice supporting a departure from the standard method.

Apr 15, 2025

High Court rejects application by father for lay advocate in care proceedings, describing “fundamental misunderstanding” of Article 6

The High Court has rejected a father’s application for a lay advocate, after it was submitted that it was his “Article 6 right” to be provided with one in care proceedings relating to his child.

Apr 15, 2025

Government to establish Child Protection Authority in response to inquiry recommendation

The Government is to establish a Child Protection Authority (CPA) to improve “national oversight and consistency” in child protection practices, as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Apr 15, 2025

Any SEND reform programme must deliver inclusive education system, with education in mainstream provision as “the presumption”: ADCS President

The new President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), Rachael Wardell, has warned that any SEND reform programme must deliver an inclusive education system, with education in mainstream provision as “the presumption”.