News

Dec 17, 2025

District and borough councils in Suffolk lodge complaint with monitoring officer of county over alleged "breaches" of publicity rules and advertising standards

The five district and borough councils in Suffolk have issued a complaint with the county council’s monitoring officer claiming it has breached the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity in the way it promoted its preferred option for local government reorganisation.

Dec 17, 2025

Social housing regulator slams borough council over “unacceptable” breadth and scale of failings

Gosport Borough Council has been hit with a C4 grade by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), making it the latest local authority to be graded at the lowest possible level.

Dec 17, 2025

Government launches consultation on latest revisions to National Planning Policy Framework

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on “a fuller and more definitive overhaul” of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Dec 17, 2025

Welsh Government unveils 10-year plan to strengthen rights of disabled people

The Welsh Government has this week (15 December) published its Disabled People's Rights Plan, setting out “practical actions” to tackle barriers across employment, transport, education, healthcare, housing and public services.

Dec 17, 2025

Council wins appeal over grant of summary judgment to defendant with introductory tenancy over claim for possession

Sandwell Borough Council has won a case over an introductory tenancy after a judge admitted it had been difficult to resolve with “sound arguments on both sides for the opposing contentions as to meaning of s. 130 of the Housing Act 1996”.

Dec 17, 2025

Upper Tribunal calls for fresh hearing after setting aside ruling on prohibition orders issued by district council

The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has told the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to look again at a case concerning 15 prohibition notices issued by Tandridge District Council because of dissatisfaction with the way an officer assessed the likelihood of harms.

Dec 17, 2025

Court orders quantum disclosure ahead of mediation of claim brought by Kensington & Chelsea over Grenfell fire

Parties to a commercial case brought by the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and its tenant management organisation (TMO) in the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster could have to wait until July 2029 for results in court after a ruling on a possible timetable taking account of…

Dec 17, 2025

Crown Court makes £900k confiscation order over planning enforcement breaches

A Crown Court has ordered a family of landlords to pay more than £900,000 for converting a property without permission and failing to comply with a set of enforcement notices, following a prosecution by the London Borough of Ealing.

Dec 17, 2025

Council wins appeal over refusal of application for authority to end residential unit placement for mother and baby

A Family Court judge proceeded “too quickly and cursorily” to an “unshakeable" view when refusing a local authority’s application for authorisation to end a placement of a mother and her baby at a residential unit, the Court of Appeal has found.

Dec 16, 2025

Commissioners praise “encouraging” progress at Woking but warn debt challenge remains

Commissioners have described Woking Borough Council's progress as "encouraging", detailing governance improvements and risk management at the local authority.

Dec 16, 2025

Police investigating after councillors “pelted” with “eggs and missiles” from public gallery

Kent Police have launched an investigation after members of the public - some of whom were wearing balaclavas - "pelted" councillors with eggs at a Swale Borough Council meeting last week.

Dec 16, 2025

Electoral Commission publishes updated guidance on improving support for disabled people in May 2026 elections

The Electoral Commission has published new guidance aimed at ensuring disabled voters receive improved support at polling stations in the May 2026 elections.

Dec 16, 2025

Administrative Court rejects challenge by parents over decision to make children subject to child protection plan

The Administrative Court has rejected on a judicial review claim over a council’s decision to issue child protection plans in relation to two children with complex needs.

Dec 16, 2025

Council to pay £270k after tribunal finds “sustained” race discrimination against two taxi drivers

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been ordered to pay more than £270,000 in compensation to two self-employed taxi drivers after an Employment Tribunal concluded they were subjected to race discrimination by licensing officers.

Dec 15, 2025

Section 5 report details “fundamentally flawed” and “unlawful” building disposal decision

A council’s decision to transfer the freehold of a college building to a foundation for £1 despite it being worth an estimated £4.6m was unlawful, according to a section 5 report issued by the local authority’s monitoring officer.

Dec 15, 2025

Council assembles task force in bid to bring legal action against asylum hotels

West Northamptonshire Council has set up a task force as part of efforts to pursue legal action against asylum hotels in its area.

Dec 15, 2025

Council failed to take “sufficient action” to safeguard woman in supported living accommodation after aggressive behaviour from another resident, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that Leeds City Council failed to take “sufficient action” to safeguard a woman living in supported living accommodation arranged by the local authority, after she experienced aggressive behaviour from another resident.

Dec 15, 2025

Auditors tell council to address abusive behaviour in meetings for second year in row

The external auditors for Teignbridge District Council have retained a statutory recommendation calling on the council to address "swearing" and abusive behaviour towards officers and members during meetings.

Dec 15, 2025

Ombudsman criticises failure by council to consider request from mother for summer born daughter to start reception after fifth birthday

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Herefordshire Council for failing to “properly consider” a mother’s request to allow her summer born daughter to start Reception at school after her fifth birthday in September 2026.

Dec 15, 2025

Council agrees to make changes to practice guidance on care charging following judicial review threat

Judicial review proceedings issued over Kent County Council’s care charging policy, which the claimant alleged had resulted in individuals overpaying for their social care, have been settled days before trial.

Dec 12, 2025

Around 50,000 specialist places to support children with SEND in mainstream schools to be created nationwide, says Education Secretary

The Education Secretary has announced a “transformational” expansion of specialist, calm learning spaces in mainstream schools, equipped with facilities to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Dec 12, 2025

Court of Protection considers correct legal test for assessing whether woman has capacity to make own decision as to whether or not to marry

A Court of Protection judge has considered the correct legal test for assessing whether an elderly woman with dementia has the capacity to make her own decision as to whether or not to marry, finding that the court should assess her capacity to marry in general, rather than her capacity to marry a…

Dec 12, 2025

Family Court approves care plan entailing move to Jamaica amid concerns over immigration application risks

A Family Court judge has approved a care plan for a young looked-after British child to move to Jamaica to live with her maternal half-brother, who is in the care of his paternal aunt.

Dec 11, 2025

High Court rejects all five grounds in Luton Airport expansion legal challenge

Campaigners behind an unsuccessful judicial review challenge of the Government's decision to green-light the expansion of Luton Airport have said they may appeal the High Court's decision.

Dec 11, 2025

Government to set up national Child Protection Authority as part of reforms to protect children from abuse

The Department for Education has announced plans for a new Child Protection Authority, as part of a government strategy to protect children from predators and abuse.

Dec 11, 2025

Select committee to scrutinise public inquiries and implementation of their findings

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) is to scrutinise public inquiries and the implementation of their findings, following a recommendation from the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Dec 11, 2025

High Court rules temporary chief constable appointment by police and crime commissioner was unlawful

A decision by a Police and Crime Commissioner to appoint a chief constable on a temporary basis was "unlawful", the High Court has found.

Dec 11, 2025

City of London wins appeal over intentional homelessness of tenant who moved from London to Brighton and then sought to return

A man who moved from social housing in London to Brighton and then wished to move back again was correctly found intentionally homeless by the City of London Corporation, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Dec 11, 2025

UK government failing to uphold key human rights, including rights to peaceful protest and access to healthcare for disabled people: EHRC

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued a warning that human rights in the UK are being “compromised” because of gaps in the government’s action, and has written to ministers to remind them of international obligations.

Dec 11, 2025

Watchdogs criticise “inconsistent” level of support for children with SEND who do not attend school full-time

A report by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has claimed that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who do not attend school full-time is “too inconsistent”.

Dec 11, 2025

High Court rejects latest judicial review challenge over Environment Agency decisions on landfill site

A child whose health was damaged by exposure to emissions from a landfill site has lost the third round of litigation in the case, with the High Court rejecting arguments for judicial review.

Dec 11, 2025

London borough urges Secretary of State to reform laws governing tenant management orders

Lambeth Council has told Communities Secretary Steve Reed that tenant management organisation (TMO) governance needs urgent reforms as councils’ hands are tied when they need to intervene.

Dec 11, 2025

Resident secures compensation award over impact of relief road scheme 50m from property

A Stockport householder has been given a compensation award by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in a dispute over the impact of a nearby road improvement on the value of his house.

Dec 11, 2025

City council defeats appeal by landlord over refusal of permission to apply for judicial review in business rates case

The Court of Appeal has dismissed as “wholly unarguable” a landlord’s case that its tenant was liable to pay business rates on an 'unoccupied hereditament’.

Dec 11, 2025

Delays caused by approval processes of Building Safety Regulator “unacceptable”, say peers

A House of Lords Committee has described the delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator’s approval processes as “unacceptable,” noting that they have stretched “far beyond” statutory timelines.

Dec 10, 2025

Welsh Government “falling short” on certain international human rights commitments, warns EHRC

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned that human rights are “at risk” in Wales, as the Welsh Government “falls short” on certain international commitments.

Dec 10, 2025

Councillor behind anonymous ‘poison pen’ letters sentenced

Magistrates have handed a former Liverpool City Council member who sent anonymous 'poison pen' letters to a colleague a restraining order and community order.

Dec 10, 2025

North West social landlord appoints 11 firms to £6.4m framework

Torus, the North West’s largest affordable housing provider with 40,000 homes in its portfolio, has appointed 11 firms to a multi-lot framework agreement for the provision of legal services.

Dec 10, 2025

Combined authority to procure £12m open framework for legal services

The Tees Valley Combined Authority is to establish an open framework for the provision of specialist legal support worth an estimated £12m over four years.

Dec 10, 2025

Mayors should be included in Local Government Pension Scheme, but councillor access “not a clear cut issue”, say pensions professionals

Combined authority mayors should be given access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, pensions professionals have said.

Dec 10, 2025

Local government and procurement among focus areas for new UK anti-corruption strategy

The Government will put the spotlight on local government, corrupt insiders, procurement and capability and knowledge as part of efforts to prevent and deter corruption more effectively within public sector bodies, as part of its UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 launched this week.

Dec 09, 2025

Home Secretary names chair of Grooming Gangs Inquiry and publishes terms of reference

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has appointed the former Children’s Commissioner for England, Baroness Anne Longfield, as Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs.

Dec 09, 2025

Regulator of Social Housing launches consultation on updated Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has launched a 12-week consultation on revisions to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard (TI&A standard), the Consumer Standards Code of Practice, and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs).

Dec 09, 2025

External auditors flag "significant weakness" at London borough, including golden triangle turnover

The external auditors at Tower Hamlets have identified ten areas of significant weakness at the London borough, including "significant turnover" within the 'golden triangle' of statutory officers.

Dec 09, 2025

Court of Appeal to hear appeal by council this week in case concerning military service and Education, Health and Care Plans

The Court of Appeal will this week (11 December) hear an appeal by Hampshire County Council over an Upper Tribunal ruling that there was a failure to consult in relation to the local authority’s decision to cease to maintain a child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan on the basis that the…