Commercial Services Group names six firms to £600m public sector legal services framework
Commercial Services Group, a wholly owned business unit of Kent County Council, has appointed six law firms to a £600m framework for the delivery of legal services to public sector bodies.
Wales Ombudsman reports 48% surge in public service complaints
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has reported a 48% surge in complaints about public services alongside an 18% increase in complaints about the Code of Conduct, in its first quarterly report of 2026.
Officers warn of lengthy legal process to regain city status after local government reorganisation
Stoke-on-Trent could face a "complex and unnecessary bureaucratic undertaking" to regain its city status if it is not preserved during local government reorganisation in Staffordshire, council officers have warned.
Forms of vulnerability for children including poverty, housing insecurity and missing school continue to rise, warns think-tank
A report by think-tank the Centre for Young Lives has warned that despite progress in some areas, some of the most “concerning forms of vulnerability” – like deep poverty, housing insecurity or missing half of school – continue to rise, leaving more children at risk of problems later on and…
Regulator threatens housing association with compulsory deregistration
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has revealed it is considering removing a small Birmingham and London housing association from the register of social housing providers.
Standards watchdog to examine existing Codes of Ethical Conduct ahead of drawing up guidance
A new initiative by the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) will examine existing Codes of Ethical Conduct to formulate “practical, non-statutory guidance”.
County backs potential legal challenge to reorganisation in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council has backed a motion calling on its leader to support a judicial review challenge over the Government's local government reorganisation plans for the county, should legal advice indicate arguable grounds.
Parents win appeal against refusal of application to be appointed as personal welfare deputies for adult son
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a mother and a father against the Court of Protection’s refusal of their application to be appointed as personal welfare deputies for their 22-year-old son.
Tottenham Hotspur academy permission quashed after council backs out of judicial review
The High Court has quashed a planning permission for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club's plans to develop part of a park into a private training ground, following Enfield Council’s decision to withdraw from the litigation.
Regulators gave inconsistent litigation guidance ahead of Mazur judgment, Legal Services Board finds
Guidance on the conduct of litigation prior to the Mazur case was "inconsistent", while some regulators had "limited knowledge" of how supervision of unauthorised individuals was operating in practice, a Legal Services Board (LSB) review has revealed.
Cross-border healthcare patients at risk of “falling through the gaps”: Welsh Affairs Committee
The Welsh Affairs Committee has highlighted its concern over what it describes as a “lack of urgency” in addressing issues affecting cross-border healthcare patients, following three evidence sessions with all seven Welsh local health boards and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee.
High Court dismisses challenge to grant of permission for 250-home scheme despite lack of flood sequential test
The High Court has dismissed a town council’s challenge to permission for a 250-home development after finding, among other things, that “policy (even the NPPF) is not law and can be departed from so long as the decision maker given adequate reasons and acts rationally”.
President of Family Division publishes revised listing guidance
The President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice, Sir Stephen Cobb, has published a revised version of the Family Listing Guidance, to take effect from 31 August 2026.
Draft legal opinion details plan to remove Freedom of City of London honour from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom of the City of London can be removed, the City of London Corporation's city solicitor has said.
City business leaders seek legal challenge against extension of parking charge hours across Liverpool
A group of city business leaders have announced preparations for legal action against Liverpool City Council over a recent increase in parking charges and extension of charging hours across the city.
ICO reports 40% surge in FOI complaints
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has revealed that Freedom of Information (FOI) complaints increased by more than 40% in 2025/26, while a rise in data protection complaints also put pressure on its services.
Government consults on reforming “needlessly restrictive” weddings law
The Ministry of Justice has this month published a consultation on reforming weddings law in England and Wales.
Councils must weave sustainability reporting into governance processes, CIPFA says
Sustainability reporting will only achieve its intended purpose if public authorities can successfully integrate sustainability information into governance, budgeting, and financial planning processes, CIPFA has warned.
Council to review Code of Conduct after backing AI abuse motion
Stockton Council has backed a motion condemning the use of AI-generated imagery and other digitally manipulated content to abuse or misrepresent those involved in public life.
Don't lumber councils with administration of ‘High Value Property Surcharge’, says LGA
The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to consider national administration of the ‘High Value Property Surcharge’ instead of using councils, warning that enforcement could be expensive and complex, among other issues.
Leader cleared in Pride Flag row complaint brought by chief executive
Warwickshire County Council’s leader has been cleared of a Code of Conduct breach regarding a public row he had with the local authority’s chief executive over the flying of the Pride Flag from the council’s offices.
Chief Planning Officer warns councils to act ahead of 31 October deadline for planning committee changes
The Chief Planning Officer has urged local authorities to take action – including by amending their constitutions – to comply with the new regulations on the national scheme of delegation and the size of planning committees before they come into force on 31 October 2026.
Traffic Regulation Order should stand despite council failure to consider objections of claimant, High Court rules
The High Court has refused to quash a traffic regulation order (TRO) introduced by North Somerset Council, despite finding a failure by the council to consider two objections filed by the claimant.
Wigan monitoring officer leaves after 30 years at council
Janet Davies has left her role as monitoring officer at Wigan Council after three decades at the local authority.
Assessing needs “significant area of weakness” in some local authority areas: CQC
Assessing needs is a “significant area of weakness” in some local authority areas, with delays in care assessments and reviews affecting both people using services and their unpaid carers, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned.
High Court rejects challenge to adoption of West Suffolk local plan
The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge aimed at quashing all or part of West Suffolk Council's Local Plan.
Court of Appeal to hear second legal challenge over Wimbledon grounds expansion
The Court of Appeal has agreed to hear a local group's second legal challenge over plans to expand the Wimbledon tennis grounds, in a case that argues the land is subject to a statutory trust.
Protocol issued for legal professionals to raise concerns informally about coroner behaviour
The Chief Coroner has issued a protocol for legal professionals wishing to raise concerns informally about coroner behaviour.
High Court rejects challenge by council to decision by MHCLG to claw back £2.1m in EU funding
Cornwall Council faces a bill for more than £2m after losing on all eight grounds argued against the Government in a judicial review concerning European regional funds.
City council loses appeal over mortgagee exclusion clauses and section 106 agreements
Westminster City Council has lost a Court of Appeal case in which it sought to overturn a High Court ruling that it could not enforce a s106 agreement requiring 16 flats to remain as affordable housing after they were sold privately.
Police investigate housing association over possible corporate manslaughter
The Metropolitan Police are investigating Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) over a possible case of corporate manslaughter after a resident fell to his death when balcony railings gave way.
Claimant eyes application to Court of Appeal in dispute with council over lettings scheme
A resident who lost a High Court case this month over the London Borough of Southwark’s choice-based lettings scheme intends to take the dispute to the Court of Appeal.
City council fails in appeal over declaration it breached obligations owed under main housing duty
Birmingham City Council has lost on all grounds it put to the Court of Appeal in a housing allocation case.
Mayor of London revises affordable housing quota decision following legal challenge
The Mayor of London has decided to restore affordable housing quotas to 35% for around a third of London boroughs, in what some councils behind a judicial review have described as a “concession” in response to their legal action.
Government hit with fresh legal challenge over reorganisation in Essex
Harlow Council has become the latest local authority to launch a legal challenge against local government reorganisation, after describing the Government's decision in Essex as deeply flawed, rushed and lacking proper evidence.
Supreme Court dismisses appeal over how homelessness duty comes to an end
The Supreme Court has rejected a resident’s appeal over whether the housing duty owed by a London borough ended after she rejected a valid offer of accommodation.
CQC and Ofsted to coordinate activity to avoid placing “unnecessary pressure” on councils during reorganisation
Inspections, assessments and other related activity by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during local government reorganisation (LGR) should be “proportionate”, the Government has said.
Planning minister intervenes in Basildon local plan
The Planning Minister has directed Basildon Borough Council to advance its local plan after stating that delays have put adopting a local plan under the current plan-making system in "serious jeopardy".
Referral made to information watchdog after sensitive files found in unoccupied council building
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has said it is aware of reports that an 'urban explorer' discovered sensitive council documents left in an unoccupied building.
Council worker who unlawfully accessed hundreds of personal records handed suspended sentence
A Herefordshire council worker who unlawfully accessed hundreds of personal records has been handed a suspended sentence, following an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Judge lifts automatic suspension barring HMCTS from awarding cyber security service contract
The High Court has lifted an automatic suspension preventing HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) from awarding a contract for the provision of a managed cyber security service.
Welsh housing association to procure £828k legal services contract
Hafod Housing Association, one of the leading social landlords in South Wales, is to procure the provision of legal services to support housing, assets and support needs.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government loses devolution role to No 10 North
Responsibility for devolution and local economic growth is to be transferred from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to Andy Burnham's new No 10 North office.
Burnham Government must implement strengthened standards regime: Solace
Andy Burnham’s new administration must introduce a “fit-for-purpose” local government standards regime, “broaden” fiscal devolution and set out realistic timescales for local government reorganisation, Solace has said.
Ethics advisor to Kensington & Chelsea among four new independent members of standards watchdog
The Ethics & Integrity Commission has welcomed four new independent Members to the Commission, following their appointment by the Prime Minister.
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Events
Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) - The Training Centre 
Data Controller, Processor or Joint Controller: What am I? - Act Now
31-07-2026 10:00 am
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CCTV, Drones and Body Worn Cameras: Ensuring Data Protection Compliance - Act Now
05-08-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
HMPL Building Blocks: Breach of Lease - Devonshires
Understanding GDPR Accountability and Conducting Data Protection Audits - Act Now
17-08-2026 10:00 am
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AI and Information Governance: Bridging Innovation and Compliance - Act Now
20-08-2026 10:00 am
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How to Handle a Subject Access Request - Act Now 
Certificate in Planning Enforcement (CPE) Module 4 & Module 2 - Ivy Legal 
Free Expert Briefing: Antisemitism as a Safeguarding Concern - 4-5 Grays Inn Square 