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Kent claims High Court backing for criticism of Home Office decision-making for National Transfer Scheme
Kent County Council has said the High Court has agreed with its criticisms of the degree of urgency shown by the Home Secretary’s…
Deputy High Court judge orders London borough to provide accommodation pending completion of review of homelessness decision
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea acted unfairly in rejecting a request for accommodation by a man with mental health problems…
Campaign group hails decision of inspector in seven-year dispute over whether airport land should be deregistered as common
The Open Spaces Society has hailed a planning inspector’s decision that Blackbushe airport should remain part of a common after a…
Court of Appeal rejects appeal over prison sentence imposed in waste case
The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has refused to lift a prison sentence imposed for contempt on a man who repeatedly failed to clear a…
Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal in failure to remove case
The Supreme Court has refused claimant AB’s application for permission to appeal against a decision of the Court of Appeal in an action…
Council reprimanded for disclosing new address of data subject to ex-partner alleged to have perpetrated domestic abuse
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reprimanded Charnwood Borough Council after the local authority disclosed the new address…
City council issues section 114 notice due to rising costs of services
Nottingham City Council has issued a report under section 114(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 after finding that it cannot…
Procurement organisation to procure framework for professional services - including legal - for academies
Procurement body Pagabo, acting on behalf of Red Kite Learning Trust, is to establish a national framework of providers of professional…
Courts can grant ‘newcomer injunctions’ aimed at stopping unauthorised encampments but only where there is “a compelling need”: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has held that the court has power to grant 'newcomer injunctions' aimed at stopping unauthorised encampments by unknown…
Combined authority mayor found to have breached code of conduct
The mayor of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Dr Nik Johnson, has apologised "unreservedly" after being sanctioned for…
Officers at combined authority issue section 5 “unlawful expenditure” report over plan to put image of mayor on side of bus
The monitoring officer and the section 73 officer at the West of England Combined Authority have issued a section 5 report alleging that…
Court of Appeal hears appeal over judgment that manifest error in procurement was not “sufficiently serious” for award of damages
The Court of Appeal is this week (29 November) hearing an appeal against a High Court ruling that an error in the award of an NHS…
LGA warns of “broken” market amid sharp rise in children’s social care placements costing £10k per week
The number of children’s social care placements costing £10,000 or more per week has risen by more than 1,000% in five years, a survey of…
ADCS sets out future vision for education system with “greater focus” on tackling exclusions and improving attendance
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has published a policy paper setting out a future vision for the education…
High Court grants permission for legal challenge over lack of legal aid for school exclusion appeals
The High Court has granted permission for a claimant to challenge the lack of legal aid for appeals before an Independent Review Panel…
Every child assessed as in need of accommodation should be accommodated under section 20 “by default”, says Children’s Commissioner
A report from the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has revealed for the first time that only 40% of children…
Supreme Court dismisses appeal by council over statutory homelessness duty, mandatory orders and lack of resources
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by the London Borough of Croydon in a case concerning whether, and if so in what way,…
Womble Bond Dickinson chosen to provide legal support for local delivery body for City Deal
Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has been appointed to provide legal support to the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) under a contract…
Refusal of tribunal to adjourn for aftercare evidence was “kicking the can down the road”, Upper Tribunal finds
The Upper Tribunal has allowed an appeal on all three grounds against a decision by the First Tier Tribunal to refuse an application for an…
Inquiry calls for immediate pause to routine Ofsted inspections to allow watchdog to “regain trust”
An inquiry conducted by Beyond Ofsted, funded by the National Education Union (NEU), has called for an “immediate pause” to routine…
London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance selects 24 chambers for £60m barristers legal services framework
The London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance (LBLA) has appointed 24 sets of chambers after procuring its latest Barristers Legal Services…
Bin strike fears as city council looks to ‘fire and rehire’ waste collection staff
Coventry City Council is reportedly set to terminate the contracts of waste collection staff in order to end the practice of “task and…
Landlord to pay almost £100k after council prosecution secures confiscation order
A landlord has been hit with a confiscation order and forced to pay £93,000 after pleading guilty to a breach of two Planning Enforcement…
MPs to quiz preferred candidate for chair of Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is set to hold a pre-appointment hearing with the Government's preferred…
Government publishes scrutiny protocol for English institutions with devolved powers
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has issued a scrutiny protocol providing guidance regarding overview and scrutiny…
Cabinet Office issues policy note on taking account of payment approaches of bidders in procurement of major Government contracts
The Cabinet Office has issued a procurement policy note on taking account of a bidder’s approach to payment in the procurement of major…
MPs launch inquiry into remit and goals of Office for Local Government
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee is set to look at the remit of the Office for Local Government (Oflog) and how the new…
Housing association left residents with cancer and chronic asthma in damp and mould for almost two years: Ombudsman
The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration in two different Wandle Housing Association cases, both concerning its response to…
Government must act now to fix crisis in local audit, say MPs
The local audit backlog is undermining public trust and is in "an unacceptable crisis" which requires urgent attention from the Government,…
Some local authorities making "substantial improvements" in social care, but high demand for SEND services straining “limited resources”, finds Ofsted
Ofsted has found “reasons for optimism” in its annual report on education and children’s social care, alongside a “troubling shift” in…
Supreme Court to rule next week on homelessness duties and mandatory orders against local housing authorities
The Supreme Court will next week (28 November) issue its decision on when a court should make a mandatory order against a local housing…
Supreme Court to rule next week in test case on local authority land and injunctions against unidentified newcomers
The Supreme Court will next week (29 November) hand down a ruling on whether courts can grant final injunctions that prevent persons, who…
Council wins Court of Appeal battle over whether appellant became "homeless intentionally"
The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has rejected an appeal by a man who said he was not intentionally homeless when he reapplied to…
Appeal judge criticises tribunal service over delays in £67k housing benefits overpayment case
The Court of Appeal has criticised the tribunal service for causing “a series of unwarranted delays, and unexpected events, which almost…
Quarry business wins High Court statutory review over dismissal of appeal over planning refusal
A planning inspector erred in dismissing an appeal over Worcestershire County Council’s decision to refuse planning consent for the…
Borough council mulls legal challenge after adjudication on demolished housing
Chesterfield Borough Council is contemplating legal action over what it has said is the unsatisfactory outcome of an adjudication.
High Court judge rules against routine redaction of names of junior civil servants during disclosure
Whitehall departments cannot routinely redact the names of junior civil servants when documents are disclosed, Mr Justice Swift has ruled…
Councils do not fully understand personal budget process, Ombudsman warns
A report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that “too often” parents of children with special educational needs…
Autumn statement 2023: reactions from the sector
Local Government Lawyer looks at the reaction of the sector to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement 2023.
Autumn statement 2023: key measures
Local Government Lawyer identifies some of the key measures affecting local government and connected sectors from Chancellor of the…
Work still to be done on governance arrangements at Welsh Corporate Joint Committees, watchdog says
Two years after their implementation, governance arrangements at Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) are not yet all in operation, and there…
Council to pursue legal options over extended bin strike action
Warrington Borough Council has written to trade union Unite, through its solicitors, setting out what it believes to be a “clear case” for…
High Court to hear six grounds of challenge in Marks & Spencer Oxford Street judicial review
The High Court has agreed to hear a judicial review challenge brought by Marks & Spencer of Michael Gove's called-in decision to reject the…
Family President signals need for “radical departure” from current model of how courts consider contact with birth family after adoption
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has outlined a “pressing need” for courts and those who advise them to…
Oxford University law professor joins Cornerstone Barristers as associate member
Professor Joshua Getzler, Professor of Law and Legal History at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford has joined Cornerstone Barristers…
Public Accounts Committee slams Department for Education for lack of basic information on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)
The influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that the school estate has deteriorated to the point where 700,000 pupils are…
Competition watchdog seeks views on use of landbanks and how planning rules affect competition
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published two 'working papers' seeking feedback on its assessment of the use of landbanks,…
Councillor defiant amid backlash over Gaza ceasefire letter sent to peers across UK
Data protection concerns have been raised after a councillor mass emailed more than 19,000 of his peers across the country to ask them to…
SRA issues report on opportunities and risks of AI
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has set out its views on the opportunities – and risks – presented by artificial intelligence (AI).
Housing Ombudsman reports improved compliance but issues record levels of complaint handling failure orders
The Housing Ombudsman issued 52 complaint handling failure orders (CHFOs) between July and September this year – the most since the reports…
Online Procedure Rule Committee set up as Lord Chancellor and senior judiciary set out vision for future of civil and family courts and tribunals system
The Lord Chancellor and senior judiciary have set out a “shared vision” for the future of the civil and family courts and tribunals system,…
Government updates best practice guidance on taxi and PHV licensing in bid to crack down on discrimination against disabled people
The Department for Transport has issued updated best practice guidance on taxi and private vehicle hire licensing.
Council writes off £21k debt after Ombudsman investigation into failure to assess mental capacity and finances properly
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that North Yorkshire County Council “repeatedly” missed…
Court of Appeal rejects appeal by mother over dismissal of application to discharge placement orders
The Court of Appeal has rejected a mother’s appeal against the dismissal of her application to discharge placement orders made in respect…
Ex-medical secretary at NHS trust pleads guilty to unlawfully obtaining personal data
A former employee of an NHS trust has been fined for illegally accessing the medical records of more than 150 people.
Select committee expresses concern at impact on electoral registration officers if rest of Elections Act 2022 implemented
The record of the voter identification scheme used for the first time at last May’s local elections has given watchdog MPs “deep concern”…
Spending watchdog criticises how Government allocated levelling up funding amid concern deadlines for completion of projects will be missed
Council projects funded by the Government's levelling up programme are behind where the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and…
Social care leaders “can’t perform miracles” from already overstretched budgets, ADASS president warns
The Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have warned ahead of next week's…
Continued high inflation has put charities delivering public service contracts at “crisis point”, NCVO warns
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has warned that with the funding they receive, 73% of charities can’t meet current…
London Councils group urges Chancellor to end freeze on Local Housing Allowance
The cross-party body representing London boroughs has written to the Chancellor highlighting homelessness in the capital as an “emergency…
Regulator urges councillors and boards in social housing sector to understand legal obligations around building safety
The Regulator of Social Housing has issued a report highlighting the responsibility of boards and councillors to understand social…
Ombudsman praises Welsh councils for progress in administering homelessness assessments
Welsh local authorities have made progress in the administration of homelessness assessments but there are opportunities for further…
Regulator warns of “headwinds” weakening financial capacity of social housing providers and putting pressure on business plans
Providers of social housing are grappling with a range of significant external pressures including high inflation, higher borrowing costs,…
CND threatens council and MoD with legal challenge amid claims permitted development rights wrongly used in plan that could see nuclear weapons stationed in Suffolk
West Suffolk Council and the Ministry of Defence are facing a judicial review challenge from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)…
Council granted leave to make application for change in forename of child, subject to outcome of care order application
The High Court has granted leave to a local authority to make an application to change an eight-month old’s registered forename.
Researchers call for “urgent revision” to fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) guidance
Researchers at the University of Leeds have called for “urgent revision” to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s fabricated…
Association of Retained Council Housing criticises plan of regulator to move to full recovery of regulatory costs
It is unacceptable for the Government or the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) to move immediately to full recovery of regulatory costs…
Justice accuses Government of seeking to establish blanket anonymity for “junior” civil servants
Law reform charity Justice has intervened on what it called a “principle of open justice”, to allege the Government wanted blanket…
City council becomes latest to warn of potential s114 notice
Nottingham City Council could be on the brink of issuing a section 114 notice declaring effective bankruptcy, a council report has warned.
LGA calls for government action as number of empty homes in England rises by 10% in five years
The number of empty homes in England has risen by nearly 10% and past the million mark in the past five years, to the equivalent of just…
RTPI launches campaign to dispel online misinformation about planning process
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has launched a campaign aimed at tackling misinformation online by raising awareness of the role…
Anthony Collins hires partner to lead charging team
Law firm Anthony Collins has appointed Julia Robertson as a partner and head of its charging team.
Government plan to use biomass in breach of Climate Change Act, charity argues
A charity is threatening the Government with a judicial review over its biomass strategy, arguing that the plan, which is part of the…
Commissioners warn Birmingham it will be “extremely difficult” to set lawful budget next year, tell leadership to "grip this challenge"
The commissioners sent into Birmingham City Council have said it will be "extremely difficult to set a lawful budget for the forthcoming…
Major social landlord recovers 179 social homes after tenancy fraud crackdown
One of the largest social landlords in the country, L&Q, has recovered 179 social homes in less than two years following an investment in…
Welsh council demands Home Office pay £230k costs of handling asylum seeker hotel dispute
Carmarthenshire County Council has called on the Home Office to reimburse almost £230,000 in costs it incurred due to the Government…
Vulnerable people unprotected against "unscrupulous” providers of supported housing: MPs
The influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that vulnerable people are being increasingly provided with poor-quality…
Delay for children as result of longer case durations is “single most pressing issue” for family justice system, warns Cafcass in new strategic plan
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has published its strategic plan for 2023-26, in which it warns that…
Lee Rowley becomes 16th Housing Minister in just over a decade
Lee Rowley MP has been appointed Minister for Housing at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of this week's…
Council issued with improvement notice over “significant” SEND concerns
Plymouth City Council has been issued with an improvement notice by the government following an inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality…
Domestic Abuse Commissioner welcomes government commitment to “strengthen the voice of the child” but warns of “urgent” need for reform
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has responded to a report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, on reform in the Family Court,…
Welsh community council lost £9k to scam due to poor internal controls: Auditor General
A Welsh community council that lost £9,000 to an email scam has been told to review its arrangements for making payments after the Auditor…
High Court to hear judicial review of operating model for new curriculum body
The High Court has given permission to three claimants who argue the Department for Education's proposed operating model for its…
Prime Minister sacks Housing and Planning Minister
The Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean, has been sacked in Prime Minister's Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle.
Government decision to serve Best Value Notice “heavy-handed” and “tantamount to bullying”, say Suffolk Borough and District Council Leaders
Five Suffolk Borough and District Council leaders have written an open letter to bordering South Cambridgeshire District Council to show…
Levelling Up Committee launches inquiry into financial distress in local government
A new inquiry looking into 'financial distress' in local authorities has been launched by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities…
Professional body needed for monitoring officers, alongside increased training and sanction powers, says new research report
Monitoring officers (MOs) should have a professional body, akin to CIPFA for section 151 officers, and the Government should review the…
More than £1 billion committed to reforming adult social care system has been diverted to other care priorities, NAO report finds
More than a billion pounds of the £1.7 billion committed to reforming the adult social care system in December 2021 has been “diverted to…
School absence rates “stuck at crisis levels”, warns Children’s Commissioner
The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has called for the government to make the new guidance on working together to improve…
Law Society criticises absence of Mental Health Bill in King’s Speech amid calls for “urgent reform”
The Law Society, the Approved Mental Health Professionals Leads Network and charities have criticised the absence of a Mental Health Bill…
MoJ commissions research into legal aid advocacy system as part of review of civil legal aid
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has commissioned research into the legal aid advocacy system as part of its review of civil legal aid.
Levelling-Up Committee Chair urges Government not to “kick the can down the road” on ‘no fault evictions’ ban
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has accused ministers of seeking to deflect blame for the delays in implementing…
Resource pressures in local partnerships make it hard to prioritise early help for children and families, report finds
A multi-agency report has revealed that some families should have been stepped up from early help to statutory social care earlier than…
Senior judges call for greater role for junior counsel in advancing oral arguments in court
Senior members of the judiciary have issued a statement calling for greater participation of junior counsel in courts and tribunals…
Academy launches legal challenge after council registers land as village green
An academy school intends to take Bristol City Council to court in a dispute over playing fields.
Ex-teacher awarded £800k over discrimination by council during cancer treatment
A former teacher has won an £800,000 award at an Employment Tribunal after she lost her job with Lancashire County Council while being…
LGA urges Government to take council concerns into account when developing heat network regulations
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that new regulations on consumer protection for homes served by heat networks should not…
Olympic park development body to see planning powers transferred back to councils
Boroughs in east London are to recover town planning powers from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which was formed to…
Landlord wins Upper Tribunal over level of penalties for housing penalties
A Bradford landlord has had penalties reduced in a case which the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) said raised “some interesting questions…
Equalities watchdog to intervene in university reasonable adjustments case
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it will intervene in a legal case over universities and the reasonable adjustments…
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