Apr 10, 2025

Council to review guidance on assessment of Blue Badge applications after Ombudsman investigation finds flaws

The London Borough of Hackney has agreed to review the guidance it gives to its assessors who handle applications for a Blue Badge, after a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) investigation suggested that the local authority’s approach was contrary to government guidance.

Apr 10, 2025

Regulator warns of “fundamental issues” with some lease-based provision of specialised supported housing

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has warned that “very few” lease-based landlords are delivering specialised supported housing in a way that consistently delivers the outcomes required by its regulatory standards.

Apr 10, 2025

Largest FE provider in London appoints law firm to £1.8m contract

Capital City College, the largest further education provider in London, has appointed Eversheds Sutherland to a £1.8m contract to provide legal services.

Apr 10, 2025

Met Police asks for £300k in s106 contributions to mitigate policing impact of 1,600-home development

The Metropolitan Police has called on a developer to agree to more than £300,000 in section 106 contributions in order to handle the increased policing needed for a proposed 1,600-home development in West London.

Apr 10, 2025

Council agrees to quash permission for quarry project: report

Charity the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) has said that a pre-action protocol letter to Northumberland County Council has led the authority to admit to a legal error and agree to enter into a consent order to quash its decision to permit a quarry project.

Apr 10, 2025

High Court judge spells out lessons on case management from care case that reached 80 weeks before final hearing

The Family Division of the High Court has made care orders in respect of four children in a case that reached 80 weeks before final hearing, with the judge warning that threshold should have been agreed at a “much earlier date” to allow the court to focus on welfare.

Apr 10, 2025

City council successfully defends adult social care charging policy at Court of Appeal

Birmingham City Council’s financial turmoil meant it was entitled not to reduce its charges for adult social care and the local authority did not breach the public sector equality duty, the Court of Appeal has found, declining to overturn a ruling last year by Mrs Justice Collins Rice.

Apr 10, 2025

High Court hands down ruling on assessment of housing needs and pre-2018 applications

The High Court has confirmed that duties in section 189A of the Housing Act 1996 apply to homelessness applications under its Part 7 even when made before the section came into force in April 2018, lawyers involved in a case brought against the London Borough of Hillingdon have said.

Apr 10, 2025

Motorcyclist fails in High Court appeal over dismissal of claim against London borough

The High Court has rejected all grounds argued by a motorcyclist who claimed he had been injured in an accident because the London Borough of Lewisham failed to provide adequate warning of a build-out that partly obstructed a road junction.

Apr 10, 2025

Planning Court judge rejects legal challenge to grant of planning permission by inspector for energy recovery facility

Objectors to a proposed energy recovery facility at Portland have lost their High Court bid to halt the project.

Apr 10, 2025

Ombudsman orders independent review of Housing for Women rent recovery practice, after resident incorrectly told she owed over £10,000 in rent

The Housing Ombudsman has highlighted a “significant failing” in Housing for Women’s approach to rent arrears and account management, after the landlord incorrectly told a resident they owed more than £10,000 in missed rent payments.

Apr 09, 2025

Minister rejects council bid to pull out of Greater Manchester joint development plan

The Housing and Planning Minister has refused to grant Oldham Council's request to be excluded from a joint development plan, which was agreed upon among nine Greater Manchester authorities last year.

Apr 09, 2025

Council agrees to name residential school in Education, Health and Care Plan following issuing of legal proceedings

Durham Council has agreed to name a residential school identified as suitable for meeting a child’s complex special educational needs after initially refusing to do so, following the issuing of legal proceedings in the Administrative Court.

Apr 09, 2025

Judge grants permission for judicial review challenge to lack of enforcement action over church building conversion

The High Court has agreed to hear a judicial review challenge of Runnymede District Council's failure to take enforcement action over the conversion of a disused church building into flats.

Apr 09, 2025

Council facing fresh judicial review over environmental permit for incinerator

Calderdale Council has reportedly vowed to contest a potential judicial review challenge over its decision to issue an environmental permit for a waste incinerator.

Apr 09, 2025

Council to pay £6k “symbolic payment” to family of child who missed full year of education due to its failures

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council at fault for failing to provide a child with suitable education for a whole year, and taking too long to issue an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Apr 08, 2025

Council to "put right" £1.15m payment controversy, says deputy leader

The deputy leader of Castle Point Borough Council has reiterated a commitment to "put right" historic potentially unlawful payments made to senior management known to be worth up to £1.15m.

Apr 08, 2025

Proposed environmental regulation reforms to give regulators more control over permits

The UK and Welsh Governments have unveiled proposals to amend environmental permitting regulations in a bid to simplify and speed up the process for lead regulators the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales "to create, amend and remove types of exempt facilities and activities which are…

Apr 08, 2025

Court of Appeal rejects claim by applicant for council jobs for whistleblower protection

The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by a claimant who argued that she had been subjected to a “detriment” because she made a protected disclosure of information after unsuccessfully applying for two posts at a local authority.

Apr 08, 2025

Court of Appeal rejects government appeal over river basin management plans

The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs acted unlawfully in approving a river basin management plan.

Apr 08, 2025

Devonshires promotes three lawyers to partner including two housing management specialists

Law firm Devonshires has promoted three solicitors to partner in its 2025 promotions round.

Apr 07, 2025

Geldards advises Nottingham City Council on Broad Marsh regeneration project

Law firm Geldards has advised Nottingham City Council on the sale of land and buildings to Homes England ahead of the proposed regeneration of the derelict Broad Marsh shopping centre.

Apr 07, 2025

Large onshore wind farms applications to go through NSIP regime

The House of Commons has backed changes to bring large onshore wind farm developments into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime.

Apr 07, 2025

Unlicensed taxi driver fined, given eight points on driver's licence after committing 543 offences

An unlicensed taxi driver has been fined after admitting that he carried out 543 journeys for his employer after his licence had been revoked.

Apr 07, 2025

Government to review every quango “to see if its existence is justified”

The Cabinet Office is to conduct a review of every arm’s length body (ALB) or quango across government, with a view to close, merge or bring functions back into departments if its continued existence cannot be justified.

Apr 07, 2025

Children’s social care providers will not be “unfairly penalised” for taking in children with complex needs: Ofsted

Ofsted has announced changes to its social care common inspection framework (SCCIF), with the aim of encouraging more homes and agencies to look after children with complex needs, with “added reassurance” that this will not negatively affect their Ofsted rating.

Apr 07, 2025

NHS procurement group names 13 law firms to £200m legal services framework

The North of England NHS Commercial Procurement Collaborative has appointed 13 firms to a legal services framework agreement worth an estimated £200m.

Apr 04, 2025

Cornwall Council “reviewing” decision to cease funding for residential provision at SEND school following launch of legal action by parent

Cornwall Council is reviewing its decision to close the residential provision at a school for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), following a legal challenge.

Apr 04, 2025

Woman found guilty of breaching Public Spaces Protection Order outside abortion clinic

A woman has been convicted of breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) imposed by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, after standing outside a Pregnancy Advisory Clinic holding a sign which read “Here to talk, if you want to”.

Apr 04, 2025

Council told to apologise for failing to action recommendation by Ombudsman to assess woman’s needs as a carer

Southend-on-Sea City Council has agreed to apologise to a mother for twice failing to assess her needs as a carer, despite agreeing to do so following a previous investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Apr 04, 2025

London Mayor to be handed new "call in" powers in licensing pilot

The Mayor of London could be granted new call in powers to review blocked licensing applications in nightlife hotspots as part of a pilot announced today (4 April).

Apr 04, 2025

Martyn’s Law gains Royal Assent

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as ‘Martyn’s Law’, has this week received Royal Assent and become law.

Apr 04, 2025

Birmingham remains in a “fragile” position, minister warns

Birmingham City Council remains in a "fragile" position, as an ongoing dispute over its waste service escalates to a "major incident”, the Local Government Minister has warned.

Apr 04, 2025

Legal advice on phosphates sought privately by councillor could open door to 12,000 dwellings

Somerset Council has said it will review its policy on phosphate mitigation after legal advice suggested improvement works by Wessex Water (WW) could allow for planning permission for almost 12,000 new dwellings in the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Apr 04, 2025

Tenant handed suspended prison sentence for misleading council officers in application to acquire council property under Right to Buy

A man from Barking and Dagenham has been sentenced for housing fraud after being found guilty of “deliberately misleading” council officers in an application to acquire his 3-bed council property under the Right to Buy Scheme.

Apr 04, 2025

Cornwall man banned from keeping dogs for 10 years following successful Criminal Behaviour Order application by council

A man from Cornwall whose dogs killed 22 sheep while roaming free has received a 10-year ban from keeping or owning dogs, after the local authority successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Apr 03, 2025

MPs demand action to tackle temporary accommodation crisis linked to deaths of 74 children in last five years

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has called for a fundamental overhaul of temporary accommodation in England, which it says is in crisis and is leaving record high numbers of children without a permanent home.

Apr 03, 2025

London councils call for bespoke devolution deal in English Devolution Bill

Council leaders across London have called for bespoke devolution arrangements in London to be included in the Government's forthcoming English Devolution Bill.

Apr 03, 2025

Combined authority issued with best value notice

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has issued Tees Valley Combined Authority with a best value notice over governance and culture concerns.

Apr 03, 2025

First-tier Tribunal is “suitable alternative remedy” to judicial review in EHC plan dispute, High Court rules

The High Court has dismissed a judicial review application brought on behalf of a young person with complex needs over the lawfulness of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan issued by the London Borough of Islington, after finding that the First-tier Tribunal is a “suitable alternative remedy”.

Apr 03, 2025

National park authority fails in Planning Court challenge to decision by inspector to grant permission for home extension

No error was made by a planning inspector who granted an appeal to extend a home after the initial application was rejected by the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA), the High Court has found.

Apr 03, 2025

Councils secure unauthorised encampment injunction but judge issues warning on site provision

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council have secured an injunction to prevent persons unknown from setting up unauthorised encampments in parts of the area, but the borough council has been warned by a judge to improve Gypsy and Traveller provision and consider providing a…

Apr 03, 2025

Street preaching injunction application paused in face of challenge

Rushmoor Borough Council has paused its efforts to pursue an injunction banning street preaching in two town centres after being challenged by a Christian legal campaign group.

Apr 03, 2025

High Court lifts automatic suspension in procurement dispute over £46m care and support services contract, refuses expedited trial

Damages will be a sufficient remedy in a procurement dispute over the provision of community equipment services and technology enabled care and support services should the claimant succeed against Devon County Council, the High Court has concluded.

Apr 02, 2025

Sharpe Pritchard promotes planning and dispute resolution specialists to partner

Leading public law firm Sharpe Pritchard has promoted a dispute resolution specialist and a planning lawyer to partner.

Apr 02, 2025

Council defends judicial review over decision not to consider out of time request for review of suitability of property offered

A claimant has lost his application for judicial review in which he argued that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea acted irrationally in refusing him a review of the suitability of a property he was offered.

Apr 02, 2025

Defra unveils measures to streamline "outdated" environmental regulation in bid to accelerate planning approvals

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced a series of reforms to environmental regulation aimed at driving economic growth and meeting the Government's housebuilding target of 1.5 million before the end of this Parliament.

Apr 02, 2025

Responsibility for fire functions transfers to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

All fire functions have been transferred from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from the beginning of this month, the Government has announced.

Apr 02, 2025

Council agrees to train housing staff on Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Homelessness Code of Guidance after Ombudsman investigation

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has agreed to provide training or guidance to all of its housing staff on the changes introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 as well as the requirements of chapter 21 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on domestic abuse, following an investigation by the…

Apr 01, 2025

Police force undertaking “rapid and thorough review” after Hertfordshire couple arrested over complaints made about primary school

The Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has asked for an “explanation” from the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, after a couple were arrested over complaints they made about their child's primary school, which included comments in a parents' WhatsApp group.

Apr 01, 2025

Council launches legal challenge over decision of planning inspector to allow grey belt development

Walsall Council has launched a statutory review challenge against a planning inspector's decision to allow an appeal and grant planning permission for a temporary battery energy storage facility.

Apr 01, 2025

Birmingham has better understanding of work required for recovery but “cultural dysfunction” is among risks to progress: Commissioners

Birmingham City Council continues to face significant challenges in finances, equal pay, culture, governance, services, and transformation, the local authority's Commissioners have reported.

Apr 01, 2025

Cornwall names council and eight law firms to £12m legal services framework

Cornwall Council has appointed Warwickshire County Council alongside eight law firms to its £12m legal framework agreement.

Apr 01, 2025

Guinness Partnership names nine firms to £9.3m legal services framework

Major social landlord the Guinness Partnership has named nine firms to a legal services framework agreement estimated to be worth £9.3m over four years.

Apr 01, 2025

Tenant wins battle with city council over allocation of housing disrepair case to fast track

A Senior Circuit Judge has backed a tenant in a dispute with Bristol City Council over whether her housing disrepair claim should be allocated to the fast track.

Apr 01, 2025

Settlement reached in judicial review proceedings over Isles of Scilly funding of transport for sixth formers

A settlement has been reached and a final order made by the High Court in judicial review proceedings taken against the Council of the Isles of Scilly, in relation to its decision to limit the increase in grant funding to a total of £8,000 for post-16 transport and accommodation, to enable children…

Apr 01, 2025

Government launches new body to “get a grip” on infrastructure delays

The Government has launched the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) in a bid to accelerate the delivery of major government projects.

Mar 31, 2025

Weightmans names Walton as first female managing partner 

Sarah Walton, previously the client relationships director at Weightmans, has been named the national firm’s first female managing partner.

Mar 31, 2025

Former Liverpool mayor denies bribery and misconduct charges

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has vowed to clear his name after appearing in court on bribery and misconduct charges.

Mar 31, 2025

Green light given for legal challenge over grant of planning permission for 1,500-home development

A decision to grant planning permission for up to 1,500 new homes in West Yorkshire is set to be challenged in the High Court after campaigners received permission last month for their judicial review challenge to be heard.

Mar 28, 2025

Some 1,280 children subject to deprivation of liberty applications in 2024, with order made in almost 90% of cases issued: MoJ

New data published by the Ministry of Justice has revealed that 1,280 children were subject to applications to deprive them of their liberty in 2024 in England and Wales, down from 1,368 in 2023.

Mar 28, 2025

High Court quashes council planning decision by consent on flood risk ground

A High Court judge has issued a quashing order after Southwark Council conceded that its decision to grant permission for an infill development on a London council estate breached national planning policy.

Mar 28, 2025

Croydon woman fractured spine using bed turning aid after council withdrew funding for night-time care, Ombudsman finds

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that a disabled woman, who is dependent on care staff to meet her needs, fractured her spine using a bed turning aid installed by the NHS after Croydon Council withdrew funding for her night-time care.

Mar 27, 2025

NHS trust to pay “significant” damages following detention of man with learning disabilities for almost a year

The High Court has approved the settlement of a civil claim brought by a man with learning disabilities and autism, who was detained for a period of 340 days as there was no safe alternative accommodation available.

Mar 27, 2025

Care providers threaten legal action over NI contribution increases

Care England, the representative body for independent care providers, has this week instructed lawyers to begin judicial review proceedings over the imposition of higher Employers National Insurance (NI) Contributions.

Mar 27, 2025

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on matters that can be raised on appeal of review decision dealing with suitability of accommodation

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a resident over what could be raised in a review request to London Borough of Haringey after she had rejected a property offer as unsuitable.

Mar 27, 2025

Rules committee consults on requirement for experts in family law children cases to be regulated

The Family Procedure Rule Committee is consulting on proposed changes to the Family Procedure Rules and associated Practice Directions, to ensure that experts instructed in family law children proceedings have the “relevant qualifications and oversight” to provide an expert opinion.

Mar 27, 2025

Appellant fails in Divisional Court challenge to convictions over failure to meet private hire vehicle licensing requirements

The Divisional Court has rejected an appeal by the owner of a company that contracted with local authorities to provide transport services for children with special educational needs against his conviction on four charges of being the operator of a private hire vehicle (PHV) when a PHV licence was…

Mar 27, 2025

Upper Tribunal rejects appeal by successful party over refusal costs award against council in improvement notice dispute

A property firm has lost a costs application against the London Borough of Lambeth after Martin Rodger KC, Deputy Chamber President, said at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) that, despite finding a combination of legal errors in the costs decision of the First-Tier Tribunal Property Chamber, it…

Mar 27, 2025

Borough to have first static facial recognition cameras in London

Croydon town centre is to get the Metropolitan Police’s first batch of static facial recognition cameras.

Mar 26, 2025

High Court awards £20,000 in damages to parish clerk over defamatory Facebook posts by councillor

A parish clerk has been awarded £20,000 in damages after defamatory social media posts by a parish councillor, who was “consumed with a very strong personal dislike” of the clerk, were found to have caused serious harm to their reputation.

Mar 26, 2025

Spring Statement could mean reduction to MHCLG budget: County Councils Network

The County Councils Network (CCN) has expressed concern after reporting that the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement indicates the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) could see reduced funding over the course of this Parliament.

Mar 26, 2025

Councils entitled to create standing orders regulating circumstances in which a member will be entitled to vote: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal concerning whether Tower Hamlets Council was entitled to make a rule that only councillors who had been present when a planning application had previously been considered could vote on the deferred application.

Mar 26, 2025

Council drops plan to demote monitoring officer after CIPFA review

Somerset Council has adopted a staffing restructuring plan that places the monitoring officer in the second tier of the organisation, following a CIPFA report that criticised proposals to move the role to a fourth-tier position.

Mar 26, 2025

Profit making from children’s care in Wales set to end by 2030 through introduction of Health and Social Care (Wales) Act

The passage of the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025 has made Wales the first UK nation to legislate to introduce an effective ban on private profit in children’s residential and foster care.

Mar 26, 2025

Council allowed child protection plan to "drift without substantive action", Ombudsman finds

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found West Berkshire Council at fault for delaying its child protection processes and allowing a Child Protection Plan to "drift without substantive action".

Mar 26, 2025

All 21 areas met deadline for submitting interim plans for reorganisation: McMahon

Every single area of two-tier authorities and their neighbouring small unitaries responded to the Government’s invitation to submit interim plans for reorganisation by the deadline of 21 March, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has confirmed.

Mar 25, 2025

Spending watchdog issues lessons learned report for public bodies considering how to finance new public infrastructure

The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued a report outlining the lessons to be learned from more than 140 of its publications with relevance to the use of private finance for infrastructure.

Mar 25, 2025

Landlords in Scunthorpe pursue legal challenge over proposed selective licensing scheme

A selective licensing scheme due to be implemented in Scunthorpe has been delayed following a legal challenge from local landlords seeking a judicial review of the decision.

Mar 25, 2025

Electoral staff facing “intolerable” conditions with more than half reporting abuse, survey finds

While the 2024 general election was well-managed, the resilience of electoral processes is "questionable", with staff consistently reporting time and resourcing problems, the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) has warned.

Mar 25, 2025

Protocol issued on disclosure of information between Coroners and Family Court in cases involving fatality

The President of the Family Division and the Chief Coroner have this week (24 March) published guidance on good practice for Family Court Judges and Coroners where there are parallel proceedings in their jurisdictions.

Mar 25, 2025

Standards watchdog calls on public sector organisations to foster culture of openness in bid to address early warning signs of emerging problems

Public sector organisations must facilitate a culture where speaking up about concerns and learning from mistakes are "seen as a personal duty and are valued by everyone in the organisation", the Committee for Standards in Public Life has urged.

Mar 25, 2025

Barnet to face London's first local authority equal pay claim, union says

GMB Union has launched legal proceedings on behalf of around 400 women working as school support staff at Barnet Council, in what the union says is the first local authority equal pay claim launched in London.

Mar 25, 2025

Teachers threaten legal action being “left in limbo” due to delays in receiving pensions valuations 

Teachers who have been affected by “major delays” in getting their pensions valued are threatening legal action against the Government and pension provider, Capita Pension Solutions.

Mar 25, 2025

Infrastructure and Projects Authority issues guidance on navigating risks of PFI project distress

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has issued technical guidance for PFI contract senior responsible owners and contract managers in England to help them identify signs of PFI project distress.

Mar 25, 2025

New model of public private partnerships must be forged to “bridge gap” between national ambitions, local action and community benefit for Local Power Plans, says thinktank

A new report by think-tank Localis has warned that the delivery of a successful Local Power Plan will require “concerted action” across all levels of government, including the production of legislation to “formalise” local area energy planning, and investment in local government skills programmes.

Mar 24, 2025

Sharpe Pritchard advises city council on procurement of energy from waste facility contract

Law firm Sharpe Pritchard has advised Stoke-on-Trent City Council in procuring a contract for an energy from waste facility in Hanford.

Mar 24, 2025

Committee for Standards in Public Life backs stricter standards regime, including disqualification

The Committee for Standards in Public Life has backed proposals to bolster the standards regime in England, including provisions that would see a mandatory minimum prescribed code of conduct as well as new powers to suspend and even disqualify councillors in extreme cases.

Mar 24, 2025

Scrutiny committee asks cabinet to reconsider land sales amid concerns of possible breach of constitutional rules

Derby City Council's executive scrutiny board has resolved to uphold a call-in notice of a decision to sell two parcels of land and refer the issue back to the authority’s Cabinet for reconsideration.

Mar 24, 2025

No more “sticking plasters” LGA chair urges ahead of local government spending review

The time for "sticking plasters and emergency government bailouts needs to come to an end", the Local Government Association's (LGA) chair has said after a survey revealed nearly three-quarters of responding councils felt it will be very or fairly difficult to set a balanced budget for 2025/26.

Mar 24, 2025

MPs “appalled” at continued delay in cladding remediation

Eight years on from Grenfell, the Government still does not know how many buildings have dangerous cladding, how much it will cost to address, or how long it will take, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said.

Mar 24, 2025

LBLA fires gun on procurement of £72m legal services framework

The London Boroughs' Legal Alliance (the LBLA) has started the procurement of its next legal services framework, which is estimated to be worth up to £72m over four years.

Mar 24, 2025

Less than a third of councils in England report having enough childcare for at least 75% of children with SEND in their area, charity finds

A survey by children’s charity Coram has highlighted gaps in childcare availability for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with only 29% of local authorities in England reporting having enough childcare for at least 75% of children with SEND in their area.

Mar 21, 2025

High Court dismisses claims of coercion by council when it issued costs warning in planning enforcement case

A High Court judge has rejected an assertion that a warning by a council of continuing proceedings and the associated costs had “coerced” the defendants in a planning enforcement dispute into providing undertakings.

Mar 21, 2025

Supreme Court to hand down judgment over council rule on councillor voting and deferred planning applications

The Supreme Court will next week hand down its much anticipated ruling in a dispute about whether Tower Hamlets Council was entitled to make a rule that only councillors who had been present when a planning application had previously been considered could vote on deferred applications.

Mar 21, 2025

Counties warn of “financial catastrophe” in 12 months’ time, with “unmanageable” SEND deficits risking bankruptcy for half of England’s largest councils

The County Councils Network (CCN) has today (21 March) claimed that there are just 12 months to avoid a “financial catastrophe” for English local authorities, with almost £6bn in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits set to be placed on their balance sheets in March 2026.

Mar 21, 2025

Ombudsman urges social landlords to make use of ‘early warning sign’ safety complaints

The Housing Ombudsman has called on housing providers to make use of safety complaints from residents to catch service failures before they affect a larger number of residents.

Mar 20, 2025

Local areas “failing to address” safeguarding needs of Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage children and should review approaches to tackling racial bias: report

A new report by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has highlighted a “concerning lack of focus” on race, ethnicity, and culture in safeguarding practice and reviews, and has called for Child Safeguarding Partnerships to “review their local strategies and approaches to addressing race,…

Mar 20, 2025

Disabled woman left in “state of neglect” after council took too long to decide what funding it would give her to manage own support needs, Ombudsman finds

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Islington Council for leaving a woman with significant needs without any care and support for “months on end”, after it took too long to decide what funding it would give her to manage her own support needs.

Mar 19, 2025

Upper Tribunal hands down ruling in first case on additional learning provision under 2018 legislation in Wales

The Upper Tribunal has in part allowed a council’s appeal against a decision by the Education Tribunal for Wales in relation to the naming of a school in a child’s Individual Development Plan, in the first case to have been brought under the new 2018 Act regime for Additional Learning Provision in…

Mar 19, 2025

Court quashes council decision on home to school travel package

The High Court has allowed an appeal brought by a single mother in relation to her son’s package of home-to-school transport, finding that a city council’s decision to withdraw the support was “irrational”.

Mar 19, 2025

Confiscation order increased by £280K after undeclared assets found in waste offences case

A man who was convicted of waste offences has been ordered to pay an additional £278,492 after the Environment Agency re-opened an inquiry into his finances and discovered he had undeclared assets.

Mar 19, 2025

MPs accuse Government of not having sufficient oversight of local authority finances

The Government does not have sufficient oversight over "worsening" local authority finances and its ability to effectively monitor financial pressure within local authorities has been undermined, at a time when some councils are already in poor financial health, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)…

Mar 19, 2025

Man behind legal challenge over bitcoin wallet and access to council-owned landfill site says “fight far from over” after Court of Appeal rebuff

The claimant pursuing a legal challenge against Newport City Council over a lost hard drive containing access to a Bitcoin wallet worth more than £500m has said he will take his claim to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) following the Court of Appeal's decision to refuse permission for an…

Mar 19, 2025

Judge criticises arm’s length children’s social care company over FOI failures

Reading Borough Council has been urged by the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) Information Rights to make sure its arm’s-length children’s service acts correctly in future freedom of information cases.

Mar 19, 2025

Court of Appeal clarifies Planning Court judgment in case on effect of phone masts on medical implants but acknowledges ruling might have been “open to misinterpretation”

Cheltenham Borough Council has taken the usual step of appealing a case in which it was successful because of concern that the Planning Court’s ruling would have meant the potential impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on medical implants would always be a material planning…

Mar 19, 2025

Campaigner wins High Court battle with council over correct treatment of up to £10m in car parking income at Whitby Harbour

A predecessor council to North Yorkshire Council should have credited car parking and rental income from land adjacent to Whitby Harbour to the harbour’s account rather then its general one, the High Court has ruled after studying laws dating back to 1827.

Mar 19, 2025

Welsh Government to bring parts of Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill into Wales

The Welsh Government has asked that certain provisions within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, including those in relation to children in secure accommodation and children not in school, be applied to Wales in the same way as England.

Mar 19, 2025

Council and union agreement averts 'fire and rehire' scheme

Devon County Council has shelved plans to fire and rehire more than 800 staff over a dispute about cutting Essential Car User Allowance payments, after the local authority reached an agreement with union members.

Mar 19, 2025

Civil Justice Council reiterates concern equal access to justice not obtainable for all litigants in county courts

Ethnic minority users of the county court service are disproportionately disadvantaged by the system’s delays, the Civil Justice Council (CJC) has said.

Mar 19, 2025

Councils urge Government to ensure all parts of funding system for tackling homelessness work in tandem

The Local Government Association (LGA) has largely backed the Government’s proposed changes in funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant, dissenting only over the use of mean rents in the private rented sector as a measure of temporary accommodation costs.

Mar 19, 2025

Sacked inspector wins unfair dismissal case against Ofsted

Schools inspection body Ofsted was wrong to sack an inspector who wiped water off a pupil’s head, the Court of Appeal has found.

Mar 18, 2025

Children’s law silk joins Parklane Plowden

Simon Bickler KC, a specialist in children’s law, has joined the 38-strong family team at Parklane Plowden Chambers.

Mar 18, 2025

Court of Appeal to hear appeal by council over whether it owed s.20 Children Act duty to claimant when he was 17

The Court of Appeal this week will hear an appeal by Surrey County Council over a High Court judge’s decision to allow a judicial review claim against the local authority’s refusal to comply with duties said to be owed to the claimant under the Children Act 1989 when he was 17 years old.

Mar 18, 2025

Absence and suspensions in schools two-thirds higher than pre-pandemic: IPPR report

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that absence and suspensions in schools are two thirds higher than pre-pandemic, and that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children are impacted the most.

Mar 18, 2025

Local authority adults services need “greater understanding” of local population equality and diversity issues, warns CQC

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has outlined key lessons from the first half of its local authority assessment programme, which has found good practice in the use of reablement care, but a lack of understanding of local population equality and diversity issues.

Mar 18, 2025

ICO announces new statutory code to regulate AI in public and private sector

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is set to introduce a statutory code of practice for public and private sector organisations on developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI).

Mar 17, 2025

Government poised to send commissioners into borough council after damning best value report

The Government is minded to send commissioners in to Spelthorne Borough Council after a best value report found the council in a "critical financial position, burdened by unsustainable debt levels, significant investment risks, and systemic governance weaknesses".

Mar 17, 2025

High Court rejects claims of “combined duty” on council to operate system that ensures provision of same-sex personal care

The High Court has dismissed a judicial review application brought on behalf of a young woman with severe disabilities in relation to the local council’s provision of same-sex personal and intimate care for women service users.

Mar 17, 2025

Habitats and environmental regulations to be reviewed as part of plans to “cut costly red tape”, Government says

A new streamlined process for environmental regulations will be implemented for major projects and habitats regulations concerning bats are to be reviewed, the Government has said.