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London borough and elected mayor agree settlement of discrimination claim

London borough and elected mayor agree settlement of discrimination claim

An Employment Tribunal claim brought against the London Borough of Newham by its directly elected executive mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, alleging race and sex discrimination, has been settled. Read more

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NEWS

December 20, 2024

Judge rejects latest bid by Information Commissioner to have appeal by council over FOI enforcement notice struck out

The Information Commissioner has failed in a second bid to have an appeal by Bristol City Council over an enforcement notice struck out, it has emerged.

December 20, 2024

Remote meeting rules should be drafted "as flexibly as possible”, Lawyers in Local Government says

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have both said that there should be "no limitation placed upon councils" with regard to remote meeting arrangements "up to and including full remote attendance".

December 20, 2024

Law Commission issues consultation paper on changes to "fragmented" law on compulsory purchase

The Law Commission has published a consultation paper on compulsory purchase, as part of its review of the current "complex and inaccessible" law on compulsory purchase and compensation.

December 20, 2024

Government tells another borough council it will not renew best value notice, but remains concerned about “significant debts”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has decided not to reissue a best value notice for Runnymede Borough Council after acknowledging its work to implement a set of CIPFA recommendations but remains "concerned" about "significant debt" at…

Dec 19, 2024

Ministry decides against reissuing best value notice against borough council despite continued concern at level of debt

Dec 19, 2024

Government consults on further reforms intended to make compulsory purchase process “faster and more efficient”

Dec 19, 2024

Court of Appeal to hear challenge to order providing anonymity for judges who heard historic family proceedings concerning Sara Sharif

Dec 19, 2024

Government mulls making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and PHV licensing

Dec 19, 2024

London borough obtains High Court injunction to stop unauthorised use of green belt land for parking

Dec 19, 2024

Court of Appeal rejects appeal by council over designation as local authority in respect of interim care order

Dec 19, 2024

Judges reject appeal by council in dispute over entitlement to right to buy

Dec 19, 2024

High Court rejects legal challenge over plan by mayor to remove low traffic neighbourhoods

Dec 19, 2024

Landlord wins appeal over HMO licence penalty amid dispute over whether five people lived in property

Dec 18, 2024

Government launches consultation on stricter standards regime

Dec 18, 2024

Ministry claims no council will see reduction in core spending power under provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, but counties cry foul over “cherry-picking”

Dec 18, 2024

Government proposes to streamline “fragmented” local audit system with creation of national body

For more news, please scroll down

FEATURES AND ANALYSIS

December 20, 2024

Bold ambitions

Amardeep Gill and Paul McDermott analyse the government’s English Devolution White Paper.

December 18, 2024

Best interests, wishes and feelings

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) looks at a recent Court of Protection ruling that provided a worked example in an imperfect world.

December 18, 2024

Lies in family law proceedings

Avaia Williams analyses a recent Court of Appeal judgment which provides insight into the handling of lies and credibility in family proceedings. The case clarifies the treatment of lies in family courts, particularly as it relates to fact-finding in child welfare cases and the distinction between the criminal and family courts.

December 18, 2024

Children law update - December 2024

Michael Jones KC rounds up the latest children law cases of interest to practitioners.

December 18, 2024

Capacity, sexual relations and public protection – another go-round before the Court of Appeal

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses the latest Court of Appeal judgment to consider the issue of capacity to engage in sexual relations.

December 18, 2024

Revocation of adoption orders

Joanna Moody considers whether, and if so in what circumstances, an adoption order can ever be revoked.

December 18, 2024

Adoption and contact: where do go from here?

Mark Senior reviews recent developments in relation to adoption and contact, and considers what will happen next.

For more features, please scroll down

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Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act

Blake Morgan's final Procurement Series Webinar is now available to watch as a pre-recorded session.

Pathfinder and the Sunflowers

In today’s episode of FortyTwo Talks, Family Law Practitioner, Rachel Chan, is joined by Estella Newbold-Brown, Partner of Amphlett Lissimore to discuss the Private Law 'Pathfinder' and Estella’s new book, Isla and Quinn The Sunflowers.

A-Z Family Law

You asked, we answered! As part of our ongoing podcast series, we are pleased to present the first of our A-Z Family Law podcasts.

MORE NEWS

Dec 18, 2024

County council fails in bid to strike out claim by care homes for £200k in fees

Dec 18, 2024

Prospect of stronger sanctions in standards cases welcomed but questions raised about proposal for national body

Dec 18, 2024

Local government to have representation on relaunched Net Zero Council

Dec 17, 2024

Bus Services Bill to remove ban on councils setting up own bus companies

Dec 17, 2024

Children not in school registers and unique identifier numbers to be introduced through Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Dec 16, 2024

English Devolution White Paper: reaction from the sector

Dec 16, 2024

English Devolution White Paper confirms major local government reorganisation plans

Dec 16, 2024

The return of Standards Board for England? Government to propose national body for most serious standards cases and appeals

Dec 16, 2024

More than 100 organisations call on Government to work with adult social care sector to “mitigate the pressures” on councils, providers and charities

Dec 16, 2024

National park authorities to be given general power of competence

Dec 16, 2024

Government shutters Office for Local Government

Dec 16, 2024

Housing management companies fined £45k after Merseyside council brings prosecutions over lack of selective licence

Dec 16, 2024

MPs launch inquiry into creation of public bodies and their governance

Dec 16, 2024

Report highlights “stark disparity” in preparation for adulthood provision for young people with and without EHC plan

Dec 16, 2024

Glasgow City Council to procure £22m legal services framework

Dec 16, 2024

London borough ends legal bid to recover £437k settlement payment made to former chief executive

Dec 13, 2024

CIPFA urges Government to break “destructive cycle” of ‘crisis-cash-repeat’ in adult social care

Dec 13, 2024

Croydon still among most financial distressed councils in country but making progress: Minister

Dec 12, 2024

Ombudsman calls on council to tackle backlog of benefits cases waiting to be referred to Tribunal

Dec 12, 2024

Regulator of Social Housing gives council in Essex lowest possible grade after uncovering “very serious failings”

Dec 12, 2024

City council operating “significantly beyond its means” and “currently far from sustainable” but leadership has grasped reality: Commissioners

Dec 12, 2024

Government announces adoption of revised National Planning Policy Framework aimed at boosting housebuilding

Dec 12, 2024

Court of Protection judge sets out guidance on mental capacity assessments for deaf individuals

Dec 12, 2024

Local Government Association adds voice to criticism of proposals to change SEND tribunal procedures

Dec 12, 2024

Court of Appeal rejects claim for “former relevant child” status

Dec 12, 2024

Judges allow appeal by minister over extension of time for service of statutory review claim form following court office delays

Dec 12, 2024

Judges refuse council permission to appeal “academic” homelessness ruling

Dec 12, 2024

Competition watchdog launches investigation into possible bid-rigging over school improvement contracts

Dec 11, 2024

Select committee to examine effectiveness of council interventions as part of inquiry into local government finance

Dec 11, 2024

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on restrictions on use of section 73 TCPA

Dec 11, 2024

ICO takes regulatory action against four public authorities over handling of FOI requests

Dec 11, 2024

Meaningful reform to SEND system will be “complex and costly”, warns top think tank

Dec 11, 2024

Ombudsman demands social housing providers address “complacency” towards dealing with hazards

Dec 11, 2024

Tesco hit with over £20k in fines and costs after store ignored planning condition on deliveries

Dec 10, 2024

Birmingham on verge of settling equal pay claims

Dec 10, 2024

High Court grants London borough interim injunction banning 'car meets'

Dec 10, 2024

Special school leaders consider legal challenge over council plans to change SEND provision at group of schools

Dec 10, 2024

Council decides not to pursue cases against group of drivers who failed to comply with Public Space Protection Order

Dec 10, 2024

High Court rejects appeal by nightclub operator over revocation of licence

Dec 09, 2024

Planning applications that comply with local development plans could “bypass planning committees entirely”, Government proposes

Dec 09, 2024

Government issues guide for public authorities on giving subsidies

Dec 09, 2024

Further education group to procure legal services worth £1.8m

Dec 09, 2024

Information Commissioner to continue with revised public sector approach despite mixed responses to trial

Dec 09, 2024

Sudanese refugee “more likely than not” born in year he claimed, Upper Tribunal judge rules in age assessment dispute

Dec 09, 2024

Unitary authority hit with statutory recommendation over audit concerns

Dec 09, 2024

TLT advises major social landlord on acquisition of affordable homes as part of regeneration project

Dec 09, 2024

Browne Jacobson advises largest freeport in Wales as it opens for business

Dec 09, 2024

Standards sub-committee raps council leader over failure to comply with sanction

Dec 06, 2024

Council planning staff arrested over suspected bribery offences

Dec 06, 2024

Police to take no action at Croydon over historic financial mismanagement

MORE FEATURES

December 18, 2024

Adoption and contact: where do go from here?

Mark Senior reviews recent developments in relation to adoption and contact, and considers what will happen next.

December 18, 2024

Post adoption contact – PLWG best practice: a guide

In this first article in a series covering the Public Law Working Group’s recommendations for best practice for adoption, Avaia Williams delves into Chapter 1 of the PLWG report, which addresses a pivotal topic for professionals and families involved in adoption proceedings: post-adoption contact.

December 18, 2024

A guide to Transparency Orders

Claudia Saxton provides a simple breakdown guide in relation to transparency orders; who may be granted a transparency order and what may they report on.

December 17, 2024

Mind the gap(s)

Lottie Winson speaks with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Amerdeep Somal, about her plans to address “accountability gaps”, challenges within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, and the key findings and recommendations of the Ombudsman’s recently published Triennial Review.

December 17, 2024

Complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty

In his latest bulletin for monitoring officers, Geoff Wild looks at how local authorities should approach the public sector equality duty.

December 17, 2024

Comments about accents

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that comments about an employee's accent can amount to race-related harassment under the Equality Act 2010, even without evidence of discriminatory intent. Alastair Fatemi analyses the judgment.

December 17, 2024

Changes in death certification

V. Charles Ward examines recent changes to death certification following the statutory adoption of the medical examiner system, and outlines their implications for local authorities.

December 17, 2024

Raising new substantive arguments at appeal stage

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled in a case involving a local authority that it would not be in the interests of justice to allow a claimant to raise a new argument on appeal, despite acknowledging an error in the Tribunal’s decision. Gareth Edwards explains why.

December 17, 2024

Adherence to the Public Law Outline in London – issues for family lawyers

Rebecca Davies discusses the Family Presiding Judge for London, Mr Justice MacDonald’s new practice note and strategy aimed at reducing the huge backlog and delay in the London family courts and how family lawyers may be affected.

December 17, 2024

What to do about the Re C problem?

Justin Gray explores solutions to the risk of children being able to veto their own care plans for long-term living arrangements in Scotland.

December 17, 2024

Care proceedings and recusal

Gary Fawcett considers two recent care cases he has dealt with recently where ‘recusal’ has cropped up.

December 16, 2024

The Subsidy Advice Unit: Making a Referral

Beatrice Wood talks through the process of making a referral to the Subsidy Advice Unit.

December 16, 2024

DfE’s Condition Improvement Fund – CMA Launches Investigation into Possible Bid-Rigging

Oliver Slater, Beth Edwards, Beatrice Wood and Shyann Sheehy share details of a recent CMA investigation into suspected bid-rigging in relation to a government fund.

December 16, 2024

Planning Reform – Government Publishes Policy Paper on Modernising Planning Committees

Emily Knowles and James Goldthorpe provide an update on the recent policy developments in planning law.

December 16, 2024

Webinar: NEC101 – Compensation Events, an introduction

Join Laura Campbell (Sharpe Pritchard) and Robert Gerrard (NEC Consultant) for this webinar as we go over NEC Compensation Events – what common mistakes people make, general advice and best practice.

December 13, 2024

Providing support for children with complex needs

Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) examines a recent High Court case concerning the Mental Health Act, ‘detainability,’ and judicial scrutiny (and the real underlying problems of children with complex needs).

December 13, 2024

Making FGM protection orders

A High Court judge recently made some important observations on the making of FGM protection orders in the future. Adam Kayani examines the ruling.