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Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: Why Local
Authorities Cannot Afford to Wait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The UK Government’s proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is likely to mark a
significant shift in regulatory expectations. Jonathan Askin explores the reasons why.

Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: Why Local
Authorities Cannot Afford to Wait

 

 

 

 

 

The UK Government’s proposed Cyber Security and Resilience
Bill is likely to mark a significant shift in regulatory expectations.
Jonathan Askin explores the reasons why.

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Automatic suspensions under the
Procurement Act 2023: the first case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The test for lifting the automatic suspension under Section 102 of the Procurement
Act 2023 has been considered by the Courts for the first time, resulting in confirmation
that the new test is significantly different to the American Cyanamid test and the
suspension being maintained pending trial. Ed Williams looks at why.

Automatic suspensions under the
Procurement Act 2023: the first case

 

 

 

 

The test for lifting the automatic suspension under Section
102 of the Procurement Act 2023 has been considered by the
Courts for the first time, resulting in confirmation that the new
test is significantly different to the American Cyanamid test
and the suspension being maintained pending trial.
Ed Williams looks at why.

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Procurement Act 2023 – One Year On:
When it starts to get contentious

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the third and final article of this series, Jo Dumphy and Katherine Calder
from DAC Beachcroft consider some of the challenges facing suppliers and
contracting authorities in bringing and defending potential claims following
the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, and highlight the practical
considerations when authorities come across them.

Procurement Act 2023 – One Year On:
When it starts to get contentious

 

 

 

In the third and final article of this series, Jo Dumphy and
Katherine Calder consider some of the challenges facing
suppliers and contracting authorities in bringing and defending
potential claims following the introduction of the Procurement
Act 2023, and highlight the practical considerations when
authorities come across them.

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Establishing relevant defects under
the Building Safety Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The First Tier Tribunal has provided helpful clarity on what amounts to a
“relevant defect” for the purposes of Remediation Orders and Remediation
Contribution Orders under the Building Safety Act 2022, writes Sarah Grant.

Establishing relevant defects under
the Building Safety Act

 

 

 

 

The First Tier Tribunal has provided helpful clarity on what
amounts to a “relevant defect” for the purposes of
Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution
under the Building Safety Act 2022, writes Sarah Grant.

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The Employment Rights Act 2025:
What Public Sector Employers Need to Know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will have a significant
operational and financial impact on public sector employers, particularly
local authorities and schools, where large workforces, high levels of unionisation
and public accountability increase exposure to risk.

The Employment Rights Act 2025:
What Public Sector Employers Need to Know

 

 

 

Many of the changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 will
have a significant operational and financial impact on public
sector employers, particularly local authorities and schools,
where large workforces, high levels of unionisation and
public accountability increase exposure to risk.

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The Practical impact of the Procurement Act 2023
– the challenges, the benefits and the legal lacunas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the second of three articles for Local Government Lawyer on the Procurement
Act 2023 one year after it went live, Katherine Calder and Victoria Fletcher from
DAC Beachcroft consider some of its practical impact and implications, including
how to choose the right regime, how authorities are tackling the notice requirements,
considerations when making modifications, and setting and monitoring KPIs.

The Practical impact of the Procurement
Act 2023 – the challenges, the benefits
and the legal lacunas

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Victoria Fletcher from DAC Beachcroft
consider some of its practical impact and implications,
including how to choose the right regime, how authorities
are tackling the notice requirements, considerations when
making modifications, and setting and monitoring KPIs.

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Weekly mandatory food
waste collections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What are the new rules on food waste collections and why are
councils set to miss the March deadline? Ashfords’ energy
and resource management team explain.

Weekly mandatory food
waste collections

 

 

 

 


What are the new rules on food waste collections and why are
councils set to miss the March deadline? Ashfords’ energy
and resource management team explain.

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The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On -
How procurement processes are evolving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Sarah Foster of DAC Beachcroft focus on
changes to procurement design at selection and tender stage in
three key areas of change that the Act introduced.

The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On -
How procurement processes are evolving

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine Calder and Sarah Foster of DAC Beachcroft focus on
changes to procurement design at selection and tender stage in
three key areas of change that the Act introduced.
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Service charge recovery
and the Building Safety Act 2022

 

 

 

 

Zoe McGovern, Sian Gibbon and Caroline Frampton set out
what local authorities need to consider when it comes to
the Building Safety Act 2022 and service charge recovery.

Service charge recovery
and the Building Safety Act 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe McGovern, Sian Gibbon and Caroline Frampton set out
what local authorities need to consider when it comes to
the Building Safety Act 2022 and service charge recovery.

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Fix it fast: How “Awaab’s Law”
is forcing action

Eleanor Jones sets out
what "Awaab's Law"
will mean in practice
for social landlords.

Fix it fast: How “Awaab’s Law”
is forcing action

Eleanor Jones sets out
what "Awaab's Law"
will mean in practice
for social landlords.

The right to lobby councillors

Geoff Wild examines the ability of the public to lobby councillors - or "the right to write".
August 26, 2026
The right to lobby councillors

The Culture Club of a LGR merger

Paul Feild outlines the importance of culture to successful local government reorganisation.
August 26, 2026
The Culture Club of a LGR merger

The right to be accompanied: when process, discretion and humanity collide

Nina Seymour reviews the right to be accompanied during workplace disciplinary and grievance procedures, highlighting the importance of considering both legal obligations and the individual circumstances of those involved.
August 26, 2026
The right to be accompanied: when process, discretion and humanity collide

Local Government Reorganisation and rethinking corporate structures

Is now the time to rethink your corporate structures? Peter Collins looks at the benefit for local authorities undergoing local government reorganisation in reviewing their arrangements. Local Government Reorganisation is often viewed as a process of transition. It can also be…
August 26, 2026
Local Government Reorganisation and rethinking corporate structures

Whistleblowers and reports to regulators

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed that whistleblowers cannot rely on selected passages of a disclosure to a regulator in isolation; tribunals are entitled to read the disclosure in full context when assessing the worker's belief in its truth. Sharmin Chowdhury…
August 26, 2026
Whistleblowers and reports to regulators

Reasons to be cheerful: 0-2-6!

Mark Cook assesses plans to put good British jobs at the heart of social value in Government procurement.
August 25, 2026
Reasons to be cheerful: 0-2-6!

Local Government Reorganisation and the shareholder role

In the fourth instalment in his five-part series, Peter Collins looks at who will hold the shareholder role after vesting day. One question often receives less attention than it deserves during Local Government Reorganisation. Once the new authority comes into existence, who…
August 25, 2026
Local Government Reorganisation and the shareholder role

Local Government Reorganisation and liabilities

Peter Collins sets out the liabilities councils going through reorgansiation cannot afford to overlook. Corporate structures can sometimes create the impression that assets, contracts and liabilities sit at arm's length from the council itself. In reality, understanding exactly…
August 25, 2026
Local Government Reorganisation and liabilities

Reforms to the NSIP Regime (and Beyond…)

James Goldthorpe, Emyr Thomas and Alastair Lewis set out where the government’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (“NSIPs”) reforms have reached, the implications of the changes made to date and how the latest consultation “beyond NSIPS” could allow the government…
August 21, 2026
Reforms to the NSIP Regime (and Beyond…)

Business rates, empty properties and the placement of boxes

The Court of Appeal recently upheld a challenge to ‘box shifting’ rate mitigation schemes. Barristers at Landmark Chambers involved in the case explain why.
August 21, 2026
Business rates, empty properties and the placement of boxes

Accurate civil penalty notices

David Smith looks at the lessons for housing cases from a recent Supreme Court judgment on civil penalty notices in the immigration field.
August 21, 2026
Accurate civil penalty notices

The bidder with no statutory rights

A supplier from outside the UK’s treaty network has just been told what it can and cannot claim when it loses a public competition. Paul…
Aug 19, 2026
The bidder with no statutory rights

Interference with medical equipment

James Norman looks at the lessons from a recent case where the local authority contended that the threshold criteria were satisfied on the…
Aug 19, 2026
Interference with medical equipment

Permanent exclusions and decision letters

The High Court recently quashed a school’s decision to permanently exclude a pupil. Thomas McElholm looks at the lessons from the ruling,…
Aug 18, 2026
Permanent exclusions and decision letters

First decision on the Crime and Policing Act 2026

The scope of the new limitation regime under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has been confined to sexual abuse claims. James Arrowsmith…
Aug 14, 2026
First decision on the Crime and Policing Act 2026

Footing the bill

Are councils paying bills that should be the NHS's responsibility? Michelle Evans looks at the issues around continuing healthcare.
Aug 14, 2026
Footing the bill

Public law case update Q1 2026

Kieran Laird, Emma Toma and Amnic Atwal provide an overview of six public law and regulation cases from the first quarter of 2026,…
Aug 14, 2026
Public law case update Q1 2026

Alteration to the design of plans

Victoria Hamblen examines a recent Court of Appeal ruling in which the judges unanimously allowed a council's appeal over an alteration to…
Aug 12, 2026
Alteration to the design of plans

Alteration to the design of plans

Victoria Hamblen examines a recent Court of Appeal ruling in which the judges unanimously allowed a council's appeal over an alteration to…
Aug 12, 2026
Alteration to the design of plans

It’s academic

Judicial review of Temporary Stop Notices (TSN) is rare; a recent judgment is a reminder of why that is, writes Roderick Morton.
Aug 12, 2026
It’s academic

Interfering with welfare assessments by trial judges

The Court of Appeal recently considered whether a trial judge had erred in refusing care and placement orders and instead directing that…
Aug 07, 2026
Interfering with welfare assessments by trial judges

When and how to consult on service changes

The Court of Appeal has provided some clarification when it comes to consultation on service changes, writes Simon Goacher.
Aug 07, 2026
When and how to consult on service changes

Aug 07, 2026

Clearing up cloud-cuckoo land

Chris Grose, Rating Director at Hartnell Taylor Cook, demystifies business rates for local authorities.
Aug 06, 2026

Ending the Main Housing Duty

Nicholas Grundy KC, Michael Mullin and Joe Mahon (who represented the Respondent London borough) and Millie Polimac (who represented the…
Aug 06, 2026

Home advantage

Jon Coane and Michael Nutman consider how local authorities can move the needle on social and affordable housing.
Aug 05, 2026

Tackling social housing fraud

As the 3rd Edition of ‘Cornerstone on Social Housing Fraud’ is published, Andrew Lane sets out some practical takeaways on working in this…
Jul 31, 2026

Interpretation of s.106 agreements

The Court of Appeal has applied principles of construction of commercial agreements to planning obligations, in a case concerning mortgagee…
Jul 29, 2026

Making and enforcing byelaws

Geoff Wild sets out key considerations when looking to make, amend, revoke, re-enact or enforce byelaws (or ‘bylaws’, as they should more…
Jul 29, 2026

Pride displays in workplaces

An Employment Tribunal has recently given its reasons for concluding why pride displays in a workplace were not discriminatory against a…
Jul 22, 2026

Charging for appointeeship

Alex Cisneros looks at the ability of appointees, including local authorities, to charge for their services.
Jul 21, 2026

AI Can See Clearly Now 2026

Jennifer Thelen, Saara Idelbi and Nyasha Weinberg host a pre-recorded webinar on AI Generated Legal Correspondence.
Jul 21, 2026

Worth Your Data in Gold

Jennifer Thelen, Philip Dayle and Steph David offer practical solutions to pleading and quantum in data protection claims.
Jul 21, 2026

Climate Law Matters: Live

39 Essex Chambers discussed recent developments in climate law, crossing multiple sectors.

Features List

Aug 26, 2026

Local Government Reorganisation and rethinking corporate structures

Is now the time to rethink your corporate structures? Peter Collins looks at the benefit for local authorities undergoing local government reorganisation in reviewing their arrangements. Local Government Reorganisation is often viewed as a process of transition. It can also be an opportunity. As councils review their wider corporate landscape, there is value in asking whether existing structures continue to support the strategic ambitions of the future authority. That does not automatically…
Aug 26, 2026

Whistleblowers and reports to regulators

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed that whistleblowers cannot rely on selected passages of a disclosure to a regulator in isolation; tribunals are entitled to read the disclosure in full context when assessing the worker's belief in its truth. Sharmin Chowdhury examines the judgment.
Aug 25, 2026

Reasons to be cheerful: 0-2-6!

Mark Cook assesses plans to put good British jobs at the heart of social value in Government procurement.
Aug 25, 2026

Local Government Reorganisation and the shareholder role

In the fourth instalment in his five-part series, Peter Collins looks at who will hold the shareholder role after vesting day. One question often receives less attention than it deserves during Local Government Reorganisation. Once the new authority comes into existence, who will actually exercise shareholder powers? The answer has important implications for governance, accountability and effective decision-making from the very first day. Shareholder responsibilities don't disappear…
Aug 25, 2026

Local Government Reorganisation and liabilities

Peter Collins sets out the liabilities councils going through reorgansiation cannot afford to overlook. Corporate structures can sometimes create the impression that assets, contracts and liabilities sit at arm's length from the council itself. In reality, understanding exactly what sits within each company becomes increasingly important as Local Government Reorganisation progresses. Before vesting day, councils should ensure they have a clear picture of the commitments held within every…
Aug 21, 2026

Reforms to the NSIP Regime (and Beyond…)

James Goldthorpe, Emyr Thomas and Alastair Lewis set out where the government’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (“NSIPs”) reforms have reached, the implications of the changes made to date and how the latest consultation “beyond NSIPS” could allow the government to build on the progress which has already been made this Parliament. Promising to streamline the planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (“NSIPs”), the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025…
Aug 21, 2026

Accurate civil penalty notices

David Smith looks at the lessons for housing cases from a recent Supreme Court judgment on civil penalty notices in the immigration field.
Aug 20, 2026

Local Government Reorganisation: Governance frameworks

Is your governance framework ready for vesting day? Peter Collins examines the importance of early planning. When councils think about Local Government Reorganisation, governance is often viewed through the lens of the new authority. Constitutions are reviewed, committee structures are designed and decision-making arrangements begin to take shape. Less attention is sometimes given to the governance arrangements already sitting within council-owned companies. Yet these organisations have their…
Aug 20, 2026

Local Government Reorganisation and corporate structures

In the first in a five-part series on local government reorganisation, Peter Collins explains why councils should start with their corporate structures. When local government reorganisation is discussed, the conversation naturally gravitates towards the big-ticket issues. Governance Staffing Service delivery Property portfolios Constitutions Yet beneath the surface sits another area that deserves equal attention: council-owned companies and corporate vehicles. For many authorities, these…
Aug 19, 2026

The bidder with no statutory rights

A supplier from outside the UK’s treaty network has just been told what it can and cannot claim when it loses a public competition. Paul Henty explains why the answer is narrower still under the Procurement Act 2023.
Aug 19, 2026

Interference with medical equipment

James Norman looks at the lessons from a recent case where the local authority contended that the threshold criteria were satisfied on the basis of actions of the mother toward her son during his treatment in hospital.
Aug 18, 2026

Permanent exclusions and decision letters

The High Court recently quashed a school’s decision to permanently exclude a pupil. Thomas McElholm looks at the lessons from the ruling, including in relation to decision letters.
Aug 18, 2026

KCSIE 2026: The 'for information' version has been published

The Department for Education has now published the 'for information' version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, ahead of it coming into force on 1 September 2026. Alice Reeve sets out what schools need to know before September.

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