About Local Government Law
Local authorities are facing a period of unprecedented change and uncertainty. Lawyers are required to guide elected officials, council workers and the public through this process often with little support or guidance.
Social housing
This gold standard content set covers all aspects of social housing from homelessness, tenancy management, shared ownership and right to buy together with regulating housing provision.
Education
Education is central to the governments skills agenda to drive innovation and growth. Every aspect of education law is covered from early years foundation stage to further and higher education with a dedicated special educational needs topic.
Public procurement
Public bodies are subject to the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. We give full coverage of public contracts, from issues to consider before procurement, to dealing with contract award challenges.
Local authorities
Local authorities are facing unprecedented financial challenges, inevitable rationalisation and prioritisation of service provision. Lawyers are key in ensuring that difficult decisions are taken and implemented lawfully
Topics We Cover
Latest Local Government News
This week’s edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of Fatolahzadeh v LB of Barnet, where the local authority...
In a letter dated 30 September 2025, the Family Presiding Judge for London, Mr Justice MacDonald, has issued a revised Public Law Practice Note for...
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that all general practitioner (GP) practices in England must now keep online...
Planning analysis: In Knights v SNDC, the High Court quashed the grant of planning permission for a residential dwelling on the basis that South...
The Welsh Government has announced the renewal of its national Microsoft 365 licence, ensuring continued access to digital services for learners and...
Latest Local Government Practice Notes
The reformed Local Government Pension SchemeFORTHCOMING CHANGE 1: On 1 September 2022 the DLUHC launched a consultation which proposes new...
How to apply for judicial reviewThis how-to guide provides a high-level summary of the procedural steps that a claimant should take to make an...
Types of planning enforcementWhere it appears to a local planning authority (LPA) that a breach of planning control has occurred, it has discretion to...
Clubs, pubs and fairsThis Practice Note sets out the circumstances in which the different categories of club (members’, commercial and miners’ welfare...
The Office for StudentsThe Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA 2017) represents perhaps the most significant legislative change to affect the...
Latest Local Government Precedents
Agreement for sale or lease to a Management CompanyDate [date]Parties1[name of Seller] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration...
Environmental Information Regulations 2004—request for environmental information[Insert name of public authority][Insert public authority's address,...
Public Contracts Directive (2014)—training materials [Archived]ARCHIVED: These archived training materials provide information on Directive 2014/24/EU...
Market sounding questionnaireSTOP PRESS: As of 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) are in force. Procurements...
Confidentiality agreement—one-way—pro-discloserThis Agreement is made on [date]Parties1[Insert name of party][ of [insert details] OR a company...
Latest Local Government Q&As
Featured Local Government content
What is the purposive approach to statutory interpretation?
Housing disrepair for local authority landlords—a practical guide
Housing disrepair for local authority landlords—a practical guideThis Practice Note discusses disrepair claims in relation to social housing, setting...
What are the grounds for judicial review?
Obstruction of highways
Obstruction of highwaysThe fundamental public right upon a highway is to pass and re-pass, and the obstruction of a highway is usually a criminal...
School land and premises
School land and premisesOwnership of school land and premisesThe ownership of school sites and playgrounds, school buildings and school playing fields...
If a person owns land which abuts a public highway are there any statutory or other provisions which deal with that landowners right to gain access onto the highway?
Structure of local government
Structure of local governmentCoronavirus (COVID-19): This Practice Note contains guidance on matters that have temporarily been altered to assist in...
Teachers and staff in maintained schools
Teachers and staff in maintained schoolsWho is the employer?The employer will depend upon the status of the school. The employer is:•the local...
Collaborative procurement in the public sector—a short introduction
Collaborative procurement in the public sector—a short introductionThis Practice Note is a short introduction to the legal considerations that arise...
The standstill period
The standstill periodWhat is the standstill period?When a contracting authority reaches its decision on the award of a public contract subject to the...
Maladministration—complaints
Maladministration—complaintsSection 23 of the Local Government Act 1974 (LGA 1974), creates the role of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman...
Arms length management organisations (ALMOs)
Arms length management organisations (ALMOs)An arms length management organisation (ALMO) is a not-for-profit company that provides housing services...
Abandoned vehicles
Abandoned vehiclesAbandoned vehicles offencesSection 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 (RD(A)A 1978) makes it a criminal offence to abandon,...
If a restrictive covenant is expressed to be made pursuant to section 33 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, can a council as covenantee release a covenantor from the said restrictive covenant at any time using the usual standard deed of release of covenant?
Public procurement—private sector considerations
Public procurement—private sector considerationsPublic procurement is a buying process essentially similar to its private sector counterpart. However,...
Tattoos, sunbeds and minors
Tattoos, sunbeds and minorsTattooing of minorsIt is an offence to tattoo a person under the age of 18 except where the tattoo is performed for medical...
Use of consultants in public procurement
Use of consultants in public procurementThere are basically two types of consultants that are used in public procurement:•consultants with technical...
Highways, street works and statutory undertakers
Highways, street works and statutory undertakersStreet works at common lawAt common law it is a nuisance to interfere with the surface of a highway....
Associated legal terms
Best consideration
The duty on local authorities not to dispose of land (other than for a short tenancy) without consent from the Secretary of State unless for the best consideration reasonably obtainable (see Local Government Act 1972, s 123).
Council tax
A local tax on residential dwellings which goes towards paying for the services provided both by the local authority that collects it, known as the billing authority, and other authorities in the area, known as preceptors.
Unitary authority
A local authority which itself conducts the functions which would otherwise be discharged separately in non-metropolitan areas by county councils and by district councils.
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