Governance

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Latest Local Government News

DfE launches Mission North East and Mission Coastal education programmes

DfE launches Mission North East and Mission Coastal education programmes

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the launch of Mission North East and Mission Coastal, two programmes set to commence in September...

PINS updates procedural guidance for planning appeals for applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026

PINS updates procedural guidance for planning appeals for applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has updated its procedural guidance for planning appeals relating to applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026,...

OfS publishes supplementary analysis of sexual misconduct survey

OfS publishes supplementary analysis of sexual misconduct survey

The Office for Students (OfS) has published supplementary analysis of its survey into students’ experiences of sexual misconduct in English higher...

CSPRP publishes thematic analysis on child neglect responses

CSPRP publishes thematic analysis on child neglect responses

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (CSPRP) has published a thematic analysis examining how child neglect is defined, identified and...

Featured Local Government content

What is the purposive approach to statutory interpretation?

What is the purposive approach to statutory interpretation?

What is the purposive approach to statutory interpretation?Purposive (teleological) constructionThe purposive approach has its roots in legal systems...

Housing disrepair for local authority landlords—a practical guide

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?

What are the grounds for judicial review?

What are the grounds for judicial review?We have focused on judicial review in the High Court in England and Wales. Having conducted a comprehensive...

Obstruction of highways

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...

Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Christopher McFarland of Sinclairs Law and Jill Morgan
13th Oct
Q&As

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?

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...
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30th May
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Philip McCourt
30th May
Practice notes

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...
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30th May
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Sharpe Pritchard
13th Oct
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Deborah Ramshaw of Womble Bond Dickinson
13th Oct
Practice notes

Maladministration—complaints

Maladministration—complaintsSection 23 of the Local Government Act 1974 (LGA 1974), creates the role of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman...
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30th May
Practice notes

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...
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30th May
Practice notes

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,...
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Produced in partnership with Jill Morgan
13th Oct
Q&As

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?

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...
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Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk
13th Oct
Practice notes

Public procurement—private sector considerations

Public procurement—private sector considerationsPublic procurement is a buying process essentially similar to its private sector counterpart. However,...
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Produced in partnership with Sharpe Pritchard
13th Oct
Practice notes

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...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Andrew Millross of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
13th Oct
Practice notes

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....
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Produced in partnership with Nicholas Hancox of Nicholas Hancox Solicitors, Alastair Frew of Lodders Solicitors and Piers Riley-Smith of Kings Chambers
13th Oct
Practice notes

Accidents in schools—liability in tort

Accidents in schools—liability in tortAccidents happen in schoolsChildren are often injured without any fault on the part of any person. They are by...
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Produced in partnership with Christopher McFarland of Sinclairs Law and Nicholas Hancox of Nicholas Hancox Solicitors
13th Oct
Q&As

Is an NHS Trust a ‘public body’ under the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970?

Is an NHS Trust a ‘public body’ under the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970?The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (LA(GS)A...
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Produced in partnership with Peter Ware of Browne Jacobson
13th Oct

Popular documents

Structure of local government

Structure of local governmentThere are some basic elements of local authorities that tend to be overlooked by new members (councillors) and new officers alike, including lawyers.Structure and purpose of local authoritiesLocal authorities are organisations, created by statute as single legal

Maladministration—complaints

Maladministration—complaintsSection 23 of the Local Government Act 1974 (LGA 1974), creates the role of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) to investigate complaints of maladministration and/or service failure in relation to the following authorities:•any local authority including

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a