Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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This Overview guides practitioners to Local Government resources on coronavirus (COVID - 19), with links to key legislation, guidance and practical analysis across the subtopic.

The pandemic reshaped local authority functions, engaging public health duties, governance, delivery, procurement and enforcement. Core frameworks included the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, the Coronavirus Act 2020 and Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations. Practitioners should understand direction - making under the No. 3 Regulations (premises, events and public places), including necessity/proportionality tests, Secretary of State oversight, review duties and routes of challenge.

Governance issues arose from remote decision - making: section 78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the 2020 Flexibility Regulations enabled virtual meetings in England and Wales until May 2021; after expiry, the High Court confirmed the Local Government Act 1972 requires physical presence absent fresh primary legislation.

Operational impacts included Care Act 2014 easements, public health commissioning (Health and Social Care Act 2012), homelessness responses, licensing and highways adjustments (Business and Planning Act 2020). Procurement raised issues under Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (regulation 32) and Cabinet Office PPNs, subsidy control/state aid, audit/accountability.

Data protection and equalities compliance remained...

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