Weekly highlights

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

This subtopic provides an archive of weekly news highlights from the Lexis+® UK Local Government team.

Local Government weekly highlights

Each week the team compiles a summary of key highlights of relevance to Local Government lawyers.

Weekly highlights include updates

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Existing user? Sign-in TAKE A FREE TRIAL
Powered by Lexis+®
Latest Local Government News

CQC round-up—2 July 2025

A round-up of the latest news from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), including one adult social care provider rated inadequate.

MHCLG announces Building Safety Regulator reforms to accelerate housebuilding

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a package of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), aimed at accelerating housebuilding and remediation work. Key changes include: (1) the introduction of a new Fast Track Process, designed to integrate building inspector and engineer capacity into the BSR to expedite the processing and review of existing newbuild cases and remediation decisions; (2) leadership changes, with Andy Roe KFSM appointed as non-executive chair of a new MHCLG shadow board, which will oversee the transition of the BSR’s functions from the Health and Safety Executive, as part of initial steps towards establishing a single construction regulator, and Charlie Pugsley named as the new Chief Executive Officer of the BSR; and (3) further investment, with the recruitment of over 100 new staff to enhance the BSR’s operational capacity.

Can a local housing authority determine the suitability of offered accommodation if it has not prepared a lawful assessment under section 189A(1) of the Housing Act 1996?

Local Government analysis: The Court of Appeal in Norton v London Borough of Haringey upheld the local authority’s decision regarding its discharge of homelessness duties under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (HA 1996). The court held that Haringey had lawfully determined that it had discharged its duty to Mr. Norton by offering suitable accommodation and that its decision-making process was procedurally fair and rational. This case is significant for housing law practitioners, particularly those advising on homelessness applications and judicial reviews of local authority decisions. It reinforces the principle that courts will not interfere with local authority decisions unless there is a clear error of law or procedural unfairness. The Court of Appeal agreed with Haringey’s case that a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) and Personal Housing Plan is not a condition precedent to a finding that the accommodation provided was suitable. Written by Clive Adams, partner at Birketts LLP.

DfE publishes 2025 financial handbooks and guidance for education sector

The Department for Education (DfE) has published comprehensive updates including the College Financial Handbook 2025 and Academy trust handbook 2025, alongside new guidance on Financial Support and Oversight for Academy Trusts. The update package contains confirmed pupil premium allocations and universal infant free school meals conditions for 2025-2026, qualification achievement rates guidance and details on expanded Free Courses for Jobs construction programme. The documents apply to further education providers, academies and local authorities in England.

View Local Government by content type :  
News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Popular documents

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an

Glossary—Latin legal terms

Glossary—Latin legal termsDespite attempts in recent years to simplify the language used in legal cases, there are still a number of Latin phrases commonly used in personal injury claims. The following Latin phrases are listed in alphabetical order:Latin
If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an

Glossary—Latin legal terms

Glossary—Latin legal terms

Glossary—Latin legal termsDespite attempts in recent years to simplify the language used in legal cases, there are still a number of Latin phrases commonly used in personal injury claims. The following Latin phrases are listed in alphabetical order:Latin