Reputation management

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Local government has always come under heavy scrutiny from the press and from members of the public, in terms of the conduct of elected representatives and the decisions they make, but in the digital age, inappropriate conduct, acts and omissions are ever more visible to the public.

The use of digital and social media has grown exponentially in recent years. This has positive benefits to be embraced, such as the opportunity to engage with communities by providing online information and services. However, with these benefits comes greater accountability and risk of reputation damage if local authority executives and members conduct or decision making is inappropriate, biased, unfair or perceived to be unfair. To maintain public trust in the system, members and employees have a duty to maintain high standards of conduct and ethics and to consider the consequences of their personal conduct on the reputation of the local authority as an entity.

The Localism Act 2011 abolished the Standards Board regime and the national code of conduct that went with it and replaced it with a requirement that authorities promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members.

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Latest Local Government News

DSIT welcomes DUA Bill becoming Act of Parliament as DUAA

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has welcomed the Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUA Bill) receiving Royal Assent on 19 June 2025 and becoming law as the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA). DSIT notes that key measures include enabling real-time sharing of healthcare data across NHS services, saving 140,000 hours of admin annually and improving patient care, and the simplification of digital identity verification through certified tools, aiding tasks like renting or job application. The DUAA also introduces legislation to support investigations into child deaths linked to social media by preserving relevant data. Additionally, DSIT underlines that as mandated by the DUAA, a new Information Commission will replace the ICO, with a recruitment drive underway for its board to ensure diverse expertise.

Misuse of AI in court and the consequences (Ayinde v Haringey & Al-Haroun v Qatar National Bank)

Dispute Resolution analysis: The Divisional Court has ruled on the consequences of misusing artificial intelligence (AI) in court proceedings. Following two referrals arising from actual or suspected misuse of generative AI by lawyers, the court used its inherent powers to enforce the duties owed by lawyers to the court (the Hamid jurisdiction). The judgment provides vitally important guidance to practitioners on their duties to the court and to their professional regulators when using AI. It also explains the sanctions likely to apply for misuse of AI including public admonishment, strike out and costs sanctions, referrals to regulators, contempt of court and, in the most egregious cases, referral to the police for criminal investigation. The judgment also provides a comprehensive index of cases from around the world where fake citations (or other misleading material) have been placed before the court. Written by Harriet Campbell, senior knowledge lawyer at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP.

Welsh Government lays five Infrastructure Act 2024 implementation regulations

The Welsh Government has introduced five statutory instruments to implement and operationalise the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024, which establishes a new consenting framework for significant infrastructure projects across the energy, waste, water and transport sectors. The legislative package comprises a Commencement Order that launches the Act’s provisions, along with detailed regulations govern pre-application and application procedures, examination processes, fee structures, compulsory acquisition and miscellaneous implementation matters. Developed following extensive stakeholder consultation, these measures are designed to accelerate decision-making for major projects while ensuring robust community engagement and environmental protection throughout Wales. The implementation package includes detailed procedures for examining authorities and decision-making processes.

Judicial Review—High Court quashes decision refusing recusal application (R (Ladybill) v Sheffield Magistrates’ Court & Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council)

Public Law analysis: The High Court has ruled that the fair-minded and informed observer would be entitled to conclude that there was a real possibility that the decision of a district judge (‘the judge’) in the Magistrates’ Court was likely to be influenced by the desire to decide the Ladybill case in a way which validated, after the event, his earlier decision in a case called Emeraldshaw. The challenge was brought by way of judicial review in respect of the judge’s decision dated 23 May 2024, refusing to recuse himself from hearing proceedings between Ladybill and Rotherham Borough Council (‘the interested party’). Prior to that the judge had handed down a decision dated 21 March 2024 in the case of Sheffield City Council v Emeraldshaw Ltd, which was a claim by the council for payment of non-domestic rates alleged to be owing in respect of periods between June 2021 and November 2022. The judge found that Emeraldshaw was liable to pay the rates and Emeraldshaw sought to challenge the decision by way of judicial review. Emeraldshaw and Ladybill are companies within the MCR Property Group. Developments in the Emeraldshaw case later catalysed an application made on behalf of Ladybill that the judge should recuse himself from hearing the Ladybill case. The High Court found that there was a real possibility that the judge was biased. Written by Rowena Wisniewska Sethi, barrister at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square Chambers.

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