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National and local planning policy Neighbourhood planning Planning applications and decisions Planning, listed building and conservation area enforcement

Latest Local Government News

Overruling Cheshire West–the new definition of deprivation of liberty (A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

Overruling Cheshire West–the new definition of deprivation of liberty (A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

Public Law analysis: In A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland [2026] UKSC 16, the Supreme Court overruled Cheshire West, holding...

Home Office and HMRC announce measures targeting criminal activity on the high street

Home Office and HMRC announce measures targeting criminal activity on the high street

The Home Office has announced plans to strengthen powers for police and local authorities to close businesses linked to organised crime by extending...

Hampshire County Council approves next steps towards potential judicial review of reorganisation decision

Hampshire County Council approves next steps towards potential judicial review of reorganisation decision

Hampshire County Council's Cabinet has approved the next steps towards a potential challenge to the Secretary of State's local government...

Health and Social Care Committee publishes report outlining proposed Health Bill amendments

Health and Social Care Committee publishes report outlining proposed Health Bill amendments

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee published a report setting out proposed amendments to the Health Bill, which will be considered...

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

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

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

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of case

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of caseA strike out order can be made either following an application by the parties or on the court's own initiative. This Practice Note deals with the scenario of the order being made following a party's application.Making an application

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