Q&As

Q&As

These Q&As seek to address briefly common questions faced when dealing with Local Government matters.

The Q&As supplement and link to other more detailed content within Lexis+® UK, but are intentionally short. It is anticipated that a brief Q&A will be most helpful when you need a quick overview of an issue and its likely impact. This might arise, for example, for lawyers needing to provide advice or training at short notice. The Q&A content on Lexis+® UK is date stamped. This date is the publish date and states the law

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Latest Local Government News

Exercising a right to advertise at a railway station means advertiser liable for non-domestic rates—Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd v List (Valuation Officer)

Local Government analysis: The Court of Appeal dismissed Network Rail Infrastructure Limited's appeal against a decision of the Upper Tribunal concerning the business rates treatment of advertising rights at Victoria Station and Liverpool Street Station in London. The court held that sections 64(2) and 65(8) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (LGFA 1988) deem a qualifying right to use land for the purpose of exhibiting advertisements a hereditament in the occupation of the person entitled to the right. The court rejected Network Rail's argument that the phrase ‘let out’ in LGFA 1988, s 64(2) required a qualitative assessment of the degree of separation between the advertising right and the host hereditament. Instead, the court found that ‘let out’ simply referred to the creation of such a right, with no additional requirement for paramountcy of occupation or control. Written by Tim Baldwin, barrister, Garden Court Chambers.

LGSCO round-up—18 February 2026

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has published a number of recent reports from February 2026. This round-up covers highlights of the reports containing upheld decisions and thematic findings, including in relation to planning enforcement and education.

Court of Appeal upholds judgment that Luton landlord lacks standing to bring judicial review claim against two housing designations (R (Luton Landlords) v Luton Borough Council)

Local Government analysis: The claimant company sought to judicially review designations of two areas where either houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) or other accommodation had to be licensed. The designations were made by Luton Borough Council (Luton BC) pursuant to Parts 2 and 3 of the Housing Act 2004 (HA 2004). The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment that the claimant lacked sufficient interest in the matter to bring the claim. There was no arguable ground of challenge. Luton BC was entitled to take into account the information that it did in deciding whether the statutory criteria for making each of the two designations was satisfied. Written by Genevieve Screeche-Powell, barrister at Field Court Chambers.

DHSC and MHCLG publish Better Care Fund framework and DFG allocation reforms for 2026-27

The Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published the Better Care Fund (BCF) framework for 2026 to 2027, establishing formal planning requirements, national conditions for expenditure and legal framework for integrated care boards and local authorities. The framework introduces new arrangements requiring health and wellbeing boards, integrated care boards and local authorities to more closely align plans for integrated health and social care services to neighbourhood health services development, including intermediate care. Concurrently, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its consultation response implementing a new approach to allocating Disabled Facilities Grant funding to local authorities in England from 2026-27, with transitional protections in place. The reforms introduce a more evidence-based allocation methodology intended to align funding with local need, enabling local authorities to better meet their statutory duty to provide adaptations. Both frameworks require collaborative plan development and agreement by health and wellbeing boards, with the changes taking effect from April 2026.

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