Legal
Medway caves after Ombudsman rap
Medway Council has finally accepted the recommendations in a Local Government Ombudsman public interest report after a two-year stand-off.
An efficient collaboration
Victoria Gould of Warwickshire CC’s award-winning Young People Legal Service team (YPLS) explains how it is working collaboratively with other local authorities to minimise legal costs in times of increasing demand.
'One-fifth of audit contracts should be put back out to tender'
The organisation responsible for appointing auditors should take away up to 20% of current contracts from existing suppliers and put them back out to tender, a top accountancy body has said.
March 11 Budget creates 'deep risk' for councils
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has written to the Chancellor warning of the ‘deep risk facing councils’ from delaying the Budget until March 11.
LGSS Law losses hit £1.2m
A social enterprise law firm formed by three councils has reported that losses increased from £300,000 to £1.2m during the last financial year.
Westminster in phone box call
Westminster City Council has called on the Government to amend planning regulations to allow local authorities to force telecoms companies to remove under-used phone boxes.
Prevent review goes back to the drawing board
The Home Office has scrapped ‘overly confined’ terms of reference for an independent review of its Prevent strategy amid the threat of a legal challenge.
The rise of SEN Tribunals and how to prepare for them
Lawyer John Roberts outlines what to expect from a Special Education Needs Tribunal and how local authorities and schools can prepare for one.
Council loses legal challenge to ombudsman
A legal challenge to a critical report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has been lost by Rochdale MBC.
Councils seek advice over same-sex marriage
Councils are seeking advice ahead of the introduction of regulations that will allow same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships to take place in Northern Ireland.
NHS business rates claim rejected by High Court
Councils have successfully defended a claim for billions of pounds of tax relief for NHS trusts.
Wakefield council ‘overcharging’ cabbies, court rules
A court has ruled that Wakefield council were overcharging local taxi drivers for a license to trade in what could prove to be a landmark case.
Equal pay firm suspends activities
The company that led the recent equal pay action against Glasgow City Council has suspended all activities.
Council to create new director roles
Sefton Council is to create three new executive director roles.
Councils could lose millions in utilities repayments after court ruling
Local authorities could be facing repayments worth millions of pounds to council tenants in excess water charges, after a High Court ruling last week.
Camden in £130m High Court claim against contractors
Legal action has been launched by Camden LBC to recover costs of £130m against a group of contractors.
Brum wins battle to ban anti LGBT protests
Birmingham City Council has won a court battle to permanently ban anti-LGBT protests outside a local primary school.
'No evidence' of sexist culture despite chief's claims
No evidence of a culture of sexism has been found at Stratford-on-Avon DC following claims by an outgoing chief.
Lock-change evictions are lawful - court
Scotland’s highest court has ruled lock-change evictions of asylum seekers without a court order are lawful.
Royal Mail wins High Court bid to halt strike
The Royal Mail has won its High Court bid to halt a postal strike in the run up to the General Election amid fears it would hit postal votes.