Legal
Changes to governance structures are needed in a time of pandemic
Decision making is a pressing concern facing local government lawyers due to the evolving pandemic, but it is not the only one, says Helen McGrath
Lawyers warn Deprivation of Liberty safeguards will be 'paralysed' by pandemic
COVID-19 will ‘paralyse’ the system of Deprivation of Liberty safeguards (DoLS), says the organisation for legal and governance council officers.
Union and council end dispute amid coronavirus crisis
Trade union Unite has said its dispute with Veolia over holiday pay for refuse staff working at Tower Hamlets LBC has been resolved.
Jenrick urges councils not to delay on coronavirus spending
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick this week urged council leaders not to put off decisions because of money in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Experts' warning over McCloud
Implementing and communicating changes that address age discrimination in the local government pension scheme (LGPS) will be ‘extremely challenging,’ experts have warned.
NHS trusts lodge business rates appeal
NHS trusts have applied for permission to appeal a High Court ruling that said they were not eligible for business rates relief.
Social care 'tipping point in nine years'
Failings by councils and government mean the crisis in social care and specialist housing for older people will reach a tipping point in nine years, law firm Irwin Mitchell has warned.
Councils consider judicial review amid SEND crisis
Councils are starting to talk to lawyers about a potential judicial review of the Government amid a crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Local authority borrowing: a re-think
Neil Waller and Andrew Scopes outline alternatives to Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) funding, urging councils to take into account costs, timing implications and additional legal responsibilities.
Ensuring a commercial hit
Heather Jameson examines the findings of a round table featuring local government lawyers hosted by The MJ and Penna.
Councils threat to Grenfell firms
Councils would be unlikely to use products from any company that fails to cooperate fully with the Grenfell Tower inquiry, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Short-term thinking
Ahead of the impending introduction of new licensing powers for short-term lets in Scotland, Stephen McGowan says the Scottish Government needs to give full attention to the impact the regulations will pose to already-struggling local authorities.
Kier takes on Birmingham highways contract as Amey departs
Kier is to take over highway services in Birmingham on an interim basis, bringing an end to the city council’s rocky 10-year partnership with Amey.
Council pays compensation to Amey after High Court challenge
West Sussex CC has paid £4m in compensation to Amey over a contested highways procurement process.
K&C against contractors' immunity bid
Kensington and Chelsea RLBC has distanced itself from efforts by Grenfell Tower contractors to receive immunity from prosecution for their evidence to the disaster’s inquiry.
Winning back the public’s trust
Peter Stanyon says there are urgent lessons to learn from the 2019 elections – and challenges ahead in 2020 and beyond include the wider need for urgent reform to election law, funding and support.
Council to face Grenfell inquiry
Kensington and Chelsea LBC has become the only party involved in the second phase of the Grenfell inquiry to concede its role in the disaster.
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.