Legal
Why the Local Land Charges Register is a crucial step forward
The Local Land Charges Register is creating the conditions for data to become a valuable standardised and accessible asset rather than a burden on councils, says Scott Goodwin.
District cancels 700 court summonses
Harborough DC has apologised to residents after issuing hundreds of court summonses for unpaid council tax in error.
Tory council criticised over shopping centre purchase
A Conservative-led Surrey council has been criticised for failing to follow ‘good practice’ during its purchase of a shopping centre.
Anderson accused of intimidating council chief
Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been accused of alleged witness intimidation against the council’s chief executive, Tony Reeves, a court has heard.
What does the new NPPS mean for councils?
Local authorities should start to look at how the National Procurement Policy Statement can be implemented across their organisations, say Rebecca Rees and Stuart Brown.
COVID concerns prompt council to return to meeting virtually
Cheshire West & Chester Council has threatened to ignore the Government edict to return to face-to-face meetings due to COVID concerns.
High Court rejects low traffic neighbourhoods challenge
A legal challenge against Lambeth LBC's low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) has been rejected by the High Court.
Council prosecutes firm over jams
Thames Water has been prosecuted by a London borough after creating what the council said were unnecessary traffic jams three times in less than a fortnight.
Planning for a greener Scotland
With a draft of the latest, environmentally focused Scottish National Planning Framework set for publication later this year, how might this change councils’ approach to applications, asks Rory Alexander.
Can local authorities still drive town and city centre regeneration?
Incentives such as the Levelling Up funding, combined with the long-term risk of falling business rates means that the potential, and need, for bold change cannot be ignored, says Jonathan Allen of Browne Jacobson.
Environmental health risks being 'hollowed out'
More than half of English councils are not taking on environmental health trainees and apprentices due to funding and capacity issues, a survey has found.
Asylum seeker costs should be funded from the centre
The fair and humanitarian answer from the Home Office is to properly fund councils shouldering the burden of looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children so they do not have to raid their children’s services budgets, says Michael Burton.
A change of direction
Léonie Cowen says there is a better model for the procurement of placements for looked after children, and she outlines how to achieve this using a collaborative Department for Education-funded approach she believes is unique.
Ocado loses High Court battle against Islington
Online supermarket Ocado has lost a High Court battle against Islington LBC over the use of a storage and distribution centre in the borough.
Former Liverpool mayor refused permission for legal challenge
Former Liverpool City Council Mayor Joe Anderson and his son David have been refused permission for a legal challenge over their arrests last year.
Thanet facing £700k legal bill
Cash-strapped Thanet DC is facing legal costs of more than £700,000 as it grapples with disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Fishy business
There may be plenty of sharks in London, but three of the fibre-glass variety have taken YouTube by storm.
Jenrick piles pressure on over parkrun
Council leaders have insisted they are working hard to process requests to hold outdoor events after coming under pressure from the Government.
Councils must meet their SEND legal duties
No matter how tight budgets are, councils still need to be held to account for how they are discharging their statutory SEND duties, says Catriona Moore.
Anderson to sue government over Liverpool intervention
Former mayor of Liverpool City Council, Joe Anderson, is planning to sue the Government for its decision to intervene in the city.
