Legal
Pay boost for care workers following tribunal
A group of homecare workers have been awarded £100,000 in backdated pay in a tribunal ruling that could have further implications for the sector.
Tribunal rules foster care workers entitled to employee rights
A UK tribunal has ruled that foster care workers are council employees and therefore entitled to employment rights.
Council-run developer defends closure decision amid whistleblowing claims
The Northumberland Council-run developer at the centre of whistleblowing allegations has defended a decision that has led to a multi-million pound legal claim.
Senior officers accuse leader of bullying at Solace president's council
A bitter row has broken out between senior officers and the leader of the council where the president of Solace is chief executive.
EXCLUSIVE: Resistant shielders could be docked pay
Council employees who have been shielding could be docked pay if they refuse to return to work.
Mayor takes legal action over A-levels
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is to begin legal proceedings against the exams watchdog over its handling of A-level results.
Learning the lessons from interventions
Paul McDermott says the MHCLG’s analysis of corporate dysfunction is a must read, as it raises the question of what measures could be adopted to underpin good governance and avoid future interventions
Beware the ‘construction cartels’
Laurence Pritchard says the pressure to keep infrastructure projects moving when competition for construction contracts is fiercer can make councils a target for practices banned by the Competition and Markets Authority
Ministers: Don't rely on more funding
Ministers have warned councils not to rely on more funding on top of the announcements made so far.
Local authorities and local lockdown
Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy examine the new local lockdown regulations and outline the crucial issues councils need to address in order to use their powers effectively.
CIPFA calls for strengthening of council borrowing rules
Legislation governing the rules on council borrowing should be strengthened, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) said today.
Exit payment rules are over-regulation, experts claim
The Government’s latest attempts to crack down on exit payments have been branded as over-regulation which will hit lower paid staff more than the senior officials it was aimed at.
Has COVID-19 put the brake on clean air zones?
Data appears to suggest a shift towards private cars may already be happening in response to COVID-19, say Laura Thornton and Andrew Lister. Where does this leave local authorities’ clean air zones plans?
EXCLUSIVE: Legal advice increases doubts over council meeting resumption
Confidential legal advice obtained by the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted major issues that could prevent councils from resuming physical and hybrid public meetings, The MJ understands.
MHCLG rejects statutory duties review
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has rejected calls to review statutory duties on councils, The MJ has learnt.
CIPFA mulls legal action against council
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has put aside £500,000 to fund potential legal action against Ealing LBC over a contract dispute.
UN expresses 'serious concern' over cladding
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on adequate housing has expressed ‘serious concern’ that 600,000 people in England continue to live in blocks with dangerous cladding.
Council may have to issue s114, warns CIPFA
Windsor & Maidenhead RBC may not be able to set a legal budget in future years and may have to issue a Section 114 notice, finance experts have warned.
Ombudsman creates specialist coronavirus unit ahead of complaints service reopening
A specialist unit has been created to deal with coronavirus complaints by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman as it resumes its work.
Councils call for clarity on local lockdowns
Councils this week called for clarity on the legal powers they will have if they are forced to implement local coronavirus lockdowns.
