Legal
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.
MPs call for government to 'pick up the pace' on cladding
The existence of 2,000 high-risk homes with dangerous cladding three years after the Grenfell Tower fire is ‘deeply shocking,’ MPs on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee have said.
In the dark over local lockdowns
Local areas remain in the dark about whether they will be handed any additional powers to impose coronavirus lockdowns.
Judge highlights Haringey safeguarding failures
A London borough has defended its social care service following scathing criticism from a High Court judge.
COVID-19 and consultation – Can it be online-only?
Does COVID-19 end consultations? The simple answer is ‘no’, according to Laura Thornton. But she says consideration needs to be given to mitigation measures that ensure consultation is fair.
Charity threatens legal action on changes to safeguarding laws
A charity has threatened legal action against the Department for Education (DfE) if it does not withdraw a statutory instrument that makes changes to safeguards for children in care in England.
Why localism is needed for behaviour change
Councils can be key – as can local community groups and charities – in setting social norms that people will want to follow, says Dan Corry.
Care home on the brink of collapse
Care homes in the North East have issued a legal warning to North Tyneside council, claiming they could collapse within days without further funding.
The property problem
Lucy Woods advises a ‘pragmatic and sensible’ approach to managing the recommendations due to emerge from the public accounts committee inquiry into councils’ investments in commercial property.
Supreme Court blocks Whitehall pensions interference
Government attempts to prevent councils boycotting Israel through their pension schemes have been blocked by the Supreme Court.
Making use of force majeure
Tiffany Cloynes considers force majeure provisions in contracts, but points out that they may not always be the most attractive options available to councils trying to ensure continuity of important services.
Chief executive payment decisions 'not lawful'
‘Proper procedures’ were not followed and decisions to make payments to a council chief executive were ‘not lawfully made,’ an independent investigation has found.
Council launches judicial review over local plan
Sevenoaks DC has begun judicial review proceedings after the Government’s planning inspector refused to endorse its new local plan.
What are councils’ obligations towards children and social care in their area?
Clare Hardy highlights the range of existing obligations in relation to children and social care that councils must ensure they are meeting.
Council chief resigns amid allowance probe
Surrey Heath BC’s chief executive has announced her resignation from the council amid an independent investigation into an additional duties allowance paid to her.
