Legal
Dealing with disciplinary investigations
Serious disciplinary allegations against a chief executive or other statutory officer are never welcome news, say Sarah Lamont and Judith Barnes as they outline the mechanisms to be put in place and what councils will need to focus on.
Breaking the non-disclosure habit?
Non-disclosure clauses in employment settlements are often being used by employers to cover up complaints of harassment and discrimination, says a select committee report. To what extent is this the case in local government? Ann McGauran reports
Legal officers press for standards reform
The rise in the number of independent councillors has strengthened the case for a tougher standards regime, monitoring officers have argued.
EXCLUSIVE: £95k exit cap regulations are 'lawyers' charter to print money'
Government regulations introducing a £95,000 cap on local government exit payments are a ‘lawyers’ charter to print money,’ the trade union representing the most senior managers in the sector is expected to tell Whitehall.
Councils to appeal 'town hall Pravdas' ruling
Waltham Forest and Hackney LBCs will appeal after a judge backed Government attempts to stop them publishing a council newspaper every two weeks.
Call for Liverpool intervention after mayoral review frustration
Liverpool City Council’s Lib Dem leader has called for the Government to intervene after he claimed the authority blocked his attempts to review the elected mayor position.
Information sharing tensions found in child harm review
Legal and ethical tensions between maintaining confidentiality and sharing information are continuing, a review of some of the most serious child protection cases in Scotland has found.
Court ruling defends council but warns others
A crucial Supreme Court judgment has dismissed a family’s claim against a council for housing them next to an abusive household, but stressed authorities may still have a duty of care in other circumstances.
Planning permission for council sports centre quashed
Elmbridge BC may be forced to demolish its multi-million pound sports hub after a High Court judge ruled it was granted planning permission unlawfully.
Uncertain wait for pension funds
Pension funds are mired in uncertainty as they wait to find out whether the Supreme Court accepts the Government’s request to appeal the McCloud case.
Council launches internal review after 'scandalous error'
Plymouth City Council has launched an internal review of its voter registration processes after one election candidate accused it of a ‘scandalous error’.
Legal row could drag on for two years
A row between councils and supermarkets over business rates charged on cash machines could be tied up in costly litigation for up to two years, an expert has warned.
5G rollout held up due to legal wrangles over lamppost control
A new electronics communications code designed to make the rollout of 5G easier has backfired, leading to a two-year hold-up due to legal wrangling.
Fresh call for business rates avoidance action
The Local Government Association (LGA) has made a fresh call for ministers to tackle business rates avoidance – more than two years after commitments were first made.
'Diminishing' chief role to be axed
Aylesbury Vale DC (AVDC) will make the chief executive role redundant eight months before the council is abolished in a reorganisation.
EXCLUSIVE: Security fears after candidate addresses published
Security concerns have been raised after a loophole forced councils to publish the home addresses of candidates standing in the EU elections.
Councils lose legal bid to halt Heathrow expansion
The High Court has dismissed arguments against Heathrow expansion and found that the Government is free to ignore the Paris agreement on climate action until it forms part of UK law.
EXCLUSIVE: Government to hear Brexit legal base fears
Continuing concerns around the future legal base of regulatory work after Brexit will be raised at the next EU exit local government delivery board, The MJ understands.
Council takes strong action against resident harassment
A council chief executive has issued a strong warning to residents who attempt to harass staff and members.
Serco's Glasgow asylum evictions ruled lawful
Serco has fended off a legal challenge to its plan to evict failed asylum seekers in Glasgow.