Earlier this year the High Court overturned Durham CC’s decision to dispose of some land. This was land the council wished to release for redevelopment. The case has generated interest because of the High Court’s comments on the balance of responsibility between council decision makers and the officers who report to them.

It may be of particular interest to officers servicing pensions investment committees who, like the officers in the ‘Galaxy decision’, will deal with complicated, high-value decisions often involving the use of specialist professional advisers.

The Galaxy decision (R (Galaxy) v Durham County Council [2015] EWHC 16 (Admin)) relates to a council cabinet decision on 16 April 2014. The cabinet relied on a report prepared by two of the council’s corporate directors entitled Durham City Strategic Site and Infrastructure Delivery Strategy.