Noisy neighbours may be protected by new law to stop council snooping – The Guardian

“A new law to stop councils using counter-terrorism powers to snoop on people is thwarting efforts to tackle noisy neighbours, according to environmental health experts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abdulla and others v Birmingham City Council – WLR Daily

Abdulla and others v Birmingham City Council [2012] UKSC 47; [2012] WLR (D) 294

“A claim in respect of the operation of an equality clause in a contract of employment could never more conveniently be disposed of by an employment tribunal, rather than a court, if the tribunal would not be able to determine the claim on its merits because the limitation period applicable in the tribunal had expired.”

WLR Daily, 24th October 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Government orders building standards review – The Guardian

“Regulations covering building standards, including fire safety and wheelchair access, could be torn up in a government plan to cut costs for the construction industry and boost the economy.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Use stronger snooping powers against fly tipping, watchdog urges – Daily Telegraph

“New powers to snoop on all emails, web visits and phone calls could still be used to combat minor crimes despite Government assurances, the watchdog who oversees them has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New powers to spread the cost of drink fuelled crime – Home Office

Posted October 26th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, crime prevention, local government, press releases by tracey

“New powers to help pay the nation’s £11bn a year bill for alcohol-related crime and disorder come into effect next week. The measures will give local authorities the opportunity to ensure those selling alcohol help pay towards the costs of cleaning up and policing the effects of excessive drinking in towns and cities across the country, as well as restrict the sale of alcohol in the early hours.”

Full press release

Home Office, 24th October 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Women who worked for Birmingham council win equal pay court fight – The Guardian

Posted October 24th, 2012 in appeals, equal pay, local government, news, women by sally

“Scores of women who worked for a local authority have won an equal pay compensation fight at the UK’s highest court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPO over unoccupied property can be made even when dwelling not ’empty’, says court – OUT-LAW.com

“A local housing authority may make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) over an unoccupied house even where the house is not ’empty’ for the purposes of the empty dwellings management orders (EDMO) regime, a High Court judge has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Not round these parts – NearlyLegal

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in ASBOs, housing, judicial review, local government, news, young persons by sally

“Did historic ASB by the daughter of a former evicted tenant allow the local authority to refuse to allow her accommodation in the same area? This was the issue in this judicial review of Bolton-at-Home’s (‘Bolton’) decision to refuse a property to Ms Carney.”

Full story

NearlyLegal, 21st October 2012

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Proportionality – between claim and hearing – NearlyLegal

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in appeals, complaints, housing, local government, news, proportionality by sally

“A successful proportionality defence on an introductory tenancy and one upheld on appeal. There is also some helpful confirmation about what can be considered in assessing proportionality.”

Full story

NearlyLegal, 21st October 2012

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Virgin Media and BT take legal action against Birmingham council broadband – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in competition, complaints, internet, local government, news, state aids by sally

“Virgin Media and BT are taking legal action against Birmingham city council over the use of public money to build a broadband network that directly competes with their own.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

One year after eviction, the saga of Dale Farm is far from over – The Guardian

Posted October 18th, 2012 in local government, news, repossession, travellers by sally

“Around 80 Traveller families were removed from site 12 months ago after a decade long battle, but many are still close by.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Live animal export suspension at Ramsgate overturned – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2012 in animal cruelty, appeals, export controls, local government, news by tracey

“A temporary suspension of live animal exports from the Port of Ramsgate has been overturned by the High Court.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Information stored in electronic recycle bins is held for purposes of FOI disclosure, says watchdog – OUT-LAW.com

“Public sector bodies will generally be required to disclose information even if it is stored in computer ‘recycle bins’, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 12th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Government to consult on temporary stop notices to prevent unauthorised traveller sites – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 12th, 2012 in consultations, fines, local government, news, planning, travellers by sally

“Communities secretary Eric Pickles has set out the details of plans announced by him earlier this week to remove restrictions on the use of temporary stop notices, giving councils greater freedom to prevent unauthorised traveller sites being set up.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Sex abuse allegations against parent should be disclosed in contact proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

“The Court of Appeal has ordered the the disclosure of serious allegations made against a parent by an anonymous third party in contact proceedings. In doing so, it has demonstrated the correct approach to balancing the many different human rights considerations involved.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th September 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Can the Court Protect Vulnerable Adults who have Capacity? – Family Law Week

Posted September 28th, 2012 in duress, jurisdiction, local government, mental health, news by tracey

“Moira Sofaer, barrister and mediator, of Goldsmith Chambers, considers the protection afforded by the courts to vulnerable adults who are outside the ambit of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in the light of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in DL.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 27th September 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Pay To Stay: A potential can of worms in social housing reform – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted September 25th, 2012 in housing, local government, news, rent by sally

“‘For far too long, millions of people on waiting lists have watched helplessly as high-earning social tenants continue to occupy homes designed to help the most vulnerable…if they want to continue using this precious national resource, they will pay for the privilege.’

When the then Housing and Local Government Minister, Grant Shapps MP, launched a consultation on giving social landlords the power to charge market rents to high income tenants on 13 June 2012, he did so using deliberately strong language.”

Full story

Harwicke Chambers, 13th September 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

A closed door – Article 8 defences in mandatory possession cases – Hardwicke Chambers

“The Supreme Court in Manchester City Council v Pinnock [2010] UKSC 45; [2011] 2 AC 104 and The Mayor & Burgesses of the London Borough of Hounslow v Powell [2011] UKSC 8; [2011] 2 WLR 287 severely restricted the likelihood of an occupier facing (mandatory) possession of their home successfully defending such a claim in reliance upon Article 8 of the Convention Rights – the right to respect for private and family life.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 13th September 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Article 8 and Possession – NearlyLegal

“The ECtHR’s recent decision in Buckland v UK demonstrates again how wonderfully delphic the subject of housing and Article 8 rights has become.”

Full story

NearlyLegal, 23rd September 2012

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Consultation on adoption and fostering welcomed by sector – Family Law Week

Posted September 20th, 2012 in adoption, carers, consultations, fostering, local government, news, social services by sally

“The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) and Fostering Network have welcomed the Government’s newly published consultation on proposed changes to adoption and fostering.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 19th September 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk