Grenfell Tower: Kensington and Chelsea Council worker admits fraud – BBC News
‘A council worker has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.’
BBC News, 30th August 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: local government
Judge overturns bankruptcy order that serves “no useful purpose” – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has overturned a bankruptcy order made against a woman who owed Aylesbury Vale District Council £8,067 in council tax arrears.’
Local Government Lawyer, August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Two thirds of appeals succeed where councillors go against officer recommendation – Local Government Lawyer
‘Two thirds (65%) of appeals are allowed in cases where councillors refuse planning permission for a 50-plus residential unit scheme despite a planning officer’s recommendation for approval, research by planning consultancy Lichfields has suggested.’
Local Government Lawyer, 23rd August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Tougher regulation of bailiffs urged as debt levels rise – BBC News
‘A charity has called for tougher regulation of bailiffs, as it calculated that households have fallen behind on essential bills by £18.9bn.’
BBC News, 21st August 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Council settles sex discrimination case for £25,000 – BBC News
‘A former council worker who was told to clean toilets because they needed a “woman’s touch” has been paid £25,000 in a sex discrimination case.’
BBC News, 21st August 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Restructuring options for UK local authorities – OUT-LAW.com
‘UK central government cuts and the fast-growing cost of social care have led to significant financial strain on local authorities. What are the restructuring options available to UK local authorities facing unlawful overspending?’
OUT-LAW.com, 20th August 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
London council secures borough-wide injunction against illegal encampments – Local Government Lawyer
‘Bromley Council has persuaded the High Court to grant a borough-wide injunction against illegal encampments on land it owns or manages.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Council to re-evaluate bids for 0-19 public health services after High Court defeat – Local Government Lawyer
‘Lancashire County Council has announced that it will re-evaluate the two existing bids for public health services for 0 to 19 year olds from Virgin Health Care and a joint bid between Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Town council rejects poll calling for funding of legal action where it is a defendant – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Dorset town council has rejected the outcome of a parish poll that would see it take legal action against itself.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Councils pay out more than £2m in compensation for pavement trips – Local Government Lawyer
‘Councils last year paid £2.1m in compensation to pedestrians who tripped on pavements, according to freedom of information requests from motoring organisation the AA.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Family claims win in high court challenge to Northants library cuts – The Guardian
‘A young girl and her family who took on Northamptonshire county council over its plans to close 21 libraries have claimed a win in the high court, after a judge ruled that the cash-strapped council would have to revisit its plans while “paying attention to its legal obligations”.’
The Guardian, 14th August 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Pro-life charity to take Lambeth council to court after it was kicked out of country fair – Daily Telegraph
‘A pro-life charity is to take a council to court after they say being kicked out of a country fair infringed their human rights.’
Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Return of mutuals in the public sector? – New Law Journal
‘Peter C. Young & Martin Fone discuss how risk mutuals can provide a cost-effective option for local authorities.’
New Law Journal, 9th August 2018
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
Government to trial citizens juries and mass online polls in local decision-making – Local Government Lawyer
‘The government is to trial ways for people to take a more direct role in decisions that affect their local area, with proposals for “Citizens’ Juries” or mass participation in decision-making on community issues via an online poll or app.’
Local Government Lawyer, 9th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Service not included – Nearly Legal
‘The issue was the level of fees charged by LB Richmond on Thames for an HMO licence. LB Richmond maintained that the fee level could be set at a level designed to cover not only the costs of processing his application but also to contribute towards the costs of LB Richmond running its HMO licensing scheme more generally, including enforcement. Mr G, the landlord, maintained that the fee could only be set at a level covering the costs of processing the application.’
Nearly Legal, 9th August 2018
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Equality Act and ‘reasonable to remain’ – Nearly Legal
‘Ms L “suffers from a number of both physical and mental problems. She is wheelchair bound and is confined to bed for large portions of the day. She requires 24-hour care, including intimate care which for the time being is provided by her former partner.” She had the tenancy of a housing association property – a two bedroomed bungalow in sheltered accommodation, which was adapted for her needs.’
Nearly Legal, 9th August 2018
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Council and police ordered to pay £52k to claimant over housing of sex offender – Local Government Lawyer
‘Leicester City Council and the Chief Constable of Leicestershire have been ordered by the High Court to pay in all £52,000 to a claimant JW after a level 3 sex offender was housed near to the children’s home in which he lived.’
Local Government Lawyer, 8th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Kamara v Southwark LBC; Leach v St Albans City & District Council; Piper v South Bucks DC – Arden Chambers
‘The Court of Appeal has held that reg.8(2) of the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Review Procedures) Regulations 1999/71, does not require a local housing authority to specify in a “minded-to” letter that an applicant may make representations to the reviewer orally at a face-to-face meeting.’
Arden Chambers, 12th July 2018
Source: www.ardenchambers.com
High Court dismisses legal challenge to local government reorganisation in Dorset – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has rejected a legal challenge brought by Christchurch Borough Council over local government reorganisation in Dorset.’
Local Government Lawyer, 7th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
High Court judge quashes decision by council to cut SEND budget by £5m – Local Government Lawyer
‘A High Court judge has quashed Bristol City Council’s decision to reduce spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by £5m.’
Local Government Lawyer, 6th August 2018
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
