‘The Housing Ombudsman has provided updated guidance on the “often contentious” area of service charges in its latest Insight report.’
Local Government Lawyer, 7th December 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls.’
The Guardian, 8th December 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Adverts for the vaping company Elf Bar have been banned after using the slogan “recycling for a greener future” over concern they were misleading because of the environmental damage of discarded vapes.’
The Guardian, 29th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The family of the headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death after a critical Ofsted inspection will be the subject of a high-profile inquest this week, have been refused legal aid to fund their representation just days before the hearing is due to start.’
The Guardian, 26th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published two ‘working papers’ seeking feedback on its assessment of the use of landbanks, and how planning rules concerning zoning, consultations and local plan processes may be impacting competition and how new homes are delivered.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st November 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Ofsted is in need of major reform and is seen as “not fit for purpose” according to an inquiry into the education inspectorate for England. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry called for “transformational change” and said it found Ofsted as “having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.’
The Independent, 20th November 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Anthony James looks at the Health and Care Professions Council’s new standards of proficiency for each of the 15 professions it regulates, which came into force on 1 September 2023.’
Mountford Chambers, 3rd October 2023
Source: www.mountfordchambers.com
‘Clause 19 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the DMCC Bill”) gives the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) wide powers to impose conduct requirements on undertakings that the CMA has designated as having strategic market status (“SMS”) in respect of a digital activity (essentially, “big tech”). The condition for the exercise of the power is that the CMA considers it “appropriate” to do so having regard to broadly drawn statutory objectives – the “fair dealing” objective, the “open choices” objective (essentially, enabling consumers to choose freely and easily between providers) and the “trust and transparency” objective (essentially, having the information to make properly informed decisions). The types of conduct requirement that may be imposed are set out in clause 20: essentially, there is no statutory limit to the types of requirement that may be imposed save that (whatever they are) they must be for the purpose of securing various objectives or of preventing various widely defined types of conduct (for example “using data unfairly”). Breach of a conduct requirement may result, if the CMA so decides, in an enforcement order that requires action to remedy the breach or payment of damages.’
UK Constitutional Law Assoication, 15th November 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned two misleading TikTok posts by a law firm for not making clear that the people featured were not genuine clients.’
Legal Futures, 15th November 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Royal Mail has been fined £5.6m by the regulator for missing its first- and second-class delivery targets.’
The Guardian, 13th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Pension trustees in the UK will have to take an extra step to recover a disputed overpayment, as the English Court of Appeal has recently ruled that the Pensions Ombudsman (PO) is not a “competent court” for such purpose.’
OUT-LAW.com, 10th November 2023
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘Royal Mail has been fined £5.6m by the regulator for missing its first- and second-class delivery targets.’
The Guardian, 13th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Almost a third of families with SEND children needing respite care have been failed by a council, according to a watchdog.’
BBC News, 12th November 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The trustees of a pension scheme discover that members have been mistakenly overpaid: perhaps because the trustees misinterpreted the scheme rules, or perhaps because certain provisions of the scheme rules that were assumed to be valid were in fact invalid. The trustees decide to recoup the overpayments by setting them off against members’ instalments of future pension. A member raises a dispute, either as to the amount to be recouped or the rate of deduction.’
Pensions Barrister, 9th November 2023
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
‘Social media platforms should fight online grooming by not suggesting children as “friends” by default, the communications watchdog says.’
BBC News, 8th November 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The government is to put a football governance bill before parliament in the coming year, confirming the legislation that will create an independent regulator for the game.’
The Guardian, 7th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A critic of tax havens who featured in a BBC documentary about the Brink’s-Mat gold bullion robbery was misrepresented, according to Ofcom.’
The Independent, 7th November 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Priory healthcare group has been charged with two criminal offences over the death of a 23-year-old man who was hit by a train after absconding from a mental health hospital.’
The Guardian, 6th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Clarion after its “lack of consideration” of a resident’s vulnerability when handling his complaints about noise led to him suffering over a nine-month period.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd November 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2023