Local government

Nicholas Dobson reports on a cunning wheeze to avoid Council Tax ultimately defeated in the Supreme Court by Rossendale & Wigan Councils

English virtual council meetings? Not a remote chance. Nicholas Dobson reports

Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) has published guidance in association with the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ASDO) and David Kitson from Bevan Brittan, on the subject of local authority meetings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The Law Society has published its response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code. The Law Society welcomes the greater clarity on terms such as ‘beautiful’ but has made several suggestions for improvement of the framework and code.

The urgency of COVID-19 does not provide a licence to short-change essential public law principles, says Nicholas Dobson

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has announced a consultation into the reform of the Right to Contest, following a new Right to Regenerate proposal which allows the public to require councils and the public sector to sell unused land and assets so that they may convert derelict buildings and vacant plots of land into new homes or community spaces

R (on the application of Z) v Hackney London Borough Council: Nicholas Dobson navigates the Supreme Court’s path through a hall of mirrors

Construction companies urged to review processes

James Arrowsmith reflects on the possible impact of Poole v GN on defining negligence in the performance of statutory functions