Housing Ombudsman urges social landlords to adopt “zero tolerance approach” on damp and mould – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has called on social landlords to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to damp and mould, saying it needs to be a higher priority.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mineral rights: mudstone in mid-Wales – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 25th, 2021 in appeals, interpretation, local government, miners, news, Wales by sally

‘Mark Wonnacott QC and Harriet Holmes examine an important Court of Appeal ruling on the law relating to mineral reservations.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Menopausal symptoms and disability – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has given its first ruling on menopausal symptoms and disability in a case involving a city council. Jog Hundle considers the judgment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Care bill for family soared without warning because of poor council information, Ombudsman finds – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 22nd, 2021 in care homes, families, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘North Yorkshire County Council has been criticised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman after a family’s care bill leapt from hundreds to thousands of pounds a month without notice.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge criticises Mackenzie Friend over timing of application to revoke adoption order – Local Government Lawyer

‘A disputed adoption case has highlighted the problems of reliance on a Mackenzie Friend rather than a solicitor in proceedings, a Family Division judge has suggested.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fostering agencies and religious beliefs – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has recently ruled on the legality of a fostering agency’s requirement that potential carers must be Christians. Natasha Isaac examines the case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘A massive injustice’: 10 years on from Dale Farm evictions, pain and trauma remain – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2021 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, repossession, travellers by sally

‘On the day residents of Dale Farm, then one of the largest unauthorised Traveller sites in Europe, were due to be evicted a decade ago, pupils at the nearby primary school were handed special stones they could squeeze as they walked into their morning assembly. The teachers wanted to remind everyone that the school remained a safe and welcoming place.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council loses High Court battle over taking into account of past over-supply of housing – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 22nd, 2021 in housing, interpretation, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is silent on whether an earlier oversupply of housing can affect a council’s future five-years land supply for homes.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Water company fined £100,000 for unsafe street work practices – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 20th, 2021 in fines, health & safety, local government, news, utilities by sally

‘Thames Water has been fined £100,000 after being prosecuted by Transport for London for four safety street works related offences committed on the TfL Road Network.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Landlord ordered to pay more than £33k in fines and costs over failure to license property – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 18th, 2021 in fines, housing, landlord & tenant, licensing, local government, news by sally

‘Merton Council has successfully prosecuted a landlord and his associated property agency for letting unsafe properties and operating in an unlicensed manner.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Recovering commercial rent during the pandemic – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 15th, 2021 in coronavirus, debts, landlord & tenant, leases, local government, news, rent, set-off by sally

‘Clare Hartley and Chloe Postlethwaite analyse the latest favourable ruling for landlords in relation to commercial rent recovery during Covid-19, a judgment that confirms landlords can currently still rely on the court route notwithstanding the UK Government’s plans for arbitration next year.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Parental responsibility: a short guide for local authority SEND teams – Local Government Lawyer

‘Grace-Mary Sweeney of LASEN explores the concept of parental responsibility, how it interacts with education law, and some practical implications for Local Authority SEND Teams.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Research Briefing: Financial support for family and friends carers (kinship carers) – House of Commons Library

Posted October 15th, 2021 in carers, families, fostering, local government, news, parliament, remuneration by sally

‘This House of Commons Library briefing paper considers what help is available for grandparents and other family and friends carers (also known as kinship carers) looking after children where their parents are not in a position to do so.’

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House of Commons Library , 7th October 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Constitutional amendment that moved council meetings to working hours criticised – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 14th, 2021 in budgets, local government, news by sally

‘A decision intended to move full council meetings at North Northamptonshire Council from 7pm to 2pm has been criticised as “anti-democratic” by detractors.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Harmful emissions and human rights duties – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 13th, 2021 in children, environmental health, health, human rights, local government, news, waste by sally

‘Stephen Tromans QC and Victoria Hutton consider a significant High Court ruling on the duties of the Environment Agency in relation to a landfill site.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Homelessness – renewed applications and overlooked facts – Nearly Legal

‘This was a judicial review of Westminster’s refusal to accept a third homelessness application from Ms Ibrahim, following a review decision upholding a decision that she was intentionally homeless, and a rejection of a second application.’

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Nearly Legal, 10th October 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Capability and conduct dismissals – Local Government Lawyer

‘Can the Employment Tribunal “go behind” a final written warning? Madeleine Shields reports on a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Interim and final injunctions: the differences – Local Government Lawyer

‘Roderick Morton considers two injunction cases which neatly illustrate the differences between interim and final injunctions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lilly Hanrahan: Case review finds missed chances to check on killer – BBC News

‘Authorities’ failure to share details about a man before he murdered a girl in his partner’s care “contributed” to her death.’

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BBC News, 5th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regulations and guidance issued on support councils must give domestic abuse victims – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Government has published new regulations and guidance setting out the level of support councils are required to provide to domestic abuse victims who need to escape home.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk