Legal
Council defends chief following court settlement
North Northamptonshire has defended a former council chief executive after settling a claim of abuse of process.
Liverpool auditor seeks corruption investigation
Calls have been made for further investigations into the extent of alleged bribery and corruption at Liverpool City Council.
Auditor finds 'governance breakdown' over chief's payoff
Pembrokeshire CC must ‘regain public trust’ after Wales’ auditor general detailed a ‘serious breakdown in governance’ over the payoff to former chief executive Ian Westley.
Scotland to ease cross-border placements
Holyrood has proposed removing legal hurdles for cross-border placements of children by English councils.
It feels like we're going backwards on 'hybrid' council meetings
There appears to be no momentum to urgently provide councillors with the choice to attend meetings remotely or in person, says Quentin Baker. LLG and ADSO have launched a petition in the hope of allowing the House of Commons to express its opinion.
Take note of the Snooty Fox
In the light of the legal case of the Snooty Fox, Andy Sawford urges that local government areas going through reorganisation carry out an audit of skeletons in the cupboard.
Gove reveals new cladding plan
Michael Gove has vowed to use the law or increase taxes on developers if they refuse to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding.
Council pays out damages over 'vendetta' claim
A settlement has been agreed following 20 years of legal disputes with now-defunct East Northamptonshire DC.
Takeaways from the public procurement Green Paper consultation response
A competitive flexible procedure remains at the core of the proposals in the Government’s response to its Green Paper consultation on public procurement transformation, says Rebecca Rees.
Investigation launched into unlawful finances
Nottingham City Council has ordered an independent investigation to resolve ‘unanswered questions’ over its breach of accounting laws.
There's much for councils to welcome in procurement consultation response
Councils could look at their processes and record keeping to ensure a smooth jump to greater transparency ahead of a new public procurement Bill, says Peter Ware of Browne Jacobson.
EXCLUSIVE: New core funding model mooted for LRFs
Whitehall officials are considering a rollout of core funding for local resilience forums (LRFs) as part of a revised national strategy to be published in March.
Shortcomings revealed in second child murder case
A second court case in a month has revealed serious shortcomings in how local agencies responded to allegations of abuse shortly before a child’s murder.
Inspection and review announced after court sentences two over Arthur's death
The Government has announced a local inspection and national review will take place following the abuse and murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Officers implore Government to rethink remote meeting rules
Legal and democratic services officers have implored ministers to change the rules on remote meetings as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads.
County lines and the blight on our young
The justice system is not providing the adequate protection required by vulnerable children who are being exploited by ‘county lines’ criminal gangs, says Julian Hayes.
Call for fresh powers from ombudsman
England’s local government ombudsman today demands wide-ranging new powers to investigate complaints across town halls, social care and education amid concern current regimes are outdated.
Watchdog's concern over deprivation of liberty orders
Ofsted highlighted a ‘huge rise’ in the use of deprivation of liberty orders by councils.
CCN conference: Senior officer in financial collapse warning
The countdown is on before some councils face financial collapse due to a change to children’s services accounting rules, a senior finance expert has claimed.
LGA warning over soaring care costs
Soaring adult and children’s care costs mean councils could ‘soon fail to support everyone they need to,’ town halls have warned.
