Legal
Unions claim 'huge victory' in equal pay case
Trade unions have claimed a ‘huge victory’ in a long-running equal pay case against St Helens MBC after the authority dropped a legal appeal.
Fostering tribunal could have national impact
Hampshire CC is facing a landmark employment tribunal at which a foster carer will argue for workers' rights such as holiday pay and discrimination protection.
Shelter calls for legal loophole closure
A legal loophole has allowed big developers in Kensington and Chelsea to avoid building more than 700 social homes.
Childhood abuse reforms could see Scottish councils face an insurance black hole
Despite council support for a Bill that will allow childhood abuse survivors to sue for historic cases, councils could face substantial costs for damages. Pamela Stevenson urges authorities to build potential costs into future budgets.
Scots set for new care abuse claims
Scotland’s councils have been warned to brace themselves for a wave of compensation claims from people who suffered abuse as children in local authority care.
Council to spend £250,000 on leisure centre inquiry
Dumfries & Galloway Council’s £250,000 investigation into the failings of a sports and leisure centre is expected to start after a meeting next week.
Councils win right to challenge hospital downgrade
Four Oxfordshire councils have won a fresh hearing over plans to downgrade services at a local hospital.
Council left with £20m bill after legal battle
Cumbria CC has been landed with a £21m bill after a disastrous dispute with its former highways contractor, Amey.
Rotherham was alerted to taxi-CSE link - report
Rotherham MBC officers did not have ‘sufficient resources, systems or policies’ to adequately investigate concerns about taxi licensing, a report has found.
Rotherham officers 'missed opportunities' to uncover CSE
Senior officers at Rotherham MBC between 1997 and 2013 missed opportunities to uncover the scale of child sexual exploitation (CSE), a report examining their roles and performance has found.
Birmingham officers in warning over bin deal
A row is brewing between Birmingham City Council’s management and senior councillors over how to end the long-running industrial dispute with bin men.
Putting together a workable business plan
Rebecca Hazeldine outlines the key components in translating objectives and funding strategies into a workable business plan.
Councils urged to review homelessness procedures
Councils have been urged to ensure their homelessness procedures are ‘fit for purpose’ after faults were found with the treatment of a disabled woman.
Power of attorney system 'deeply flawed'
One of Britain’s foremost experts on safeguarding the elderly has warned that the power of attorney system is deeply flawed.
Authority denies abusing legal powers
A council has hit back at a government watchdog after being accused of abusing legal powers to halt the publication of complaints against it.
Council apologises for court order breach
Gloucestershire CC has apologised to the parents of a child after a judge ruled the council breached a court order when it took the youngster into care.
Council accused of abusing legal powers to gag complaints
A council has hit back at a government watchdog after being accused of abusing legal powers to halt the publication of complaints against it.
Councils win legal battle with health boards
Health boards in Wales ‘misinterpreted’ the law over who is responsible for paying for nurses to deliver social care in residential homes, a court has ruled.
LGA mounts legal challenge over excessive credit card fees
More than 100 councils have joined a fully-funded legal challenge against MasterCard and Visa amid claims the companies unlawfully charged excessive interchange fees on transactions.
Grenfell residents face 'slow and painful' journey for justice
Grieving residents and families could be left disappointed by ‘slow and painful’ legal processes in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, local government lawyers have warned.