Local government alerts

  • 31.03.08 - Unitary status - staffing

    Now that parliamentary approval has been granted for new unitary authorities, the complex task of getting the new councils up and running is under way. With the new authorities taking on the reigns of power from April 2009, the timetable is tight.

  • 31.03.08 - Is harassment the new workplace stress claim?

    An individual claiming to have suffered personal injury as a result of workplace harassment has various potential claims against their employer - breach of contract, personal injury, discrimination and a claim under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

  • 31.03.08 - Freedom of information

    It has been a challenging year in the world of freedom of information, with failed attempts to exempt MPs from its ambit and revise the fees regulations. The Act is here to stay and it looks like it is about to dig even deeper.

  • 31.03.08 - Corporate manslaughter

    Local authorities will be more vulnerable to prosecution where their actions or omissions cause a death, under new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which comes into force on 6 April 2008.

  • 31.03.08 - Local government update

    At Wragge & Co we aim to add value through our experience and expertise to help you find solutions that suit your organisation. The following stories focus on some of the legal issues facing local government.

  • 28.03.08 - All Change! The new-look LGPS

    Despite Communities and Local Government's promises to have regulations a year in advance, the final form administration, benefit and transitional regulations were very late in coming.

  • 28.03.08 - New regulations for construction and design professionals

    The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 have been introduced to raise the level of professional competence and accountability in public sector contracts.

  • 28.03.08 - Implementing the 2007 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act

    The importance of establishing and maintaining good governance at a local level is highlighted in 'The Governance of Britain' green paper and the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

  • 28.03.08 - Snooper's charter and privilege

    Did you know the public can access your court documents including those lodged in judicial review proceedings or the Employment Tribunal?

  • 28.03.08 - Professional appointments

    Local authority lawyers can have a bewildering variety of forms of professional appointments pass over their desks. How can they judge the comparative strength of appointments when they can differ so much in terms of structure, origin, length and drafting?

  • 31.01.08 - Employment legislation diary - 2008 and beyond
    Employment law changes to look out for over the coming 12 months and beyond.
  • 17.01.08 - LGPS: new ill-health pension benefits
    The new Local Government Pension Scheme will be introduced from 1 April 2008. Under the new arrangements, scheme employers will have an increased role in determining the level of any ill-health pension payable to a member.
  • 09.01.08 - It's reasonable to rely on the court's decision
    A local authority homelessness reviews officer is, in all but the most extreme cases, entitled to rely on a court's decision in possession proceedings based upon rent arrears when determining if an applicant for housing is intentionally homeless or not.
  • 29.10.07 - LGPS governance compliance statements:draft guidance
    On or before 1 March 2008, Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities will have to publish their first revised governance compliance statement.
  • 07.09.07 - Public sector: staff transfers and the Staff Transfers Pensions Direction 2007
    Since 1999 a non-statutory framework has existed governing the treatment of employees' pension benefits when best value authorities outsource services to the private sector.
  • 16.08.07 - CDM Regulations: compliance with mobilisation provisions
    Our April briefing note discussed the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The issue on which we are being asked to advise more than any other, is the requirement to provide the principal contractor with a 'mobilisation period'.
  • 07.06.07 - LGPS governance: finalised regulations
    Finalised regulations have been published which will introduce various measures designed to improve the administration and governance of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
  • 08.02.07 - Freedom of information: an opportunity for LGPS contractors?
    The Information Commissioner has determined that Hertfordshire County Council should disclose information about its pension scheme's private equity investments in accordance with its Freedom of Information Act 2000 obligations.
  • 08.02.07 - Freedom of information: what should authorities do?
    The Information Commissioner has determined that Hertfordshire County Council should disclose information about its pension scheme's private equity investments in accordance with its Freedom of Information Act 2000 obligations.
  • 25.06.02 - A guide to successful outsourcing: Key Initial Issues
    Outsourcing - the handing over of a corporate process to another organisation - is here to stay. Virtually anything can be outsourced, from IT systems and facilities management to logistics and car fleet management.