News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

DfE Response to Education Appeal Panels - Joint statement from LLG & ADSO
Publish date: 31/03/2020
You may recently had sight of draft regulations being circulated relating to virtual meetings entitled The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meetings) (England) Regulations 2020. We are not yet certain whether they have been issued formally as a draft or just to a specific group of people for initial comment. We are trying to clarify that point. For those who have read them, you will have noted that there is no mention of school appeals. We were naturally concerned about this and immediately raised the omission with the LGA who raised it directly with the DfE. We have now received communications in which the DfE advises they are working on emergency regulations and guidance to establish flexible alternative arrangements including remote panels together with an extension of timescales currently prescribed. The DfE also advise it will retain the need for a formal clerk during the proceedings. When we have any further information we will continue to update you.
Free Shoosmiths Webinar on Covid-19 & Local Government
Publish date: 31/03/2020
The Webinar will take place on Wednesday, 1 April 2020 at 14:10 and will cover issues impacting on those working within local authorities and will include a consideration of the following: How can planning applications be registered, validated and progressed in the shadow of CV? Can an innovative solution be found to hosting planning committees? How to deal with the practicalities of day to day life – for example how will planning conditions be discharged, how will legal agreements be completed? What can be done to allow the appeals system to function? Do Councils need to modify their Constitutions? How can environmental functions such as waste collection and enforcement of statutory nuisances be carried out?
Good Practice Guidance Note - Planning Officers Society
Publish date: 31/03/2020
Just released by POS - *Good Practice Guidance Note - DM Decision Making and COVID-19*
Virtual meeting * LLG Annual General Meeting 2020 * - 3rd April 2020
Publish date: 30/03/2020
LLG AGM 2020 to now be held virtually on 3 April 2020 at 12.16pm
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020
Publish date: 27/03/2020
Made at 1.00 p.m. on 26th March 2020 Laid before Parliament at 2.30 p.m. on 26th March 2020 Coming into force - - at 1.00 p.m. on 26th March 2020 Provides for Prohibition notices
JUST PUBLISHED Coronavirus Bill: Local authority meetings
Publish date: 25/03/2020
Just published- Guidance for holding Local Authority meetings
Government Announces Virtual Meeting Bill Amendment
Publish date: 24/03/2020
This new clause confers power on the Secretary of State, Welsh Ministers and Department for Communities in Northern Ireland to make regulations in relation to meetings of specified local authorities. It may be used, for example, to remove requirements to hold annual meetings, or to allow virtual meetings. It may only be used in relation to meetings taking place before 7 May 2021.
Coronavirus Bill 2019-2021 Bill Published
Publish date: 19/03/2020
The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its First Reading on Thursday 19 March 2020.
LLG Make Representations to the MHCLG on the Inclusion of Lawyers in Key-worker Status
Publish date: 19/03/2020
LLG have today made representations to include local authority lawyers in the definition of Key Worker for the purpose of school provision for dependants. A number of officers are already earmarked to be included within the definition such as social workers, planning officers and environmental health officers who will require the support of lawyers to undertake their roles. This is alongside the pressing need for lawyers to underpin the governance of their local authority.
LLG & ADSO Write to Secretary of State on Covid-19 impact on Governance Issues
Publish date: 18/03/2020
The letter includes Holding of Public Meetings and Attendance of Councillors, Education Appeal Panels and Registrars. LLG is now looking to pull together a comprehensive list of concerns including more specific analysis of licensing, planning, fostering and adoption, DOLs Assessments, contract extensions and OJEU, employment and duty of care, service provision, social care. We really need your input to help us to identify changes and/or assistance which we need to highlight with the government

Blog

27 March 2020

Publish date: 27/03/2020

Yesterday, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect replacing offences under the old regulations and creating prohibition notices. The most pertinent section for local government appears at regulation 10 which relates to fixed penalty notices in the enforcement of regulations 4 (requirement to close premises and businesses during the emergency and 5, (further restrictions and closures during the emergency period). Relevant person is defined under 8(12) as "a person designated by a local authority for the purposes of this regulation" and is curtailed under 8(13) to provisions within regulations 4 and 5. LLG understands the Office for Product Safety & Standards is currently producing guidance on enforcement for local authorities and we will highlight this on our website.

The LLG website and in particular the Forum is awash with information as it populates at speed. Everything from ratifying decisions after the event, sealing documents and the 6-month disqualification rule to local authority businesses and government support is being debated. LLG are looking to assist in all these queries but please share all questions, good practice and practical answers to the issues with the whole membership so we can better support each other and react as one.

The big issue pending regulation is local authority virtual meetings. Clause 78 introduces regulation-making powers with regard to meetings and proceedings of local authorities in the Coronavirus Bill. The Government's exact plans for exercising these regulation-making powers, and the timescale in which they will be exercised, are not known. However, LLG expects the regulations to be available next week. We will be working at speed alongside our stakeholders to produce guidance as quickly as possible on the regulations flowing from this provision. LLG knows that there are big questions around how to vote, how to give access to the press and public and how to utilise the best technology safely where many authorities might struggle with their current systems.

Effective governance and timely 'decision taking' underpin every decision that is made in the public sector. It is even more vital now, that no barriers exist to achieving action that is needed to fight COVID-19. LLG remains committed to constructive engagement with the government on its emerging legislative plans. We are determined, working with our partners, to equip our members with the guidance and support they need during the pandemic crisis in order to ensure they play an effective and responsive part in delivering vital services to our communities.

With very best wishes

Helen McGrath

Head of Public Affairs

Helen@llg.org.uk