News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

Weekend School Interactive Brochure - Launched!
Publish date: 15/03/2019
See the interactive brochure for Weekend School 2019
Next CEO Webinar announced - 20th March 2019
Publish date: 07/03/2019
The March free CEO webinar has now been announced - register your interest now!
Annual General Meeting of Lawyers in Local Government - 30th March 2019
Publish date: 04/03/2019
Notice for Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) Annual General Meeting - 30th March 2019
LLG Submits Statement to the Ministry on Vulnerability, Duties & Responsibilities in the Event of a No Deal Brexit
Publish date: 22/02/2019
LLG has submitted a Position Statement to the Ministry on the main duties and responsibilities held towards vulnerable persons, together with an examination of the effect on individuals caused by a no deal Brexit. The Statement was produced following a direct request from the Ministry flowing from LLG's Brexit Statement submitted in January.
Meet Helen Edwards- Candidate for Deputy Vice President of LLG
Publish date: 22/02/2019
Helen Edwards, Chief Legal Officer for Norfolk County Council sets out her experience and reasons for standing as Deputy Vice President of LLG.
DFT Makes Recommendations within Consultation to Provide Greater Consistency in Licensing Following Input from LLG
Publish date: 12/02/2019
The DFT launched a consultation today on statutory guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities. The consultation is seeking views on proposed statutory guidance to taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing authorities on how to use their licensing powers to protect children and vulnerable adults. LLG previously inputted and made recommendations on the assessment of convictions and greater consistency in licensing together with the Institute of Licensing, the National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers and the LGA. The DFT has now picked up those recommendations within Annexe A of the Consultation in their entirety.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life Review on Local Government Ethical Standards Released today.
Publish date: 30/01/2019
The 20th report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, on the subject of ethical standards in local government released its review today. The report identifies some specific areas of concern noting a minority of councillors who engage in bullying or harassment, or other highly disruptive behaviour, and a small number of parish councils giving rise to a disproportionate number of complaints about poor behaviour. The report also identifies a number of risks in the sector: the current rules around conflicts of interest, gifts, and hospitality are commented on as inadequate; and the increased complexity of local government decision-making has been found to place governance under strain.
Guidance from Government to Assist Local Authority Preparedness for Exiting the European Union (EU).
Publish date: 28/01/2019
Guidance just out from the Government covering; Statutory services, Regulatory services, Border areas, Supply chains, Data handling, Local partnership working, Communications, Regional and local growth, EU Funding
LLG Submits Brexit Statement to the Ministry
Publish date: 15/01/2019
LLG have provided a Brexit statement to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government following detailed input from Branches and Corporate Partners. The statement sets out the position of LLG regarding the more prominent legal implications of Brexit together with an examination of the EU exit more broadly on local government. It also raises questions where it feels clarity from the Ministry would be beneficial. It provides an overarching commentary which many of your directors and CEO may find useful.
NAO Report on Local Authority Governance is a Missed Opportunity for Monitoring Officers
Publish date: 15/01/2019
The report by the National Audit Office on Local Authority Governance (released today) examines whether local governance arrangements provide local taxpayers and Parliament with assurance that local authority spending achieves value for money and that authorities are financially sustainable. The report is welcome but misses a key recommendation to include MO's in a review of the impact of status reduction and efficacy of their statutory reporting arrangements; restricting it to 151 Officers only.

Blog

18th April 2019

Publish date: 18/04/2019

Last Friday the LLG Board met to determine its strategy for the next 3-5 years in order to ensure the organisation meets the demands of its membership needs and promotes lawyers in local government both regionally and nationally through targeted campaigns and stakeholder collaboration. Once finalised, we will be sharing with you our plans for the short and medium term, many of which will provide engagement opportunities for you to get involved - so watch this space!

With the parliamentary recess for Easter now in full swing until the 23^rd April and the Brexit deadline extended until the 31^st October, many commentators are enjoying a little breathing space before it all starts up again. However, in local government, preparations are under way for the European elections on 23^rd May despite the fact they might not proceed. Indeed, whilst the government's position is that the UK will leave the EU with a deal before the elections, it should be noted that if we fail to take part in the European Elections then the UK must leave the EU on 1^st June.

The Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP wrote to Bob Posner, CEO at the Electoral Commission on the 1^st April stating "it is important that Returning Officers and electoral administrators should be able to plan effectively to deliver national polls which are well-run and fair, and seen to be so". Whilst we know the government has stated it will provide funding for contingency preparations the letter also stated; "thought should be given to what actions are strictly necessary ahead of the start of an election timetable and what can be undertaken on a contingency basis given that circumstances may continue to change". Some discretion is therefore required on how far along the process to go and what to undertake at each step along the timetable. For further information and guidance on the European Elections the Electoral Commission website can be accessed here.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a lovely Easter break.

Best Wishes

Helen McGrath

Head of Public Affairs