News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

SRA delay Solicitors Qualifying Exam after negative responses to consultation
Publish date: 02/06/2016
The SRA have delayed the SQE implementation following 100 wholly negative responses to their consultation.
Mo Defence Scheme - Weightmans Press Release
Publish date: 09/05/2016
Weightmans go to press following launch of LLG's Member Defence Scheme
LLG Launch Monitoring Officer Defence Scheme
Publish date: 26/04/2016
LLG are delighted to announce the launch of a Monitoring Officer Defence Scheme in partnership with Weightmans Solicitors. The new full member benefit will apply to Monitoring Officers or their Deputies when acting in that capacity and is designed to provide advice and assistance with issues relating to the statutory role. The offer includes a telephone advice line, a conference facility and preferential terms in tribunal proceedings. For full terms and conditions go the LLG Membership in the documents library and click on Monitoring Officer Defence Scheme Terms and Conditions.
LLG feed into SOLACE Guidance on the EU Referendum
Publish date: 14/04/2016
The detailed paper including questions and answers provides guidance on the statutory rules regulating publicity produced at any time by the council or by other persons with the council’s assistance; the tighter rules on council publicity produced by the council in the run up to polling day for the EU referendum; and the areas of the council’s operations which are affected by the referendum process.
LLG Competency Framework Documents now available
Publish date: 11/04/2016
The LLG Competency Framework which includes the SRA obligations is now available within the Document Library. Just click on 'documents' in the top tab from the home page and in categories marked 'filter by category' click on Learning and Development. All documents are available including the Statement of Legal Knowledge and Templates to record your learning and development including examples to start you off. The Presentation on the Competency Framework will be available on Local Government Law TV later this week and will include all detailed slides.
Leading Counsel Advice on the Professional and Legal Ability of Authorities
Publish date: 29/02/2016
SRA Qualifies Further Rule 4 Interpretation
Publish date: 20/01/2016
Crispin Passmore highlights examples for Rule 4 interpretation at the LLG London Branch Meeting
Fancy some free on-line training?
Publish date: 07/01/2016
LLG are about to launch a free trial period of on line training for LLG members. This is coming really soon so watch this space for more details about launch dates, programme menus and terms and conditions. More information will be posted next week.
Photographs from the Awards Night 2015
Publish date: 05/01/2016
Glam shots from the night. See how many people you recognise!
NEWS - Care and Support Reform Bulletin May 2015
Publish date: 02/06/2015

Blog

14 August 2020

Publish date: 14/08/2020

Engagement with external stakeholders is a key theme of my presidency. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at LLG. If we share our voice and listen to the views of others, trusting and working openly with those in the sector, seeking to find consensus and shared approaches, the proposals we form translate easily into successful outcomes.

Within local authorities, the lawyers work alongside the s151 officers and the finance team, the Chief Executives and the leadership team, and the democratic services officers. They talk to Parish and Town Council Clerks. They interact with councillors across the tiers.

So, at LLG it is imperative that we debate positions with SOLACE and CiPFA, ADSO, SLCC, the LGA and NALC to see things from every perspective. It turns out that what works best for the lawyer also benefits the democratic services officer – guidance for virtual meetings was an ideal example of this. What worries the lawyer also worries the s151 officer – they are just as concerned at Monitoring officers slipping down the management tiers in some local authorities as we are, not least because a similar problem is being seen with s151 officers.

For the development of our position on the draft Code of Conduct, we have spoken at length to SLCC and ADSO about the impact on local council meetings. Will the code be adopted at parish and town council level if it remains voluntary? Could training be mandatory? Will councillors be asked to sign the code? It goes without saying that there remains concern around the management of bullying and harassment at local council level, and there are questions being asked as to whether the Code goes far enough in that respect. Consequently, a priority for me as President is to push for wide adoption of the code to ensure consistency across all tiers. Otherwise there seems to be little point. Why have a model code that just sits in a drawer? Why continue with a system where dual or triple hatted councillors have different rules for different meetings? Why continue with a system where some councillors aren't trained, or may not even have read the code that binds them?

We debated governance issues with CiPFA and SOLACE, such as statutory protection for statutory officers – both CiPFA and SOLACE support cast iron protection. But most importantly, for every stakeholder, the issue is all about sanctions. It is a red flag for us all. We can hope for compliance, we can cross our fingers and hope for improved behaviour, but without sanctions, it's just a wish list.

As your President I will do all I can to secure consistency and adoption of the new Code, and proper sanctions.

Quentin Baker

LLG President