News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

Are You An Expert Practitioner In Your Field?
Publish date: 06/01/2020
LLG is looking to recruit 3 new National Leads to champion the profession in the following fields: - Employment Partnership & Procurement
Deputy Vice President 2020- Applications Invited for LLG Board
Publish date: 06/01/2020
Applications for the position of Deputy Vice President of Lawyers in Local Government are now invited. If you have the strategic vision to lead the company at pace whilst applying creative vision to the provision of membership services; this role will provide a stimulating, rewarding and career enhancing opportunity placing you in direct contact with key stakeholders and corporate partners. Click header to read more...
Bevan Brittan Explores the Climate Emergency: Have You Thought About New Housing?
Publish date: 20/12/2019
Eighty per cent of our housing stock that will be occupied in 2050 has already been built . However, it is widely accepted that we still need to build more homes to tackle the UK’s housing shortage. With housing stock accounting for twenty per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, there are many initiatives being considered for housing generally. In particular, there is a focus on setting energy efficiency standards for new housing. As an area that local authorities are increasingly active in delivering, we focus this article on potential changes to Building Regulations; changes which could either help or hinder local authorities to achieve net zero carbon.
Keith Davies from Shoosmiths LLP Looks at Reinventing our Town Centres
Publish date: 20/12/2019
How the public and private sector can come together to regenerate town centres and make them places that provide the facilities and services that are valued by the community was the subject of a workshop and dinner jointly held recently by Shoosmiths and Lambert Smith Hampton.
Free Webinar - CEO Brief: Developing Leadership in Local Government
Publish date: 18/12/2019
LLG Announce Shoosmiths as Corporate Partner
Publish date: 05/12/2019
LLG are delighted to announce Shoosmiths as Corporate Partner of LLG and look forward to working with them for the benefit of our membership.
LLG Announce Wilkin Chapman as New Corporate Partner
Publish date: 05/12/2019
LLG are delighted to announce Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors as new Corporate Partners of LLG. We very much look forward to working with them!
Applications for the Board Director Position of LLG Treasurer are Now Open.
Publish date: 02/12/2019
This is an exciting opportunity to gain high level strategic board experience working alongside experienced directors to promote and support lawyers working in local government. Closing date 20th December 2019.
Are you a Junior Lawyer in Local Government who could Represent your Sector?
Publish date: 02/12/2019
LLG are looking to appoint a Deputy Junior National Lead to work alongside the existing two leads in this area. The appointment would run for one year from the April AGM 2020 to 2021. At the 2021 AGM it would be envisaged that the appointment would be nominated as the Junior Director with a seat on the LLG board from the AGM 2021 to 2022.
Moving On Up: A Lawyers’ Guide to Mortgages
Publish date: 29/11/2019
Many in the legal sector aren’t aware that their professional status can be an advantage when it comes to making mortgage or remortgage applications. Recent application figures from Wesleyan Financial Services show that the average mortgage advance given to lawyers is 52% higher than the national average when compared to lending figures from the Bank of England. It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned lawyer or a trainee, you may be eligible for a ‘professional mortgage’. Lenders offering these mortgages will take your professional status into account and potentially offer you a higher loan at a preferential rate. Clearly, it pays to do your homework when it comes to choosing the right mortgage. We've outlined four key tips to help you stay ahead of the game.

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