News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

Weekly LLG Grapevine Podcast Launched
Publish date: 14/05/2020
A chatty light discussion featuring Deborah Evans (CEO), Dennis Hall (Bulletin Editor) and Helen McGrath (Head of Public Affairs) from LLG, which looks back over the last edition of the bulletin and highlights points of interest, pulling in government policy and national news to give you a quick round-up of topical developments. This week they discuss education, the planning inspectorate, scrutiny, welfare, ethics, the civil justice system and a butterfly house!
Questions & Answers from the Behaviour & Etiquette to Remote Meetings
Publish date: 04/05/2020
Your questions answered from the LLG weekly Covid-19 brief on behaviour and etiquette, and scrutiny and governance whilst working remotely.
LGO Publish Guidance on Good Administrative Practice During COVID-19
Publish date: 01/05/2020
The guidance is intended to be helpful in encouraging organisations to reflect on practice during the crisis, and to make clear the standards the LGO expect and the way in which they will consider complaints when they investigate downstream.
LLG Produce New Guidance on School Admission Appeal Regulations
Publish date: 30/04/2020
LLG & ADSO have produced joint guidance on The School Admissions (England) (Coronavirus) (Appeals Arrangements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
LLG & ADSO Produce Guidance on the Virtual Meeting Regulations - REVISED EDITION
Publish date: 29/04/2020
An explanatory note including highlights of issues to consider on The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 Revised on 7th April to expand on regulations 7-12 in reference to the GLA and amends reference to the 1960 Act
Contracts, Deeds & Sealing - Webinar Questions Answered
Publish date: 29/04/2020
Questions and Answers from the LLG Weekly Webinar on Contracts, Deeds and Sealing now available.
School Admission Regulations in Force Today
Publish date: 24/04/2020
The new regulations, which will be in force until 31 January 2021, will: disapply the requirement that appeals panels must be held in person and instead give flexibility for panel hearings to take place either in person, by telephone, video conference or through a paper-based appeal where all parties can make representations in writing relax the rules with regard to what happens if one of the 3 panel members withdraws (temporarily or permanently) to make it permissible for the panel to continue with and conclude the appeal as a panel of 2 amend the deadlines relating to appeals for the time that the new regulations are in force
LLG Launch New Guidance on Remote Meetings Protocol and Procedure Rules
Publish date: 17/04/2020
LLG are very excited to bring you our Remote Meetings Protocol and Procedure Rules, produced in collaboration with ADSO. It covers annual meetings, notice requirements, access to information, remote access for both members and the public, procedures, and voting. It also provides you with draft standing orders and guidance for behaviour whilst in remote attendance. We recognise of course that the varying technological capabilities, procedures and constitutional arrangements cannot be comprehensively covered in the one document but we do hope you will find it of great value.
New LLG President announced at AGM
Publish date: 06/04/2020
Quentin Baker of Hertfordshire County Council announced as the new President of LLG - view his acceptance speech below
View Now - Webinar - Coronavirus: Employment and Commercial Impacts for Local Authorities
Publish date: 03/04/2020

Blog

15 January 2021

Publish date: 15/01/2021

The announcement this week that the Law Society governance reforms have passed by electoral ballot was something of a mixed bag for LLG. We have campaigned tirelessly to retain two seats on the council to enable the voice of local government to be represented effectively. We are obviously disappointed at the loss of local government representation, and very much hope this will not lead to a marginalisation of the profession. We will continue to work proactively with the Law Society to raise awareness and representation of the important work our sector undertakes, and to contribute our expertise to governance in which we hold vast leading experience. We were however pleased to note that the resolution to adopt a 12-year limitation on council seat terms was carried. Indeed LLG, recognising the good practice in limiting terms of office in the pursuit of effective governance, limited our own director terms to 9 years in a change to our articles adopted at the last AGM. LLG would urge all local government solicitors to stand for vacancies on the numerous committees within the Law Society to ensure our profession retains a voice and influence. We have much to offer!

In other news, we have been delighted this week to bring you a programme of webinars each day focusing on your well-being. LLG recognise the huge pressures you have been under and the overwhelming set of circumstances we are living under. It is so important to recognise that whether we are conscious of it or not, the current reality will be having an effect. For some this will be mild but for others, it could represent a tipping point. LLG are here to support you. Please do get in contact if you need to chat and we can signpost you to organisations such as lawcare who are trained and experienced to help. You can catch up on our well-being webinars on demand; make the time for you.

Staying on the subject of being connected, we are really excited to be rolling out a yearly programme of National Lead zoom meetings starting with Monitoring Officers and Governance on 21^st January examining the Code of Conduct. Full details of all meetings will be available on the website including how to register but get the dates in your diary now for the year. Each meeting will provide 30 minutes of training followed by Q&A's and an opportunity to move into break out rooms and network with your colleagues. These are informal sessions hosted by LLG and featuring our corporate partners and guest speakers. All meetings will take place on a Thursday between 12.00 and 1.00pm; so grab a sandwich, sit down, connect, learn and feel supported! I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes

Helen McGrath

Head of Public Affairs

Helen@llg.org.uk