PLC Public Sector reports:
Make sure that you have not missed a key development in your area of the law by reviewing our latest list of recommended actions.
Academies: education lawyers should note that the Education Funding Agency has published a revised Academies Financial Handbook.
Employment: employment lawyers should be aware that the national minimum wage will change on 1 October 2012.
FOI: information lawyers will be interested in the decision of the Upper Tribunal in Evans v Information Commissioner, holding that advocacy correspondence between Prince Charles and government ministers in 2004 and 2005 must be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Housing: housing and human rights lawyers will be interested in the European Court of Human Rights’ decision in Buckland v UK in which it held that there had been a breach of the applicant’s Article 8 rights as she had not been able to challenge on the ground of proportionality the decision to evict her from the caravan park on which she was living.
Licensing: local authorities who licence zoos in their areas should note that the government has published guidance on the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
Property and planning: local authorities should be aware that the right to bid for assets of community value came into force on 21 September 2012. This means that local authorities will be required to maintain lists of community assets in their areas and local groups will be able to bid to buy them.
Public procurement: public procurement lawyers will be interested in the decision of the Court of Appeal in Hossacks v The Legal Services Commission to reject an appeal against a High Court order refusing judicial review of the Commission’s tender for legal services relating to community care.
Consultations: this week consultations were published on:
- Green Public Procurement criteria for waste water infrastructure works.
- The governance of fire and rescue authorities.
- Encouraging the use of settlement agreements.
- The definition of fuel poverty.
The government has also published Effectiveness of TUPE 2006: government response to the call for evidence calling for clarification on the treatment of pension rights on TUPE transfers.