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.
This week’s actions are:
Education: In view of the decision of the LGO in Warwickshire County Council, those advising school admission appeal panels should remind panel members that they have to comply with the School Admissions Appeal Code and consider whether admitting a particular child would prejudice the education of other children or efficient use of resources.
Young people with learning difficulties: those officers with responsibility for assessing young people with learning difficulties should be alerted to the guidance that has been published, which sets out the duties of local authorities in relation to these individuals and what has to be considered when carrying out a learning difficulty assessment.
Housing: local authority housing lawyers will be interested to know that in July 2010, following the Court of Appeal decision in Salford City Council v Mullen granting the appellants (whose appeals related to a non-secure tenancy and an introductory tenancy) permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court will be considering the issue of how gateway (b) defences raised by tenants in such possession proceedings should be dealt with.
Local government: officers in principal councils should be aware that guidance on community governance reviews has been published, which is intended to assist principal councils in their consideration of whether to create, or alter the boundary of, a parish.
Those local government officers involved in licensing applications should also be alerted to the published guidance, which accompanies the reforms to the licensing of lap dancing clubs.
Planning: planning lawyers should be aware that the following documents have been published:
- Planning Policy Statement 5, which sets out the Government’s planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment.
- A new edition of Planning Policy Statement 25, on development and flood risk.
- Updated guidance for local authorities on how to produce a surface water management plan.
Procurement: procurement officers should familiarise themselves with the new ICT negotiating guide to be used with the OCG’s ICT Services Model Agreement.