Public matters: January 2026

England's local authority standards reforms

These reforms aim to address long-standing criticisms that the current system lacks “teeth” and effective enforcement powers. We analyse what these changes mean for councils and monitoring officers.

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Understanding the threshold for age assessment reviews

When does fresh evidence require age reassessment? We review the key lessons from R(F) v Manchester City Council for social work practice and Merton compliance.

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The Renters’ Rights Act 2025: Preparing for implementation 

With Phase 1 implementation of the Act just months away, local housing authorities face urgent deadlines to establish enforcement capacity and educate landlords. We've created a practical guide on the changes.

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Homelessness law reform in Wales

For local authorities and housing associations who help homeless people, the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill will fundamentally alter their duties, responsibilities and the way they deliver services.

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Water white paper: Legal comment

Ben Standing, Partner in planning and environment, comments on the new government report, 'A new vision for water', which sets out the powers that will be given to a new regulator to replace Ofwat.

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Court transparency pilot: New public access rules

A new two-year pilot programme will fundamentally alter how third parties can gain access to court documents. We summarise the main elements of the pilot and its implications for litigation conduct.

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New streamlined routes under the Subsidy Control Act

A recent update has provided two new streamlined routes to make the process of awarding subsidies quicker and easier for public authorities. We summarise what this means for arts and culture and community regeneration projects.

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#PositivePurpose: The Elliot Foundation

We've partnered with The Elliot Foundation to create a short film exploring how schools can become catalysts for community renewal. Through free community hubs and collaborative partnerships, they're tackling poverty, health challenges and isolation – proving that schools can do so much more than educate. 

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Employment law updates

Employment Rights Act hub

Our Employment Rights Act hub brings together all of our latest insights and guidance in one place, helping you stay informed and prepared for the changes ahead.

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Collective redundancy consultation duty

In Micro Focus Ltd v Mildenhall, the Employment Appeal Tribunal's ruling provides much needed clarity on when the duty to collectively consult regarding redundancies is triggered. 

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The future of non-compete clauses

We summarise the four options under consideration in the government's working paper seeking views on the reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

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