NWLC Magazine summer 2022 v2

quarterlyconsortium Issue #08 Summer 2022



Hello and welcome to the issue #08 8th edition of Consortium Quarterly. I’ll start by letting you know that we’ve now opened bookings for our key face-to-face training event for 2022 which is the annual all day training event. This will be on Tuesday 4 October at Aintree Racecourse. As with all NWLC training courses, this event is provided at no extra cost to members. The annual event is always really enjoyable. It’s a great opportunity to network and catch up with colleagues from other organisations in the Consortium, to enjoy lunch together and to participate in some excellent training - all in iconic surroundings. You can book your place by emailing DAC Beachcroft (who are managing the event for us this year) at events@dacbeachcroft. com. Please add into the subject line of your email ‘NWLC Annual Conference – 4 October’. I, along with the rest of the Board look forward to welcoming you and your colleagues to Aintree in October. In this edition we have an article from legal recruitment specialists Sellick Partnership. Sellick Director, Laura Hayward shares insights about the post- Covid hybrid working model in her article on page 29. Don’t miss our regular topical articles and top tips from our Partner firms. We also have our LLG update and in our profile piece this time we hear from Warrington Council’s Director of Law, Matthew Cumberbatch. We catch up with the news from our nominated charity, North West Air Ambulance and put a face to the organisation with Catherine Rose, Fundraiser, fronting their content this time around. The LexisNexis quarterly update is also here for you. Our Trainee Update takes a break this time around but in our next edition we will have news of our newly appointed Trainee Board member and more details of the work we will be doing with Weightmans on the Trainee offer. I hope that you enjoy this edition of the Consortium Quarterly. If you have any comments or suggestions about what you’d like to see in future editions or about the Consortium generally, please do get in touch with me at [email protected]. I’ll finish by wishing you all well and sending you my best wishes. Anne Greenwood, Chair NWLC Management Board pages 1&2

What’s New at NWLC p5 A Subsidy Control Regime p15 North West Air p21 Our new section highlighting all the for the United Kingdom Ambulance Charity latest from the consortium The Subsidy Control Act 2022 A look at the work of the NWAAC The Procurement Bill p7 Building Safety Act: Are p17 Tree Surgeon Runs For p23 A New UK Public Procurement You Prepared? Air Ambulance Landscape. The new Act has been published Daniel McLoughlin raised £1,500 Living With Covid-19 p11 At a Glance p19 Consortium Added Value p25 Top legal tips from our four The implications for employers and More on the added value services partner firms EPL claims offered by our partner firms

contents In Profile p27 The Latest From LLG p31 This issue our guest is Matthew With Helen McGrath, Head of Public Cumberbatch of Warrington BC Affairs at LLG Hybrid: Is it Working? p29 LexisNexis Legal Bulletin p33 Laura Hayward of Sellick Partnership A summary of the latest authoritative considers new ways of working. legal updates from the public sector pages 3&4

What’s new at NWLC Beryl Heath highlights some of the latest developments at the North West Legal Consortium NWLC Solicitors Law Society Management Latest Member Framework Diploma Board Vacancies Sponsorship The latest 6 monthly You can now see the Check out the website results are in. For the Our congratulations to decisions that the NWLC jobs page at www. period 1st October 2021 Leanne Shrouder from Management Board nwlegalconsortium.com/ to 31st March 2022, Blackpool and Fiona are making on your jobs/ for all the latest over 400 commissions Williams from Rochdale behalf at meetings. We adverts are recorded involving who are both embarking will also be loading the expenditure in excess on the Law Society’s decisions of the Steering of £3.5 million. We Diploma in Local Group (this group is are delighted that the Government Law and your Management framework is working Practice thanks to being Board together with a hard for you. awarded sponsorship representative from each from the Consortium. of the Partner Firms). To We wish them well in access ‘meeting notes’ go their studies. to the secure area of the website – publications tab.

what’s new 2022 Free Annual Training New Email Annual Training Survey Address Event Thanks to those of you Don’t forget that we have Our NWLC free Annual who have taken part a new Consortium e-mail Training Event 2022 will in this year’s Annual address, please use info@ take place at Aintree Training Survey. The nwlegalconsortium.com Racecourse on Tuesday Board and Steering to get in touch with us in 4th October. Bookings are Group will be looking future. now open - please email at the results and using events@dacbeachcroft. your suggestions to come com. up with a new Annual Training Programme for 2022/23 which will run from September 2022. Look out for the emerging programme on the website. pages 5&6

The Procurement Bill: A new UK public procurement landsca Vincent King from Weightmans takes a look at this new piece of legislation. The Procurement Bill was introduced to procedure for awarding public contracts. Parliament on 10 May 2022. Once enacted it The open procedure is retained, as is the will revoke and replace the Public Contract ability to directly award contracts in certain Regulations 2015, the Concession Contract circumstances. The competitive tendering Regulations 2016, and the Utilities Contract procedure will offer contracting authorities Regulations 2016 to create a simplified significant flexibility. So, if you wanted to run regime. a procedure which is the same as or very similar to a current procedure (such as the Key observations restricted procedure, for example) then you One of the most notable observations would be able to do so. includes scrapping most of the current procurement procedures and the The change in evaluation methodology introduction of a new competitive tendering from the most economically advantageous

c ape tender (MEAT) to the most advantageous here as to what these will cover though. tender (MAT) is also key. This shift will allow contracting authorities to consider other Further duties are also included to benefits aside from cost effectiveness when advance the transparency ambitions of evaluating bids, allowing greater emphasis the procurement reforms, such as the on social value and environmental benefits. general obligation to include and publish key performance indicators in contracts Meanwhile, the current light touch regime which have a value above £2 million, and which benefits certain social, health, a requirement to publish details of poor education and other services will be contractual performance, which becomes retained to an extent as the Bill distinguishes a discretionary exclusion ground for the “light touch contracts”. We await further award of new contracts. detail in the form of secondary legislation pages 7&8

Other key reforms include a requirement to ‘have regard to’ the National Procurement Policy Framework, and the introduction of open frameworks which can last for up to eight years. A number of provisions within the existing regulations that we regularly advise on, including exemptions such as the Teckal or in-house exemption (now called vertical arrangements) and the public sector co-operation exemption (now called horizontal arrangements), direct award justifications and the permitted contract modification grounds remain largely unchanged, although in the case of modifications there is a new requirement to publish a contract change notice before the change is made, and a copy of the modified contract itself if it is worth over £2m, consistent with the transparency theme. Next steps The Bill is not expected to be implemented until 2023 at the earliest, but the government has promised a six-month transition period to allow for an appropriate transition to the new regime. Meanwhile, the key message to authorities is to start planning for the changes sooner rather than later, as key commercial decisions will need to be made, especially for procurements which are set to be launched during the transition period. Weightmans will be putting on a series of webinars in the coming weeks to look at the Procurement Bill in more detail. Please get in touch if you would be interested in attending.





Living with Covid-19 Louise Bloomfield at DAC Beachcroft examines the implications for employers and EPL claims.

The Government has removed the remaining Vulnerable employees coronavirus (COVID-19) legal restrictions in Employers should continue to consider England with details set out in Living with the needs of employees at greater risk COVID-19. of COVID-19. Workers who are clinically vulnerable or pregnant employees may What are the implications? be reluctant to come into the workplace Employers need to strike a balance between (and potentially travel on public transport living with COVID-19 but at the same time to get there) in light of the end of the legal ensuring the safety of staff. The risk of requirement to isolate. Employers will also COVID-19 may have reduced but it has not wish to manage the potential claims risk of gone away and employers still are under employees asserting that they will not work a duty of care to provide employees with a if they reasonably believe that they are in safe place of work. The Government has now “serious and imminent danger”. Employers put the onus on individuals and businesses can challenge that reasonable belief if they to implement the measures they think are are meeting, and where possible exceeding, necessary in light of their particular health their health and safety obligations. and safety risk profile, rather than mandating Where possible, employers should adopt specific rules. In light of this, employers a considerate and flexible approach to should update their risk assessments and returning to the workplace and address decide whether they wish to retain some individual concerns when raised. In general, of the COVID-19 safety measures in the across the workforce, employers may see a workplace, such as social distancing and rise in applications for flexible working as face-coverings. employees adjust to another “new normal”. These have to be treated seriously to avoid Can employers continue to ask risks of indirect discrimination claims. employees to isolate if they test positive? Whilst the mandatory requirement to isolate Conclusion has ended, the Government guidance in place The Living with COVID-19 plans means until 1 April was to isolate for a minimum of employers need to consider a number of 5 days. The Living with COVID-19 document strategic questions and keep these under also states that going forwards “those who test review as the law, guidance and pandemic positive should avoid contact with anyone in develops. Employers should engage staff an at risk group”. and communicate clearly so that everyone is aware of what will be expected of them over As part of the measures to keep employees the coming months. Any complaints must be safe and ensure business continuity, it is dealt with properly and promptly. open to employers to implement stricter rules than the Government requires. To avoid workers coming into work when they are ill, employers may wish to consider extending company sick pay or to continue to ask people to test before attending the workplace.



A subsidy control regime for the United Kingdom Clare Hardy of Geldards examines the significant effects of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 The making of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 trade between the UK and other countries, marks a significant stage in the development and investment between the UK or other of a subsidy control regime specific to the countries. United Kingdom. This will allow the UK to move on from the European Union State aid This is similar to the definition that applies regime which previously applied, whilst in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement complying with its commitments under between the United Kingdom and the international trade agreements. European Union. However, the Act says that financial assistance is not to be treated as The Act received Royal Assent on 28 April conferring an economic advantage on an 2022 but many of its provisions will require enterprise – unless it is provided on terms statutory instruments to bring them into that are more favourable to the enterprise force. than what they might reasonably have been expected to obtain on the market. This is a The definition of subsidy in the Act is that it very practical measure as it will, in effect, is financial assistance which is given from create a presumption that a transaction on public resources by a public authority. It market terms will not involve the provision confers an economic advantage on one or of a subsidy. more enterprises, and it is specific in that it benefits one or more enterprises over others. Some subsidies are prohibited by the Act It also has or is capable of having an effect and some have the benefit of exemptions. on competition or investment within the UK, Otherwise, if a public authority proposes

to award a subsidy, it will need to assess (CMA), with the functions of monitoring and whether this complies with statutory subsidy oversight, and providing pre-award and control principles. These principles are post-award advice. aimed at ensuring that subsidies pursue public policy objectives and that they are The Act has a threshold of £315,000 given only given when this is necessary and to an enterprise over three financial years, proportionate to the relevant objective. allowing public authorities to provide Additional principles apply when subsidies minimal financial assistance without address environmental and energy triggering the application of the subsidy objectives. control regime. This is higher than the de minimis threshold which previously applied Transparency obligations will require to the regulation of State aid. public authorities to ensure that they comprehensively record details of subsidies Whilst public authorities will need to and their decisions to award these, and that ensure that they devote sufficient resources they provide them to a government database. to assessing, monitoring and recording compliance with subsidy control, the new The Competition and Markets Authority will regime will provide opportunities to use have a role in enforcing the requirements subsidies effectively to pursue important of the Subsidy Control Act. A Subsidy objectives, whilst ensuring that competition Advice Unit (SAU) will be set up within is maintained. the Competition and Markets Authority pages 15 & 16

Building Safety Act: are you prepared? The new Building Safety Act 2022 has been published: Louise Mansfield of Bevan Brittan talks us through the timelines. The much anticipated Building Safety the building, including cladding’ and ‘fire these risks are taken. Act 2022 is now law after receiving royal doors for domestic premises of multiple • Golden Thread of build assent on 28 April 2022. The Act applies to occupancy’ and all residential buildings England and aims to improve the standard of over six storeys. Sprinklers will be required to be created, stored an buildings and secure the safety of people. It in buildings above 11m. throughout the buildin will bring about the ‘biggest improvements to • Architect’s Registration Board to be • Building Advisory Commi building safety in nearly 40 years’ by putting strengthened to improve competence. Competence Committee to in place “new and enhanced regulatory • Construction Products regulations to be • Building inspectors and b regimes for building safety and construction extended. approvers (replacing app products” and ensuring “residents have a • Residential Panel consisting of residents of to require mandatory regi stronger voice in the system”. higher-risk buildings to be established and • Duty holders to report to t consulted with. structural and fire safety o Some of the changes and requirements will • Social Housing residents to have direct, could cause a significant r apply to all buildings, not just “higher-risk” unrestricted access to the housing • Gateways 2 (prior to build buildings. We set out below the current dates ombudsman. commence) and 3 (the co that provisions are expected to come into certification stage) will co force that developers, contractors, building Royal Assent + 12-18 months (28 April (Gateway 1 (the planning s owners, building managers and residents 2023 - 28 October 2023 in force since 1 August 20 need to be aware of: • For higher-risk buildings: compliance with regulato at each stage of a building Royal Assent + 2 months (28 June 2022) • The Building Safety Regulator will construction. • Extended 15-year limitation period (from oversee Building Control.   At present, the functional re 6 years) under the Defective Premises • Building Control regime to change. which apply to building wo Act 1972 (to dwellings and common • Developer Building Safety Levy to be unchanged and are as set o parts) but also where there is a breach of Regulations 2010, albeit the Building Regulations. 30 years for Cladding paid before construction begins – those amended in due course. products. who do not pay may be prohibited from carrying out development of land in Royal Assent + 6-12 months (28 October England. 2022 - 28 April 2023) • Accountable Person to be appointed to • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 have legal responsibility for ensuring that fire and structural risks are clarified to apply to ‘the external walls of understood, and that appropriate steps and actions to mitigate and manage

ding Information nd updated ng’s lifecycle. ittee and Industry o be established. building control proved inspectors) istration. the Regulator occurrences that risk to life. ding works ompletion/final ome into force stage) has been 021) to ensure ory requirements g’s design and equirements ork remain out in the Building ese may be pages 21 & 22

The role of elected mayors has On notice of procurement reform< come under scrutiny recently with On 11 May 2022 the Procurement Bill was introduced into parliament. The Bill aims to reform the existing EU based procurement regime to Bristol voting to move away from create a simpler and more flexible system for the UK and is expected the model of governance which has been in place for the past 10 to be implemented in mid-2023. Amongst the significant changes years. This follows a similar vote which authorities need to get to grips with are the new competitive tendering procedures, the new notices which need to be published at in Sheffield a year ago where the various stages and the new obligations to publish and share documents. residents voted to replace the Authorities should therefore begin thinking now about the process leader and executive model with changes, template updates and training which will be needed. a committee system. This goes 01 against the grain of the successive government’s preference for < 02 elected mayors as the government model for local authorities they appear to favour. But over 20 years since the elected mayoral model was introduced in England, there are still only 26 in the UK. The Charities Bill received Royal Assent < 03 on 24 February 2022 and has now passed into law as the Charities Act 2022. The aim of the new legislation is to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens allowing charities to focus their efforts on their charitable work and save time and money. The key changes brought about by the new Act relate to: the process for amending the governing instruments of charities; disposing of charity land; the provisions allowing payment to trustees for goods (as well as services); the provisions dealing with failed fund-raising appeals; the rules that apply to permanent endowment; ex gratia payments; and, charity mergers.

04 > The Government’s White Paper on school reform, published earlier this year contains proposals which are likely to be of interest to local authorities. Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child proposes extensive and wide-ranging reform of school education, including a proposal that local authorities should have the power to establish multi-academy trusts. This reflects the Government’s vision that local authorities will champion the best interests of children in their area, ensure the system works for the most vulnerable children and plan services which are best co-ordinated locally. At a Glance In brief: legal tips from our partner firms pages 19 & 20

North West Air Ambulance Charity We take a look at the work of the North West Air Ambulance Charity with Catherine, Merseyside Regional Fundraiser.

Hello, my name is Catherine, I am the opportunities within my region to engage Merseyside Regional Fundraiser for the with the local community, supporters, North West Air Ambulance Charity. volunteers, and our retail stores. I explore opportunities to raise awareness of the The North West Air Ambulance Charity’s charity’s profile and develop fundraising helicopters and critical care vehicles operate opportunities to help grow the charity’s 365 days a year, with highly skilled specialist income. doctors and HEMS critical care paramedics on board. Our crew provide enhanced pre- Being a regional fundraiser is a privilege, hospital care to patients across the entire I am honoured to work alongside some of North West. the North West’s most highly skilled doctors and paramedics in pre-hospital care, and We are here to help treat some of the most see first-hand the lifesaving difference they critically ill and injured patients in our make to people across the North West. They region, but we would not be here without are truly inspirational. the support of our community of fundraisers and partners like the North West Legal Click here Consortium. The support and donations to Donate we receive from everyone at NWLC helps us continue flying to save lives. We receive no government or NHS funding, needing to raise £9.5 million each year. Every donation really does count, so on behalf of everyone at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, thank you. So far this year we have attended 1,121 incidents and in May alone we responded to 252 incidents. My role as regional fundraiser is to be a positive ambassador for the North West Air Ambulance Charity and explore pages 2171 & 2182

Tree surgeon runs for Air Ambulance after lucky chainsaw escape Daniel McLoughlin ran the Great Manchester Run, raising £1,500, as a thank you to the North West Air Ambulance Charity.

32-year-old Daniel McLoughlin was working up a tree in June 2017, when the chainsaw he was using to cut branches hit his chest. He received treatment from the North West Air Ambulance and to say thank you, completed the half marathon course raising vital funds for the charity in the process. Daniel said: “I was working up a tree cutting a branch with the chainsaw, but in an awkward position. As I cut through, the branch kicked back. “The chainsaw hit me in my sternum and missed everything vital. I was really lucky. If it hit my neck or anywhere else I would probably be dead.” Daniel was treated and administered pain relief at scene by the North West Air Ambulance Charity’s advanced critical care team, before being airlifted to Blackpool Royal Hospital. “I was awake on the helicopter and the staff were really calm. It was the first time I’d been in a helicopter. I couldn’t lie back because of the nature of my injury, so I saw my house as we flew over!” The North West Air Ambulance Charity receives no NHS or government funding. Daniel is planning on raising more money for the charity, aiming to raise £3,500, which is the average cost of a mission for the charity. Daniel said: “It’s great what the air ambulance team do, and I found out the charity doesn’t receive any funding, so I just wanted to give something back. It’s a worthy cause and I want to raise the same amount as an average flight would cost.” To find out more about fundraising for the North West Air Ambulance Charity, visit: www.nwairambulance.org.uk. pages 23 & 24

Bevan Brittan Training Programme formulating the training for 2022-23 programme for 2022/23 Bevan Brittan is currently in order to provide a you preparing the NWLC with wide range of topical training programme for seminars. We look forward 2022-23. Thank you to to seeing you at an event everyone who completed soon! our short training survey. We will be taking all of your responses into account when DAC Beachcroft Social Value Project Legal Training, webinars For further information on We will soon begin collating and podcasts the Social Value Project the FY22 NWLC social Our Partner firms have or Legal Training, please value annual report, an come together to offer contact Rebecca Richter at infographic document NWLC consortium members DAC Beachcroft (rrichter@ demonstrating social additional services which dacbeachcroft.com). value commitments. This add value to members. document aims to report Click here to view ‘THE combined social value of the NWLC PARTNER ADDED Partner firms over a yearly VALUE OFFER 2020 – 2024’ period. This report will be in our CQ winter edition, shared in an upcoming pages 37-40. newsletter.

Geldards partner firms - value added The Public Sector Team In addition, the team continue at Geldards continue to to work closely with the provide a range of valuable NWLC Management Board services for all Consortium and Partner Firms in the members as well as working development and publication with the Management Board of the NWLC Consortium on a number of specialist Quarterly and we continue projects to add further value to receive positive feedback to the Consortium. after each edition. Consortium members The challenge is to keep the publication interesting and services include; varied so we would welcome any suggestions or news you • Briefings and updates feel would be of interest to the • Webinars Consortium members. • Free Initial Consultation • Bespoke Training / Forums • Special Projects / Strategic Support Weightmans Precedent Bank provide targeted support and The precedent service training for those embarking continues to be available. on their legal career in local Should you require government and provide something new or different networking opportunities do contact Beryl to see if between trainees and the partner firms can assist apprentices in the partner with applying the precedent firms and consortium which you need. members. We will also look at mentoring and shadowing/ Trainee Offer secondment opportunities. We are delighted to be More details will follow and supporting trainee solicitors if people have suggestions and apprentices in the on what they would like this next 12 months. We will be initiative to cover please do working with the consortium let us know. to identify what we and the other partner firms can do to pages 25 & 26

What is your current role and what does it If you could create one new law today, what involve? would it be and why? My role is Director of Law and Here I’m supposed to give some sort Governance and Monitoring Officer at of noble response. However, as a Warrington Borough Council, a post curmudgeonly misanthrope I would which I have held since 2016. suggest a law vetoing all new words which are stupid. As someone who As well as being the Council’s senior is yet to master spelling, punctuation legal adviser I also have responsibility and general grammar I find it curious for management and delivery of that those who have the most tenuous Legal Services, Democratic Services, grasp of the language want use to use Elections and administrative support words such as ‘ghosting’, ‘gas lighting’ to the Cheshire Coroner’s service. and even ‘doxxing’ (I had to look that up However, as local authority lawyers yesterday). Unfortunately when those know, the job is varied and no two days who spend their days posting messages are the same. on Instabook have reached their thirties and developed arthritis of the thumbs How do you see your role and the work of it will be too late and their nonsensical your team changing in the next decade? verbiage will have been established. I think this will be dictated to by How do you relax? the progress of technology. When I started my training contract at a small I’m a Monitoring Officer. I don’t relax. provincial high street firm, the accounts I will relax when I retire, am asked to were still being done by hand on large leave to “pursue new challenges” or ledger sheets and the closest we had die; whichever is first. to a computer was one electronic typewriter. That was less than 30 What’s the one thing about you that would years ago. come as a surprise to most people? Progress in technology coupled This was the question that I dreaded with the options for different ways of the most because I can’t think of any- working shown during the pandemic thing (honestly). I asked my family and mean that the lawyers office, the courts there was an uncomfortable silence. and how we deal with plans, contracts I knew that I was going to have to and communication are changing. It answer this question three weeks ago will also be interesting to see what and still I came up with nothing. NOTE role AI has to play in this. The legal TO THE EDITOR – find somebody more profession used to have a reputation interesting next time. of being somewhat old fashioned but I believe that is no longer the case. I look forward to any progress that can improve the service that we provide to our clients.

in profile Matthew Cumberbatch Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer at Warrington Borough Council pages 27 & 28

Hybrid: Is it working? The pandemic was the catalyst for an enormous shift in working arrangements for many within the legal profession. Laura Hayward, Director at Sellick Partnership, considers the positives and negatives of our new hybrid models.

+ 1. Hiring 2. Health and 3. Output _ well-being In an extremely tough Local Government market, the new flexible For many, having a Lawyer in association working arrangements healthy work-life balance with LexisNexis, recently on offer have resulted in has never been more conducted a survey asking organisations having a important. The pandemic 395 lawyers and 50 much wider talent pool. forced people to put Heads of Legal about their Lawyers are no longer themselves first and make experiences working for restricted geographically, their work fit with their local authorities during the and organisations are able life, rather than the other pandemic. Results showed to hire into teams where way around which was the that 46% of lawyers believe previously this would have previous norm. their quality of work had been almost impossible. improved since working remotely as well as being considerably more productive when working from home. 1. Motivation 2. Support 3. Culture/Training The outcome of the Remote working brings It is very difficult to build survey also showed that with it a reduction in relationships working 16% of lawyers reported face-to-face contact remotely; how do you ‘isolation/poor motivation’ which can have a huge integrate new team as the biggest problem and impact. Lawyers in local members? How do you over 50% of respondents government are more on-board/train staff? in Head of Legal roles said stretched than ever and Historically people have it was the single biggest being able to rely on relied on the workplace problem they faced. colleagues’ support in as a place to meet friends, person is crucial for some. form relationships, We have had more lawyers enjoy in and out of work that ever cite workplace experiences – I have been stress as the reason they with Sellick Partnership have had/needed to have a for 11 years and the timeout from practising in relationships I have formed their specialist areas. here are central to this! In Summary Hybrid working is here to stay and those that don’t offer it will struggle to secure the best talent available; embrace it, be creative in ways to train new staff members, integrate them, keep morale and motivation levels up. At Sellick Partnership the hybrid model is working really well and we are constantly thinking of ways to keep the culture we have worked so hard to create! Laura can be contacted at [email protected] or 0161 834 1642.

The latest from LLG Helen McGrath, Head of Public Affairs at LLG, with thoughts and views on current issues for local government lawyers LLG AGM And the award goes to... LLG held its AGM in April and are delighted LLG also held its 2022 Awards Ceremony to welcome Helen Edwards as LLG President in person at the conference dinner, and to lead us over the coming year. Grateful congratulations must go to all the finalists but thanks were given to Quentin Baker for his especially the winners as follows: - stewardship as outgoing President. Eleanor Troke - Wakefield Metropolitan Spring Conference District Council – Junior Lawyer of the Year LLG held its Spring Conference in May as a Kieran Stockley - Melton Borough Council – hybrid event which saw a physical return Lawyer of the Year to in-person conferences in the beautiful Warwickshire County Council Children & setting of Durham. It was a remarkable Families Legal Team – Legal Team of the Year thing after three long years to finally meet Jack Cantwell - Warwickshire County fellow colleagues and friends and share not Council – Legal Project Lawyer of the Year just professional training but ignite that lost Natasha Watson - Brighton City Council – feeling of camaraderie. A big thank you to Significant Contribution to Local Government everyone who made it happen and traversed Law and Practice. the country to be united once again.

LLG latest The Mental Capacity Act 2005 protection for monitoring officers in their In other news we are currently working on response to the Committee on Standards our consultation response and member brief in Public Life’s ethical review and we have on changes to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 written to the Minister to urge progress and and Code of Practice and implementation of offer assistance. We continue, however, our the Liberty Protection Safeguards. campaign on the provision of sanctions which disappointingly did not feature. Branch Review Roundtable In late June we held a virtual roundtable Work Experience Week to better inform our Branch Review Finally, the 4th July saw the return of Work workstream which fed into our Board Experience Week following the great success Strategy Day on 24th June. If you have any of last year. The programme places around views on the future of the Branches at LLG 45 students with local authorities to learn and what provision might look like we would about a career in local government law and be delighted to hear them. practice with afternoon webinars hosted by LLG. If you would like to learn more about Remote Meeting the week, please do get in touch. Our campaign on remote meeting provision continues and we are working with other stakeholders to push for provision. Mumsnet have now joined the call for remote council meetings and are generating publicity as a result. We were delighted to see the Government’s commitment to statutory pages 31 & 32

LexisNexis legal bulletin LexisNexis are delighted to bring you the NWLC quarterly legal bulletin, aimed at providing you with a summary of the latest authoritative legal updates from the public sector The bulletin includes case analysis of key LexisNexis has partnered with Local recent decisions such as the Supreme Government Lawyer to host a series of free Court decision in Croydon LBC v Kalonga events and useful webinars, diving into on determining fixed term tenancies; the topical issues and key legal developments decision in R (Sheakh) v Lambeth LBC on affecting the public sector, particularly those experimental traffic orders; the decision working in local government. The next event in JS v Cardiff City Council where the local is on 16 June 2022 when Kieran McGaughey authority was found to be in contempt of (Solicitor at Newcastle City Council, LLG court among other recent decisions. National Lead on Procurement) and Andrew Millross (Anthony Collins Solicitors) The policy and guidance update section discuss the new Public Procurement Bill. details forthcoming revisions to the Keeping Free access to the full back catalogue of Children Safe in Education statutory 13 different events covering topics such as guidance; details of a new Procurement antisocial behaviour in housing, election Policy Note providing guidance on contracts law challenges and the challenges for an with suppliers from Russia & Belarus, and a employer around hybrid working is available summary of the liberty protection safeguard in the bulletin. consultation which is ongoing until mid-July. Immerse yourself today, and be sure you’re The bulletin includes analysis of key legislation that has recently received Royal providing up to date and Assent such as the Health and Care Act 2022 and the Subsidy Control Act 2022, reliable information when so you can rest assured you’re being kept well informed. It also provides details of it matters by using the forthcoming legislative programme which includes the long-awaited Public LexisPSL and View Procurement Bill and School Bills which will LexisLibrary. be making their way through parliament. the full bulletin here >

pages LexisNexis legal bulletin 33 & 34

quarterlyconsortium Partner Firm Main Contacts David Hutton Tiffany Cloynes Partner Partner T: 0370 194 8927 T: 020 7620 0088 / 01332 378302 M: 07867 976835 M: 07741 312976 [email protected] [email protected] Ioan Davies Simon Goacher Legal Director Partner T: 0113 251 4861 T: 0345 073 9900 / ext 139582 M: 07843 069546 DD: 0151 243 9582 [email protected] [email protected] Front cover images, top left: Lake District, Cumbria; top right: Blackpool, Lancashire; bottom left and bottom right: Liverpool, Merseyside. © NW Legal Consortium July 2022. This newsletter and the legal articles included are intended solely as an overview of the law in England and Wales. No responsibility can be accepted for the completeness or accuracy of the contents included and professional advice should be taken in relation on to any specific matter.