We have been thinking a lot recently about what local authorities need from their highways maintenance contracts, particularly after working with several authorities on the procurement of their long-term arrangements. Here, Partner Jane Crees breaks down what local authorities need to know. These contracts are the quiet work-horses of public life: they rarely get much... Read more
Council-owned companies, joint ventures and corporate vehicles can be easy to overlook during local government reorganisation. From wholly owned subsidiaries to housing companies and regeneration LLPs, councils should identify key legal and governance risks before vesting day to avoid problems later. Partner and expert, Peter Collins, explains all you need to know. Contents Why council-owned... Read more
Sharpe Pritchard has successfully represented a local authority in High Court proceedings concerning the closure of a nursery, securing the dismissal of a judicial review brought by a group of parents. The claim arose following the local authority's decision to agree to a proposal by the service provider to terminate its service contract early. The... Read more
Author: Tim Farr, Managing Partner What it feels like when the map changes, the organisation chart redraws, and you still have to answer the phone. When “reorganisation” stops being a headline At first, local government reorganisation (LGR) can feel like something happening externally: ministerial statements, consultation documents, acronyms, maps with new boundaries drawn in bold.... Read more
Author: Tim Farr, Managing Partner With budgets under pressure and leisure services still expected to deliver health, wellbeing and place-based outcomes, more local authorities are revisiting their operating models. One approach gaining momentum is the “agency model”, where the operator runs the facilities but does so as the council’s agent for specified customer-facing supplies—helping to... Read more
Author: Tim Farr, Managing Partner The local elections this week have delivered a striking set of results: significant churn in council leadership, a clear trend towards multi‑party competition, and a growing number of authorities operating with no overall control. For council leaders, chief executives and monitoring officers, the politics is important—but the operational implications matter... Read more
Beatrice Wood and Sophie Read explore the two new Streamlined Routes, officially introduced in February this year, to simplify the awards of certain subsidies: the Community and Regeneration route and the Arts and Culture route. This article discusses the potential impact of their introduction, along with the general background and benefits of utilising streamlined routes.... Read more
