In HARRON v ROTHERHAM MBC ( 2026 ) UKUT 48 ( AAC ) Judge Stout rules that is for the Information Commissioner to decide whether a response to a substituted decision is compliant with FoIA. The FTT is NOT empowered to compel compliance with substituted decision notices. The law of contempt does NOT create any secondary cause of action or open up any new substantive jurisdiction.
FIRST TIER TRIBUNAL
March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Judicial Control, Liability and Litigation
HMO LICENSING
March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingHOUSING 35 PLUS LIMITED v NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 204 is concerned with EXEMPTIONS from the requirements in the HOUSING ACT 2004 in relation to licensing of HMOs, specifically with whether the appellant’s Rules required that all MANAGEMENT DECISIONS are taken by members at a general meeting.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION
March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in GeneralOn 25 March 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has made a STATEMENT announcing DECISIONS in relation to :-
Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock
Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton
Norfolk
Suffolk
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
March 25th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and Contracts- From 6 April 2026, the maximum PROTECTIVE AWARD for failing to CONSULT on a COLLECTIVE REDUNDANCY process will double from 90 to 180 days’ pay, applying to employees dismissed after that date.
- Provisions of the EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT 2025 coming into force in April 2026 include in relation to (i) statutory paternity leave, (ii) parental leave, (iii) statutory sick pay, (iv) Equality Action Plan, (v) the Fair Work Agency, and (vi) rates and limits for NMW, statutory sick pay, maternity pay, and unfair dismissal awards.
- A TUPE transferee is liable for INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION when an incoming workforce is on lower pay : ALPHA ANNE v GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL NHS TRUST (EAT).
MULTIPLE OCCUPANTS
March 25th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Council Tax and RatesSONG OF THE WILD SWAN LTD v INFORMATION COMMISSIONER ( 2026 ) UKFTT 00433 ( GRC ) concerns 3 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION made to OXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL concerning determination of business rates when a site has multiple occupants. The Council refused, relying on FoIA 2000 Section 14 ( 1 ), VEXATIOUS REQUEST, in relation to which the Tribunal sets out the LEGAL FRAMEWORK at oaras 39-44 & 49-54.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
March 25th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureA REPORT published on 25 March 2026 by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee warns that the current environmental regulatory system is inadequate. The Report highlights the growing problem of ILLEGAL WASTE DUMPING, which exceeds the Environment Agency’s enforcement capacity.
PROCUREMENT
March 24th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsA WELSH Government publication on 23 March 2026 summarises the responses to its consultation on draft statutory Guidance under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement ( Wales ) Act 2023, and sets out next steps.
ECHR
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyRe T ( INHERENT JURISDICTION : DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY ) ( 2026 ) EWCA Civ 307 addresses deprivation of liberty for the purposes of ECHR Article 5, the statutory regime under Children Act 1989 for secure accommodation, and the meaning of “ harm “.
DIRECTORS
March 23rd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in Capital Finance and Companies
Proof that a director’s CONDUCT was, in some non-trivial degree, responsible for the causes of a company becoming insolvent, is NOT a jurisdictional pre-condition to the making of a DISQUALIFICATION ORDER under Section 6 of the Directors Disqualification Act 1986. So held in SoS for Business & Trade v Greensill (2026) EWHC 639 (Ch).