In R ( YVR ) v BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ( 2024 ) EWHC 701 ( Admin ) the Court dismisses a claim for judicial review of the Council’s policy of charging for the provision of adult social care in the community. The Council was in exceptional financial difficulty. Its position to default to charging the statutory maximum was not manifestly without reasonable foundation.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
April 17th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyIn SOS for BUSINESS v MERCER ( 2024 ) UKSC 12 the Supreme Court, in relation to Trade Union legislation that fails to provide protection against sanctions short of dismissal penalising participation in lawful strike action, considers Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998 ( the interpretative presumption ) and Section 4 ( declarations of incompatibility ), and partially allows the appeal. Read more »
EQUALITY ACT
April 16th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in HousingPart 3 of the Equality Act 2010 relates to Services and Public Functions. Part 4 relates to Premises. In R ( FG ) v KENSINGTON & CHELSEA COUNCIL ( 2024 ) EWHC 780 ( Admin ) a question is which Part is applicable to a disabled person’s claim under the Act with respect to an alleged failure by the local authority landlord to deal with noise and smell issues. The Judge holds that it is Part 4.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
April 10th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in HousingMASTERMAN v INFORMATION COMMISSIONER ( 2024 ) UKFTT 289 ( GRC ) concerns a request for the licence conditions for a house in multiple occupation. The question arises whether the information sought from the local housing authority was “ environmental information “ subject to the Environmental Information Regulations rather than the Freedom of Information Act. The Tribunal held that it was the former. It was ( paras 47-51 inclusive ) about “ conditions of human life “. That includes conditions in which human beings live.
ADJUSTMENT OF CONTRACT
April 10th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsIn RENTOKIL v MILLER ( 2024 ) EAT 37 Judge Auerbach’s rulings on “ reasonable adjustments “ under the Equality Act 2010 included that ( 1 ) the Act referred simply to “ such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage “ did not attempt to restrict or sub-categorise what form such steps might take in a given stage, ( 2 ) the proposed step did not have to be guaranteed to work, and ( 3 ) for the purposes of a “ reasonable adjustment “ claim it does not matter what went on in the mind of the decision-maker at the time : there is no mental element.
CLIMATE CHANGE
April 10th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureThe European Court of Human Rights has delivered Grand Chamber rulings in three climate changes. In one of these, SCHWEISS v SWITZERLAND a complaint was made about the consequences of global warming on living conditions and health. The complaint was that the Swiss authorities were not taking sufficient action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Court found that the European Convention of Human Rights encompasses a right to effective protection by the State authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life. The Court held that there had been a violation of the right to respect for private and family life and that there had had been a violation of the right of access to the Court. The Court found that the Swiss Confederation had failed to comply with its positive obligations under the Convention concerning climate change.
TRAVELLERS
April 9th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyIn WARD V SoS for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ( 2024 ) EWHC 676 ( Admin ) Lang J sets out the following principles : ( 1 ) the impact of development on the green belt is a matter of planning judgment, not law ; ( 2 ) the law to be attached to any material consideration and all matters of planning judgment are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the decision-maker, not the Court; ( 3 ) under the NPPF inappropriate development is by definition harmful to the green belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances; ( 4 ) although a child’s best interests are a primary consideration they are not determinative of a planning issue. The Judge also considers Article 8 of the ECHR in relation to the special position of gypsies as a minority group.
OFSTED
April 5th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in Non Judicial ControlOFSTED Guidance details the new Complaints Process . The Process applies to Inspections and Regulatory Activity carried out across all education and care providers after 4 April 2024. The changes allow a provider to seek a Review of their Inspection. This may include both the conduct of Inspectors and the judgment reached. This may be done when they receive their draft Inspection Report.
If the provider remains dissatisfied with OFSTED’s Response to their formal Complaint they will be able to escalate it to the CENTRE FOR EFFECTIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
HOUSING ( WALES ) ACT 2014
April 4th, 2024 by James Goudie KC in HousingA Report by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales upholds a Complaint that the Welsh Government had failed to ensure that local authorities are taking sufficient action to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, as required by the 2014 Act.
SOCIAL HOUSING REGULATION
April 3rd, 2024 by James Goudie KC in HousingA letter by the Regulator of Social Housing to social housing landlords reminds them of the changes to social regulation coming into force on 1 April 2024, and the new standards they must now meet. The rules require (1) an accurate record of the condition of every home, based upon checks of the properties, (2) clear timelines for the completion of works, and (3) clear communications with tenants.