Following the decision of the Supreme Court in Re T (2021) UKSC 35, the High Court in Tameside MBC v AM (2021) EWHC 2472 ( Fam) holds that, notwithstanding the subsequent amendment of the Care Placement etc Regulations , it is open to the Court under its inherent jurisdiction to authorise the deprivation of liberty of a child in a placement that the amended Regulations prohibited. The Judge addresses the protective inherent jurisdiction generally and the importance of anticipating and preventing harm from para 47. The inherent jurisdiction may be used notwithstanding the existence of a statutory
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EMERGENCY TRANSPORT PLAN
September 10th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureLocal authorities are subject to a network management duty. Section 16(1) of the Traffic Management Act 2004 imposes a duty upon them not only to manage their road network, but to do so with a view to achieving objectives which include securing the expeditious movement of traffic upon the network. The duty is subject to reasonable practicability, and is elaborated upon in Section 16(2). In Trail Riders Fellowship v Devon County Council (2013) EWHC 2104 (Admin) the Court held that the highway authority had been entitled to make a Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting motor vehicles from using part of a road where that was expedient in the interests of road safety.
In HHRC Ltd v Hackney LBC (2021) EWHC 2440 ( Admin) Dove J says, at para 42, that the terms of Section 16 provide the authority with broad parameters within which to act consistently with the duty, that the objectives of Section 16 are broad, and qualified by the need to act, as far as reasonably practicable, having regard to the local authority’s other obligations and Policies. There is also statutory Guidance from the SoS. Read more »
Abuse of Process
August 23rd, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Judicial Control, Liability and LitigationA Court has power to strike out proceedings as an abuse of process in circumstances where the issues sought to be raised might have been dealt with in earlier proceedings: the Henderson v Henderson principle. In the Matter of S ( Children) (2021) EWCA Civ 1223 the Court of Appeal rules that this principle has no application in children’s proceedings.
Setting Aside a Contract
August 18th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsThe issue before the Supreme Court in Pakistan International Airline Corporation v Times Travel (2021) UKSC 40 was whether, and, if so, in what circumstances, a party can set aside a contract on the ground that it was entered into as a result of the other party threatening to do a lawful act. The Supreme Court examines the elements of the doctrine of lawful act economic duress.
Legitimate Expectation
August 16th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsThe requirement for the existence of a legitimate expectation that an assurance was “clear, ambiguous and devoid of relevant qualification” means that it’s creation will arise only where the claimant proves “the clearest of assurances”. The same test applies whether or not the case involves the removal of an existing right. So held in R (Mitchell) v SoS for Justice (2021) EWHC 2248 (Admin).
ETO
August 16th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Environment, Highways and LeisureA statutory challenge to a decision in February 2021 not to revoke an Experimental Traffic Order in relation to a street in the Barbican failed in R (Tomkins ) v City of London Corporation (2021) EWHC 2265 (Admin). The challenge was on the basis that it was no longer possible to continue with the experiment in any meaningful way once traffic levels had reduced because of covid lockdown. However, monitoring had continued, albeit on a less comprehensive basis than intended, and useful data obtained. A genuine experiment continued. Not revoking the ETO was not irrational. See especially para 101 of the Judgment, and the treatment at para 86 of Trail Riders v Peak District Authority (2012) EWHC 3359 (Admin).
Unjust Enrichment
August 10th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Judicial Control, Liability and LitigationThe most common defences to restitution claims are limitation and change of position. How far does a defendant have to go in proving the irreversibility of the unjust enrichment for the purposes of the change of position defence? Not so far as to pursue litigation in mitigation of loss if there is “little chance of recovery”. See paragraph 76 in Atkinson v Varma (2021) EWHC 2027 (Ch).
Balance of Convenience
August 9th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsThe commencement of proceedings challenging the procurement of a contract brings into effect an automatic stay upon entering into the contract. Should the Court lift the stay? If there is a serious issue to be tried, and there is doubt as to the adequacy of damages for either of the parties, the issue turns on balance of convenience. In Draeger v London Fire Commissioner (2021) EWHC 2221 (TCC) O’Farrell J, at para 48, states that the balance of convenience test requires the Court to consider all the circumstances of the case. The question is what course of action is likely to carry the least risk of injustice. She restates the factors: (1) how long might the suspension have to be kept in force if an expedited trial could be ordered; (2) the public interest; and (3) the interests of all parties, including the successful bidder. If these factors do not point in one direction then the prudent course will usually be to lift the suspension and allow the contract to be entered into.
Flexible Tenancies
August 9th, 2021 by James Goudie KC in HousingA local housing authority has no power or discretion to accept a request for a review of their proposal not to grant another tenancy on the expiry of the fixed-term of the tenant’s existing flexible tenancy, if that request is made more than 21 days after the service of a notice pursuant to Section 107D(3) of the Housing Act 1985; but when there can be a review the underlying merits may be relevant. So held by Cavanagh J in R (Kalonga) v Croydon LBC (2021) EWHC 2174 (Admin).