Case C- 344/18, ISS FACILITY SERVICES, in which the ECJ gave Judgment on 26 March 2020, concerned public buildings in Ghent, a public contract for cleaning services, and the transfer of that contract to multiple transferred. What happened to the rights and obligations arising from the contracts of employment with the transferor? Did they transfer only to the transferee for whom the worker will perform his or her principal tasks? “ No”, says the ECJ. Or will they transfer to each of the transferred, in proportion to the tasks performed by that worker?
Modification of Public Contracts
March 30th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Decision making and ContractsThe key questions raised by Joined Cases C-496/18 and C-497/18, HUNGOED, are (1) whether EU law permits reviews of modifications of public contracts to be initiated ex officio by public authorities, and (2) if so, whether such reviews can be initiated after the expiry of time limits in force at the time of the modifications. Advocate-General Bobek answers the 1st question : “ Yes “. EU law neither requires nor prevents ex officio reviews of (a) public contracts or (b) modifications of such contracts: paras 2, 68, 75 and 127. The Advocate-General answers the 2nd question : “ No “. The EU Principle of Legal Certainty bars national public authorities from initiating such reviews once the applicable time limit has already expired : paras 2, 77, 83-87, 94 and 127.
Freedom of Speech
March 27th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyOn ECHR Art 10, freedom of speech and expression, and the approach to limitations thereupon, see Divisional Court in R ( ANPO TVN ) v OFCOM (2020) EWHC 689 (Admin), at paras 41-63.
Balancing Rights
March 27th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyIn Re Al M (Reporting Restrictions) (2020) EWHC 702 (Fam), concerned with an application for anonymity made by a witness who gave evidence during the fact finding stage of proceedings concerning the welfare of two children, the President declined to resolve what he described as an apparent conflict of first instance authorities on the question whether it is appropriate to strike any balance with ECHR Art 10 rights when absolute Art 2 or Art 3 rights are engaged.
Council Tax Relief
March 26th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Council Tax and RatesMHCLG has issued Guidance on relief to council tax payers in response to COVID-19 pursuant to Section 13A (1) (c) of LGFA 1992, funded by Government under Section 31 of LGA 2003.
Intentional Homelessness
March 26th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in HousingLB v TOWER HAMLETS LBC (2020) EWCA Civ 439 is concerned with the lawfulness of the local authority’s decision on a review under Section 202 of the Housing Act 1996. McCombe LJ, with whom Floyd and Coulson LJ agreed, said, at para 24, that Section 191 of the Act, on intentional homelessness, is directed to the time when the applicant did or failed to do something which resulted in them ceasing to occupy accommodation and then to whether it would have been reasonable to continue to occupy. He added, at para 27, that the reviewing officer should not limit the review by reference to circumstances acting at the date of the deliberate action or inaction alone. All the circumstances, both before that date, and matters thereafter, up to the date of the review, should be considered. He concluded, at para 31, that while the question of whether it is reasonable for a person to continue to occupy premises which they deliberately ceased to occupy is to be assessed at or about the time of the act in question, the assessment needs to be informed by all relevant matters, including events that may occur up to the date of the authority’s review decision. The Court also considered Section 177 of the 1996 Act, on domestic abuse.
Health Risks: Positive Obligations
March 25th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Human Rights and Public Sector Equality DutyIn R (SXM) v Disclosure and barring Service (2020) EWHC 624 (Admin) (DC) the Court, at paras 81-85, addressed the scope of positive obligations under ECHR Article 8. At para 84, the Court confirmed that there may be “ a positive obligation to provide information concerning health risks to which a person may have been exposed.”
Election Petition
March 24th, 2020 by James Goudie KC in Elections and BylawsOn the dissolution of Parliament, a Parliamentary Bye-Election Petition does not abate, with the Court having no jurisdiction with regard to costs. Rather, it can be withdrawn, with the leave of the Court, upon the petitioner paying the respondent’s costs. So held in GREENE v FORBES (2020) EWHC 676 (QB).