Local Authority round-up: 06/12/24
6th December, 2024
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Regulatory
Plan unveiled to remove unsafe cladding
The Government has published the Remediation Acceleration Plan to accelerate the rectification of unsafe infrastructure.
Under the proposed measures, all high-rise buildings (18m+) in a Government-funded scheme with unsafe cladding will be remediated by the end of 2029.
It is anticipated that by the end of 2029, all 11m+ buildings with unsafe cladding will either have been remediated or have a date for completion. Where this is not the case, the Government has stated that landlords will be liable for severe penalties.
The Remediation Acceleration Plan is intended to speed up the process of making homes safe by focusing on three key objectives:
- Fix buildings faster: expedite remediation of high-risk buildings with clear deadlines and penalties for non-compliance.
- Identify all unsafe buildings: identify all buildings with unsafe cladding through advanced data assessments and the creation of a comprehensive building register.
- Support residents: protect residents from the financial burdens of remediation and improve their experience throughout the process.
For more information please click here.
New protections introduced for whistleblowers within the NHS
The Government has launched a public consultation to seek views on proposals to regulate NHS managers, including whether to introduce a new professional duty of candour on leadership teams. The proposals also seek to mandate that NHS leaders respond to patient safety concerns.
The Government has alleged that the proposals are designed to tackle a ‘culture of cover up ‘which has been prevalent in several patient safety scandals in recent years.
It is hoped that he consultation will inform NHS England in developing a single code of practice, standards and competencies for leaders and managers at all levels in the health service, together with a national training curriculum.
Such regulation follows the announcement of a new College of Executive and Clinical Leadership to help attract, develop and retain the best talent in NHS leadership.
For more information please click here.
Education
£740 million investment to create SEND places in mainstream schools
The Government has invested £740 million to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs.
This follows the National Audit Office’s assessment that the SEND system was in crisis, with very limited progress having been made in making mainstream schools more inclusive.
This funding supplements the £6.7 billion capital investment for education, announced at the Autumn Budget, which is hoped will deliver the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity while fixing the foundations of the school system.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Webinar – Harnessing International Talent for Growth
Our experts Gillian Burns and Alan Kennedy from the Immigration Team will be hosting a joint webinar with BDO UK’s Laura Burton and Karim Lakehal on Tuesday 10th December, between 10am – 11am.
Our speakers will be discussing key immigration principles that expanding domestic or international businesses, wishing to operate in the UK, need to know. BDO will be sharing their expertise on tax when employers are seeking to move staff cross border.
If you and or your business are considering strategies that would enhance your international business presence, and would value insight in to UK immigration and cross border tax compliance, then join our session.
To register your place, please click here.
For further information please contact Tim Care in our Public Sector Team
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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