Local Authority round-up – 25 April 2025
25th April, 2025
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.
Health and Social Care
Government set to expand Advice and Guidance Scheme
The Advice and Guidance Scheme (the Scheme) allows GPs to work more closely with hospital specialists to access expert advice quickly and therefore process their patients through the system more efficiently.
As a result, patients are directed to more appropriate care, such as being prescribed medication and accessing blood tests or scans through their GP. It has been reported that between July and December 2024, around 660,000 treatments were diverted from hospitals to the community due to the Scheme.
The Government has pledged to expand the use of the Scheme by investing £80 million, with an ambition to increase diversions from hospital waiting lists to up to 2 million by the end of 2025.
To supplement this, the Government has facilitated the employment of an extra 1,500 GPs since October 2024.
For more information please click here.
Housing
Planning and Infrastructure Bill intended to cut a year off infrastructure delivery
Statutory consultation requirements unique to major infrastructure projects will be revoked through amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The amendments aim reduce the average two-year statutory pre-consultation period.
Currently, developers spend significant time and expense engaging in technical and complex consultations, delaying the completion of key infrastructure, and disincentivising developers to invest in such vital projects.
Key examples of the current delays include:
Fens Reservoir: Over 1,000 days in pre-application due to a number of issues including consultation requirements;
National Grid – Bramford to Twinstead: 717 days in pre-application for 29km of overhead lines and underground cables; and
Hinkley Point C: Three years in pre-application consultation.
The amendments will see the process for major infrastructure projects be brought in line with planning applications for large housing schemes, and set out new statutory guidance to promote meaningful local engagement. It is hoped that this will allow changes to be made dynamically based on community feedback.
The Planning Inspectorate will also maintain high standards when accepting projects, again informed by community engagement. Local authorities will be made aware of proposed applications so that they can inform and advise on developments.
As a result, local people remain able to share their views but in a more effective way, with developers given the flexibility to adapt their schemes as needed without restarting the process, reducing delays and costs for projects.
For more information please click here.
Education
Government to introduce free breakfast clubs
It has been reported that 750 schools have recently open new breakfast clubs, offering 30 minutes of free childcare for parents. In total, this allows parents to save up to £450 per year if their child attends free breakfast clubs every day.
The Government have stated that this amount rises to a saving of up to £8,000 every year when combining the free breakfast clubs with further support through the expansion of government-funded childcare.
It is said that many parents see breakfast clubs as an opportunity to socialise with other children before school, ultimately improving behaviour in the classroom.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Commercial Training Academy – The Future of UK Corporate Governance: Getting ready for compulsory ID checks this Autumn
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (the Act), which created new corporate governance requirements to tackle economic crime and create corporate transparency, received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023.
Our webinar, to be held on the 1st May at 12pm, will discuss the changes introduced by the Act which are currently in force as well as any further changes due to be implemented shortly, such as mandatory identity verification for all company directors and persons of significant control.
In this session we will explore topics such as:
- The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act – Providing background information on the key corporate governance changes;
- Authorised Corporate Service Providers – Explaining what the roles and requirements of an ACSP are and how to register as one; and
- Identity Verification – Covering who will need to verify their identity, and how to go about doing so.
To register your place, please click here.
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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