Local Authority round-up 27/09/24
27th September, 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
Devolution planned across England
The Government has announced the advancement of four devolution deals spanning Greater Lincolnshire, Hull & East Yorkshire, Devon & Torbay, and Lancashire.
The deals will mean that Hull and East Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire will have elected mayors, with elections planned for May 2025, while combined county authorities will be established in Lancashire and Devon and Torbay.
The devolution agreements seek to provide local leaders with the autonomy to make decisions that benefit their communities and capitalise on the potential in their areas.
The English Devolution Bill is the vehicle proposed to shift the power from Westminster to local communities. The Bill seeks to grant new powers to mayors and combined authorities and introduce Local Growth Plans designed to maximise opportunities for growth.
For more information please click here.
Education
Government pledges new support for apprenticeships
The Government has announced a new growth and skills levy, which will replace the existing apprenticeship levy, to ensure young people are supported into careers in critical sectors.
The new levy is set to fund shorter apprenticeships, providing employers greater flexibility over their training than under the existing system (which requires that apprenticeships run for at least 12 months).
The training eligible for funding under the new levy will be informed by Skills England.
The first report from Skills England provides an initial assessment of the nation’s working skills, as well as future skills needs and gaps. The report has found that employer investment in training has been in decline over the past decade, with investment per employee down by 19%. It also highlights that over 2.5 million roles are in critical demand, with more than 90% being in roles that require training or education.
It is said that Skills England will play a crucial role in determining which types of training will be eligible for the expanded growth and skills levy.
For more information please click here.
Housing
UK Armed Forces Veterans given greater access to social housing
The Government has announced that UK Armed Forces Veterans will be exempt from the requirement to establish a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. This seeks to uphold their manifesto commitment to strengthen support for Armed Forces communities.
It is reported that 89% of councils have a local connection test in place to determine who can qualify for social housing. These changes are to ensure that where such requirements are in place, veterans are not unfairly penalised.
This exemption will also apply to care leavers and domestic abuse victims to support the most vulnerable to access social housing.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Webinar: The New Procurement Act
Join us for The New Procurement Act webinar on Thursday 3rd October between 2pm – 4pm.
Our expert procurement lawyers will discuss:
- Latest developments in case law;
- The transition from the existing procurement rules to the new Act;
- Using the new competitive flexible procedure and what this involves;
- Minimising risk of challenge through good evaluation and moderation;
- Getting standstill letters/assessment summaries right;
- Dealing with document creation and retention; and
- Disclosure in procurement challenges – now and under the Procurement Act.
To register your place, please click here.
Webinar: PFI Update
Join us for our PFI Update on Tuesday 5th November between 10:30am – 12:30pm.
During this session, our experts will explore best practices for the daily management of PFI contracts, review recent case studies, and discuss lessons learned from recent PFI contract expiries.
We will also cover effective strategies and timescales for managing contract expiries, examine potential threats of insolvency from Project Co (with insights from a special guest leading counsel), and delve into PFI case law. Additionally, the session will address the latest trends in dispute resolution.
To register your place, please click here.
If you have any questions about the issues raised in this update, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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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