Local Authority round-up: 29/11/24
29th November, 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
The Regulatory Policy Committee issues opinion on the Employment Rights Bill
As the Employment Rights Bill enters the Committee Stage of its reading in Parliament, the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) has published its opinion on the impact assessments (IA) for the Employment Rights Bill.
The RPC is an independent regulatory body which assesses the quality of evidence and analysis used to inform Government regulatory proposals.
Importantly, the RPC assessed that eight of the twenty-three individual IAs are “not fit for purpose”, six of which fall within the ‘highest impact’ measure category. The RPC considered the evidence and analysis supporting the rationale for intervention to be insufficient and rated “red” for the following six IAs:
- Day one unfair dismissal rights
- Repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016
- Repeal of Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Act 2023
- Establish a Fair Pay Agreement
- Flexible Working
- Employer liability for all workplace harassment of employees by third parties
The RPC considered that the issues are mainly due to lack of evidence for the problem being addressed. The Committee has suggested that the IAs would be improved by further consideration of the wider impacts on prices, competition, economic growth and how employers might respond to the measures.
For more information please click here.
Increased protection for victims of domestic abuse
The Government has announced the launch of new protective measures for victims of domestic abuse.
Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO) will be piloted in Greater Manchester, three London boroughs and with the British Transport Police.
For the first time, DAPNs and DAPOs will apply to all types of domestic abuse, including physical and psychological as well as stalking and coercive control.
DAPNs can be issued by the police immediately following any incident of abuse, providing immediate protection while affording the police time to apply for a DAPO to secure longer term protection for the victim. These Orders can now also be issued by the Family Courts, expanding the scope and application of the new measures.
The DAPOs will have no time restrictions, meaning victims are protected for as long as necessary. It has been confirmed that a breach of a DAPO is a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in custody.
Relatives of domestic abuse victims can now also apply for the new orders on behalf of the victim, reducing victim engagement with the criminal justice system if necessary.
For more information please click here.
Education
Ofsted will postpone Initial Teacher Education inspections
The Secretary of State has requested that Ofsted postpone their update to the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) framework in anticipation of more substantive changes to the education inspection system, including the introduction of report cards, due in September 2025.
It is hoped that the postponement will ensure that all ITE providers in the next cycle are inspected under the same Ofsted framework.
It has been confirmed that Ofsted will carry out other quality-assurance activities, such as thematic monitoring visits as well as enhanced engagement with the sector to ensure that a focus on high-quality provision is maintained.
It should be noted that re-inspections of providers of less than ‘good’ ITE programmes will continue in order to conclude activity from the previous inspection cycle.
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.
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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