Blog: 1st September 2023 - Helen McGarth, Head of Public Affairs

Welcome to September 2023…

Every year I yearn for a quiet August in which to catch up and contemplate the vast myriad of workstreams assailing my working day, but alas, it never comes. I know the same applies to you as well. I do hope that in amongst it you were able to find a little downtime to recharge the batteries and just switch off. We all need that from time to time. 

The good news aside from my coffee consumption is that we are in a very exciting period of activity at LLG. We are about to launch our LLG Inspire programme, providing everything you need to become an effective leader and grow your career. We are working with a number of stakeholders including the LGA, CIPFA, SOLACE, LSB, SRA and LGIU (to name but a few), collaborating on a host of issues to improve the working environment and sustainability of lawyers in local government. This includes codes of conduct, research on the role of the MO, the erosion of ethics, governance and the rule of law, recruitment and retention, practice codes and guidance. We haven’t given up on remote meeting provision – and neither will we. Whilst we wait the return of the Commons to debate the amendment by the House of Lords, we have, along with ADSO, asked the ICO for a Decision Notice in respect of our FOI request in relation to the government’s call for evidence. We will share that once it is received.  

Closer to home, LLG are now developing a 3–5-year strategy following the Boards last meeting and watch out for news in October about how we intend to support and grow the Regions which is a priority for the organisation. We are also now really gearing up for the Governance Conference in November and plan to hold a Junior one-day event in London in December. That’s aside of course from our usual programme of national lead meetings, webinars and training. So, plenty for you to get involved in.  

In legal news, you will be aware that Nutrient Neutrality in its current EU regulation form will be removed by amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. There's an interesting case affecting the way in which local authorities might have to approach disrepair cases in the Court of Appeal in November-Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil CBC, and some of the families of those who died in care homes and hospitals during the pandemic have issued legal claims in the High Court against the Health Secretary, individual care homes and hospital trusts which could of course affect local authority care provision. For more extensive news, don’t forget, you can catch up on all the happenings over the summer by listening to the LLG Grapevine Podcast (around 15 minutes) or watch the headlines in the LLG Vlog (5 minutes) published Mondays on the LLG Website.  

Once more into the fray- good luck to you all.  

Helen McGrath 

Head of Public Affairs  

Helen@llg.org.uk