Blog: Friday 31st July: LLG President - Helen Bradley

Presidents Blog 31st July 2026

It is hard to believe that August is almost upon us, but despite the summer recess there is no shortage of consultations and regulatory developments with significant implications for local government lawyers. Taken together, they point to a sector facing increasing scrutiny, higher expectations around governance and competence, and renewed debate about whether our regulatory framework remains fit for purpose.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on revised statutory guidance for the Best Value Duty. The proposals signal a clear shift away from intervention after failure and towards earlier identification of risk, stronger organisational accountability and a greater emphasis on continuous improvement. Councils will increasingly be expected to demonstrate robust governance, effective scrutiny, transparent decision-making and strong self-assurance arrangements. For local authority lawyers, these are not simply governance issues; they go to the heart of compliance, assurance and organisational resilience. The consultation runs until 7 October 2026 and both LLG and AMO intend to respond. I would encourage members to share their views.

Alongside this sits the Government's consultation on reforming the equal pay framework. Few sectors understand the challenges of equal pay litigation better than local government. Authorities across the country continue to deal with complex and costly claims, with some potential liabilities running into hundreds of millions of pounds. The Government has described the current framework as excessively complex, costly and protracted. Proposals include enhanced pay transparency, stronger enforcement powers and the creation of a new Equal Pay Regulation and Enforcement Unit. Whatever the outcome, the consultation presents an opportunity to influence reforms that could have profound implications for local authorities as employers.

A third consultation concerns judicial review reform. The Government is seeking views on extending recent reforms introduced for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects to major housing, transport and energy developments. The proposals aim to reduce delays caused by weak or meritless claims while maintaining access to justice. Planning and governance lawyers will undoubtedly have strong views on whether the balance between efficiency and accountability is being struck correctly.

Alongside these consultations, an equally important debate is emerging around professional ethics, competence and regulation.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority's proposals for compulsory annual ethics discussions have generated considerable comment. The objective of maintaining professional standards and public confidence is one that we all support. However, concerns have been raised about whether the proposed approach is proportionate and effective.  Birmingham Law Society has argued that the proposals are overly prescriptive and risk imposing substantial costs while duplicating processes already embedded within professional practice. Many local government legal teams will recognise this concern. Ethical reflection is not a stand-alone activity; it is woven into supervision, governance frameworks, legal risk management, peer discussion and everyday decision-making.

For in-house lawyers, the question is whether a highly structured mandatory process would add genuine value or simply create additional burdens at a time when resources are already stretched. The challenge is to ensure that ethical development is meaningful, flexible and proportionate, while continuing to maintain public trust.

This discussion sits within a wider debate about the future of legal regulation. Recent reviews of the Legal Services Board and growing calls for reform of the Legal Services Act 2007 have reignited questions about whether the current regulatory landscape remains fit for the modern profession. Nearly twenty years after the Act came into force, calls for stronger oversight, a more integrated regulatory model and a review of reserved legal activities are gathering momentum.

For local government lawyers, these debates are far from academic. Questions of governance, accountability, professional standards and regulatory effectiveness directly affect how we serve our authorities and communities. Through LLG and AMO, we will continue to engage with these issues and ensure that the voice of local government lawyers is heard.

If you would like to explore these developments further, I encourage you to listen to the LLG Grapevine Podcast (available on both YouTube and Spotify), which pulls together central government policy shifts, relevant national news, and statutory developments from the latest issue of the Bulletin.

Have a lovely summer,

Helen Bradley
President, LLG
Chair, AMO