The DCLG has trumpeted a new Guide on Council and Police powers on 'Dealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments'. A new guide will give more power and a stronger voice to local residents and councillors to challenge council officers if they claim...
Forgive us our trespasses…
The Prime Minister's confirmation that the government will be bringing forward legislation for the criminalisation of trespass and the proposed removal of legal aid from trespassers in the Legal AId, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill amount to the...
Unreasonable bungalow
Anya Thompson v Mendip District Council, Taunton County Court 3 December 2010 [Unreported elsewhere]. This was the s.204 Housing Act 1996 appeal of a decision by Mendip DC that its offer of a two bedroom bungalow was an offer of suitable accommodation under...
No admittance
Sharon Horie v the United Kingdom - 31845/10 [2011] ECHR 289 Back at the end of 2009 we reported the Supreme Court case of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs v Meier and another, which upheld the use of a quia timet injunction - a...
Mr Pickles is unlawful and other bits
Cala Homes (South) Ltd v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government & Anor [2010] EWHC 2866 (Admin) found Eric Pickles, SoS at DCLG, acted unlawfully in scrapping the Regional Strategies for housing development, which also, lest we forget,...
Carrots and sticks – travellers’ sites
News from Mr Pickles and the DCLG Item 1. The Government is to bring s.318 Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 into force, finally according travellers on authorised sites the same security as those who come under the Mobile Homes Act. Hurrah. Item 2. Planning...
Delays, Public Law Defences and Suspended Orders
London Borough of Brent v Corcoran & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 774 While we wait for the Supreme Court decision in Pinnock, which was heard last week, it seems that the Court of Appeal is determined to set practical limits on the operation of the public law...
Housing policy dribbles
Or the good, the bad and the ugly from the Housing minister and the Communities and Local Government secretary. Grant Shapps, housing minister has been setting out some plans, or perhaps aspirations. Mostly, these seem to involve encouraging people to buy...
Thoroughly premature planning injunction…
Brentwood Borough Council v Ball & Ors [2009] EWHC 2433 (QB) This was the hearing of an application for an injunction by Brentwood BC. The defendants were six gypsies who had together purchased a plot of land, called Plot 3, in 2009. This was designated...
Of Car Parks, Caravans and Councillor's commitments
The City & Council of Swansea v Christine Joyce (and others) Cardiff District Registry, Chancery Division 31 March 2009 7CF30099 This is an example of a post Doherty public law defence at first hearing, and one that succeeded where an alternative defence of...
Alternative sites – the burden of proof
South Cambridgeshire District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Ors [2008] EWCA Civ 1010 was an appeal of a High Court decision on Judicial Review of the decision of an Inspector in the appeal of a planning decision not...
Caravan sites and Tomlin orders
A couple of interesting permission to appeal hearings have appeared on Bailii. Permission granted in both cases for Court of Appeal hearing. Lee v Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council [2008] EWCA Civ 523 concerns whether a Local Authority should have...