Welsh public bodies and contractors entering into construction or outsourcing contracts with Welsh Government and Welsh public bodies need to be aware of the new socially responsible reporting duties, the new model clauses for works contracts over £2m and the public services outsourcing and workforce code, write Kate Howell and Jan Cumming. Background Y Deddf…
What is thought to be the first large-scale look at the public use of AI chatbots has revealed that around a sixth of people who have faced a legal issue over the past year have used an AI chatbot for help, advice, or information. The study, conducted by charity JUSTICE and the Administrative Fairness Lab,…
A local campaign group has been refused permission to take Caerphilly County Borough Council to judicial review after Mr Justice Kimblin found the authority had acted correctly over a library reorganisation. Susanne Girdler, a member of the Save Abertridwr Library Group, brought the case in the High Court. The court heard Caerphilly wanted to reorganise into…
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has warned that thousands of people could be missing out on a free way to challenge their council tax bill, and has urged councils to clearly signpost this right to individuals. The Ombudsman noted that householders who think their council tax bill is wrong may be entitled to…
The Welsh Government has commissioned the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to carry out a review of the formula used to distribute funding to local authorities in Wales. It said work is already underway to update the evidence base underpinning the formula, with an initial focus on Education and Personal Social Services, which together account…
South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is making progress following the Welsh Government’s intervention two years ago, but “questions remain about how it will fund further improvements and measure their impact”, Audit Wales has warned. The intervention was launched in February 2024 amid concerns about the authority’s culture, performance and governance. This followed a damning…
A wind farm operator has lost an appeal against a decision by Welsh Ministers to block construction of an 18-turbine facility in south Wales. His Honour Judge Jarman KC heard in the High Court that Y Bryn Wind Farm challenged the Welsh Ministers under section 288 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990. The company wanted…
The Government has launched a consultation on giving local authorities the power to issue conditional cautions to fly-tipping offenders, requiring them to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work. Under the proposals councils will also be able to recover the costs of the clean-up directly from offenders. The Department for the Environment, Food…
The High Court has refused permission on all grounds for a legal challenge against a second rural primary school closure in Carmarthenshire. In ST, R (On the Application Of) v Carmarthenshire County Council [2026] EWHC 2038 (Admin) (04 August 2026), Judge Keyser KC concluded that, taking into account the “reality of the situation”, the school is “unlikely…
Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) carried out by Welsh councils often lacked robust evidence, clear analysis of the impact on different groups, and meaningful engagement with those affected, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned in a report that it said offers lessons for councils across the United Kingdom. The equalities watchdog said the…
