A community group and charity who were granted the right to judicial review over plans to build more than 200 kilometres of high-voltage pylons and substations through rural Wales on four grounds but refused on two have now been granted permission on the additional two grounds, following an appeal. In January 2026, community group Justice for…
Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough council was recently ordered to pay just 10% of the amount claimed for credit hire charges. Tom Danter explains how the reduction was achieved. The Court will usually provide specific directions, including those relating to alleged impecuniosity, in matters where credit hire is claimed. The importance of compliance with these…
Audit Wales has said working closely with the local government sector “to share good practice and help rebuild a sustainable and timely accounts process” remains one of its paramount priorities, as it publishes its Annual Plan for 2026-27. Other priorities the watchdog has set out are: Audit Wales noted that 2026-27 will be a year of…
Welsh public bodies lack a clear picture of demand, costs and outcomes relating to the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, making it difficult to assess whether it is delivering effectively for learners, Audit Wales has warned. Writing in a report on children and young people with ALN, the watchdog also said it found the system “under strain”…
A public policy research organisation has urged the Welsh Government and the local government sector to create a new operating model for councils in Wales, warning that the current model of local government is “no longer sustainable”. In a report published this month, the Wales Centre for Public Policy called on the Welsh Government to address the…
More Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications are being submitted across Wales, with a 10% increase in applications to local authorities and a 23% increase in applications to health boards in 2024-2025, a report from watchdogs has found. According to the annual monitoring report by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) on the implementation…
The Law Society has commissioned a new practice note to help solicitors navigate the growing body of distinct Welsh law and the differences between legislation in Wales and England. It said the guidance, which will be developed with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will “highlight key areas where Welsh legislation differs and provide practical…
The Auditor General for Wales has written to all local government bodies warning that growing delays in the preparation and audit of statutory accounts “pose a real risk to financial transparency and good governance across the sector”. The letters from Adrian Crompton set out the actions needed across the sector to restore timely and high‑quality…
The Divisional Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge brought by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain over the decision of the Welsh Ministers to introduce into the Senedd of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill. The claim followed the Deputy First Minister of Wales telling the Senedd in February 2025 that “now is…
The Law Commission has appointed Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones as Special Counsel for Wales, a role created to bolster its long-term commitment to law reform in Wales. The role, which is part-time and for one year, is “designed to help shape the Commission’s work in Wales, providing senior leadership and strategic advice on the selection,…
