Many members may have seen the letter from the AEA Chief Executive Peter Stanyon, to the Minister for Levelling Up Communities, Kemi Badenoch MP on the recent elections and the Election Act 2022, for those who haven’t you can read it here – Letter to MfLUC – Post Election 2022 extension: pdf ADSO fully supports … Continued
Following the recent publication of the Government Response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life report, please find the statement from ADSO. ADSO shares the disappointment expressed by others in the Government’s belated response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life recommendations published in January 2019. The response does not do justice to … Continued
The ADSO Board at it’s meeting this morning, have agreed the following motion in support of the people of the Ukraine. The motion reads: ADSO is an organisation that promotes democracy. We therefore stand fully behind the citizens of the Ukraine and their local government community in their brave efforts to protect the free society they worked … Continued
As a professional association, we are strongly committed to ensuring that inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. This includes a commitment to ensuring that all of our events, governance materials, resources, training, discussion platforms and services are developed with inclusivity at the centre. Equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination are … Continued
The below guidance has been prepared by Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) in association with Bevan Brittan LLP for the benefit of its respective membership following the High Court judgment on remote meeting provision in respect of local authorities in England. Many questions have been raised following … Continued
Following the Judgement from the High Court in relation to our Virtual Meeting Judicial Review, the court indicated at the end of that judgement within a postscript, that it would consider references to a meeting being “open to the public” or “held in public”. That judgement was handed down today. The Court has ruled … Continued
Press Release 28th April 2021 The application to the High Court made by ADSO, LLG and Hertfordshire County Council in relation to virtual meeting provision for local authorities has today been dismissed. You can read the Judgement here. extension: docx The court concluded that: “…. the Secretary of State was correct in November 2016 and … Continued
Proceedings for a court declaration that virtual meetings can proceed past 6th May 2021 was heard today in the High Court before the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Dame Victoria Sharp and the Hon Mr Martin Chamberlain QC. ADSO and LLG instructed Counsel, Peter Oldham QC of 11KBW to make submissions and we … Continued
Press Release 26th March 2021 The letter to Council Leaders from Luke Hall MP received yesterday (25th March 2021) does not change the need for our court hearing, in fact if anything, it makes the need for it more pressing. Councils are already actively considering the options the minister has suggested, including looking at … Continued
ADSO and LLG (along with Hertfordshire County Council) have received permission to expedite our claim for a declaration in the High Court which will provide certainty for local authorities on whether they can continue to hold meetings remotely past the 6th May 2021 deadline, due to the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police and … Continued