News

  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

    ADSO and LLG, along with Hertfordshire County Council, are pleased to announce that our claim has been issued in the High Court to allow for the continuation of local authority remote meetings beyond the 6th May 2021. The claim also included an application for the Court to expedite proceedings to ensure a decision is made before … Continued

LLG and ADSO Serve Pre-Action Letter on Secretary of State Publish date: 25/02/2021 The Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) and Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) have been lobbying the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to change primary legislation to enable local authority remote meetings to take place beyond the current … Continued

A joint Press Release from ADSO, SLCC and LLG on the Local Council Governance Toolkit to Support Local Council Officers has been issued this morning.   This is accessible here: ADSO-SLCC-LLG Press Release – Local Council Governance Toolkit extension: pdf