Local authority round-up 5 December 2025
5th December, 2025
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Education
Government launches national conversation on SEND
The government pledge to act on their commitment to put parents’ experiences at the heart of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform through a new public engagement campaign. The government has set its ambitions to deliver the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation.
This new public engagement campaign is set to span every region of the country and will put families at the heart of its plans to create a reformed SEND system that will stand the test of time. Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould is hosting nine face-to-face events and five online events covering the department’s five principles for reform. These principles of reform include: early intervention, local provision, fairness in resources and capacity, effective practice and shared working enabling partnerships with local governments, families and schools.
It is hoped this new public engagement campaign will provide tens of thousands spaces for parents, families and the sector to share their views, opening up a direct line for people who know the system best.
For more information, please click here.
Health and social care
New adviser to reform NHS response to violence vs women and girls
Jess Asato has been appointed Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Adviser as part of government’s mission to halve VAWG within a decade. As part of her role, Asato will advise on how alcohol is linked to VAWG, embedding support for victims and survivors in neighbourhood health services, and improve local commissioning of VAWG services.
Asato will focus on three priorities over the next six months: how to reduce the impact of alcohol on VAWG, embedding VAWG support within neighbourhood health services so women and girls can be easily connected to specialist support while also improving how violence against women and girls services are commissioned.
The appointment comes as around 3.8 million people aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse, 1.4 million experienced stalking and 900,000 experienced sexual assault, including attempted offences, in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025.
For more information, please click here.
Trailblazing scheme to reconnect thousands with HIV treatment
The government has unveiled a new HIV action plan to tackle stigma and end transmissions in England by 2030, backed by an investment of £170 million. This is the first ever national programme to re-engage people back into life-saving HIV care and treatment and also includes an opt-out HIV testing in A&E to pick up infections earlier, when treatment is most effective.
HIV is now entirely manageable – with the right treatment, people can live healthy lives at normal life expectancy and cannot pass the virus onto others. Around 5,000 people are no longer in care. This new initiative comes as a way of targeted support which is crucial for groups who are more likely to face problems including racism, stigma, poverty and housing issues that can make life more difficult.
This testing programme is being rolled out across areas with the highest rates, including London and Manchester, reaching thousands of people with undiagnosed infections who might never otherwise visit a sexual health clinic. The prevention programme will also work directly with those most at risk, provide tailored support and targeted testing to break down barriers and ensure nobody is left behind. Hospital staff will also receive anti-stigma training, so patients can access care without fear of being judged for their HIV status.
For more information, please click here.
Upcoming events
Subsidy control masterclass series
Subsidy control is one of the first considerations in public funded initiatives – but it can also be a significant cause of uncertainty and delay. This course will cut through those concerns by equipping attendees with the expertise to spot potential issues and to manage these within the law, noting recent case law and guidance. It will cover the basics, working up to a level of detail that will be useful to the most experienced practitioners.
This masterclass series is presented by Ward Hadaway Partner Alexander Rose – recognised as a national expert in this area of law – with five dates to choose from across our five offices:
- Newcastle upon Tyne: Thursday 11 December 2025, 9am – 11am
- Teesside: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 10am – 12pm
- Leeds: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 1pm – 3pm
- Manchester: Thursday 22 January 2026, 1pm – 3pm
- Birmingham: Wednesday 4 February 2026, 9.30am – 11.30am
Book your place at any of these five sessions here.
Webinar: Data security
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is reporting a sharp rise in cyber attacks and notes the threat of supply chain attacks as well as the exploitation of various vulnerabilities. Not all cyber attacks result in personal data breaches but hacks often result in the theft of personal data.
During this webinar, our partners Phil Tompkins, Rob Eldon and Damien Charlton will look at the issue of data security for personal data, focusing on:
- What is meant by cyber security and data security
- What UK GDPR requires organisations to do by way of data security
- The requirements of the new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
- How to handle data security breaches and the resulting claims
Join us between 10am – 11am on Tuesday 9 December by registering here.
Legal Services Forum: Transgender guidance
In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, which confirmed that the word “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, we have found ourselves in a state of flux, and without any guidance as to the practical implications of such a ruling.
As both a public-facing service provider and an employer, where does this leave NHS Trusts when considering single-sex facilities and in-patient accommodation?
Register here to join Caroline Shafar and Chloe Middleton between 10:00am – 11:00am on Tuesday 16 December 2025 as they provide guidance and answer your questions/topics for discussion, which you are welcome to submit ahead of this meeting.
Legal Services Forum: Hillsborough Law
On 16 September 2025, the Government laid before Parliament the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly known as Hillsborough Law. The Bill introduces a duty of candour and assistance on public authorities and officials in relation to their involvement with public inquiries and inquests.
It ensures that families of victims in state-related deaths are able to access non-means-tested legal assistance and advocacy at inquests and inquiries where public authorities are interested persons. If enacted in full, the Bill is likely to have a significant impact on public inquiries and a large number of inquests.
We are pleased to invite Austin Welch, Counsel from Lincoln House Chambers to talk us through the main features of the Bill and its implications. Register here to save your place on Thursday 29 January between 10:00am – 11:00am submit and submit any questions/topics for discussion ahead of the meeting.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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