Local Authority round-up 19 June 2026
19th June, 2026
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.
Regulatory
New statutory complaints duty comes into force from Friday 19 June
From Friday 19 June, the requirement for all public authorities that process personal data to operate a formal internal complaints process for data protection issues, comes into force under a new duty inserted into the Data Protection Act 2018 by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
The new requirement, introduced by section 103 of the 2025 Act, inserts a new section 164A into the Data Protection Act 2018. It applies to every controller processing personal data under UK GDPR or Part 3 DPA 2018, including local authorities, NHS bodies, central government departments, police forces and other public sector organisations already familiar with statutory complaints regimes under FOIA and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Section 164A creates a statutory right for individuals to complain directly to a controller about how their personal data has been handled, before escalating to the ICO. The core obligations are:
- Providing a clear and accessible means for people to submit a data protection complaint, including electronically
- Acknowledging receipt of a complaint within 30 days
- Taking appropriate steps to investigate and respond “without undue delay”, including making appropriate enquiries and keeping the complainant updated on progress
- Informing the complainant of the outcome without undue delay, including their right to escalate to the ICO if dissatisfied
For more information, please click here.
Education
Every child to get access to enriching activities to build skills and confidence for life
Every child regardless of their location or what school they attend, will benefit from enriching activities that build the skills, confidence and relationships they need for life and work due to new government action.
Greater access to opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and arts will be made available to children both in and out of school in order to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people. This comes about in a drive to ensure all children are supported to develop new skills and explore their talents. Schools and colleges will be given new benchmarks in practical tools and guidance to offer a wide range of opportunities across 5 categories: civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; life and future skills including STEM, sport and physical activities.
Activities could include music groups, engineering clubs, debating societies, football clubs and more. These benchmarks will work in collaboration with civil society and help schools and colleges develop engaging enrichment offers that reflect the needs of pupils and communities.
Ofsted will consider a school’s enrichment offer as part of how it assesses personal development, and parents will be able to see their local school’s offer through new ‘school profiles’ – with useful information on school’s offering.
For more information please click here.
Health & Social Care
Free Flu jabs for people facing homelessness
A vaccination programme will support those experiencing homelessness, protecting a group at high risk or serious respiratory illness.
The government is acting on its 10 Year Health Plan by offering the free flu vaccinations to people experiencing homelessness, beginning in autumn, inline with the next season of flu vaccinations available.
For this policy, those experiencing homelessness means:
- People experiencing rough sleeping
- People staying in homeless hotels or night shelters
Increasing vaccination among vulnerable groups can also help to protect the wider public by reducing the spread of flu through communities, helping prevent avoidable hospitalisations and easing winter pressures on the NHS and emergency services during high periods of seasonal demand.
For more information, please click here.
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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