Local Authority round-up 18 September 2026
18th September, 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.
Education
Healthier school dinners as government delivers major reforms
Healthier school dinners will be available for children across the country as the government delivers the biggest overhaul of school food in a generation.
The changes to the school food standards will see more fresh fruit, fibre-rich foods and nutritious balanced meals that help children stay focused and energised throughout the school day.
This reform has been developed alongside nutritionists, public health experts and backed by campaigners such as Chef Jamie Oliver. While many schools are already leading the way with excellent food, these reforms will ensure every child will benefit from the same high standards.
The school food overhaul follows major reforms to give families breathing space with the cost of living, including a cap on the number of branded school uniform.
For more information, please click here.
Regulatory
Human rights committee calls for AI Bill, single AI regulator and tougher UK GDPR rules on automated decisions
The UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has called on the government to introduce a dedicated AI Bill, create a single statutory AI regulator and strengthen the UK GDPR’s safeguards on auto-mated decision-making. This has been driven by the belief that the current legal framework is inconsistent, mainly at the point of deployment and leaves people unable to find out whether AI has been used in decisions that affect them.
Alex Sobel MP, chair of the committee, said no jurisdiction, including the UK has a legislative approach to AI that is fit for purpose and the current climate. As such, new legislation is needed to cover things like the AI supply chain and lifecycle with the main aim of ensuring an individual knows when AI is being used for decisions that directly affect them with avenues of redress available if something goes wrong.
For more information, please click here.
Housing & Planning
Communities across England will be able to bid for new funding to help bring people together, create welcoming local spaces and strengthen relationships in their area
The Common Ground Award, first launched in 2025, is opening to a second wave of applicants, backing groups that know their communities best and are already helping people from different backgrounds meet and build trust.
The funding is designed to support projects that encourage understanding between people from different backgrounds, reduce prejudice and help ease local tension.
The next round of funding will provide up to £2.5 million, with individual applicants able to bid for between £20,000 and £50,000 to improve facilities, spaces and equipment that help them continue to deliver vital work in their communities.
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.
This page may contain links that direct you to third party websites. We have no control over and are not responsible for the content, use by you or availability of those third party websites, for any products or services you buy through those sites or for the treatment of any personal information you provide to the third party.
Follow us on LinkedIn
Keep up to date with all the latest updates and insights from our expert team
