Local Authority round-up – 12 June 2025
12th June, 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 to invest £1.2 billion to rectify public sector infrastructure
The public sector is set to benefit from a £1.2 billion investment to rectify essential infrastructure.
400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will be handed £750 million to tackle long-term problems such as poor ventilation, seeking to prevent the cancellation of operations and appointments. Furthermore, 656 schools and sixth forms will benefit from a share of £470 million to repair crumbling roofs and remove asbestos, aiming to give the public confidence that their children are learning in a safe environment.
This forms part of the £2.1 billion investment into the school estate for 2025-2026 which hopes to deliver energy efficient, warm classrooms with safe outdoor spaces. A further £1.4 billion will support the acceleration of the school rebuilding programme, providing high-tech facilities that will raise the standards of education through new sports halls, IT rooms, school kitchens and playgrounds.
For more information please click here.
Regulatory
Crime and Policing Bill aims to introduce stronger protections against racial abuse for frontline staff
The Government has introduced amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill which aims to protect police, fire and ambulance workers against racial and religious abuse when making house calls.
Currently, it is illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home. As a result, the law has left emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls, and unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour.
Under the change, offenders of abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.
For more information please click here.
Health and Social Care
Government announced that ‘failed’ COVID-19 contracts cost the British taxpayer £1.4 billion
The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner’s Report has revealed that failed pandemic-era PPE contracts cost the British taxpayer £1.4 billion.
It has been reported that substandard PPE was not inspected until after warranties expired meaning public money could no longer be recouped.
Recovery action has so far resulted in £182 million being returned to the public purse, and PPE suppliers referred to the National Crime Agency for suspected fraud.
The Commissioner has now begun work on Phase Two of the report, which will investigate fraud and error in other pandemic spending programmes such as furlough, bounce-back loans, Business Support Grants and Eat Out to Help Out.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Healthcare Employment Law Update
Please join James English for the free ‘Healthcare Employment Law Update’ on Tuesday 1st July at 10am. This webinar is aimed at HR advisers in the healthcare sector.
To register your place, please click here.
Right to Work – Legal Insights and Practical Guidance
Sabina Kauser and Jessica Hurwood, from Ward Hadaway’s expert Business Immigration Team, will be covering essential updates and practical advice for employers to ensure compliance with current immigration and employment laws. This includes:
- Types of right to work checks;
- recent legal updates;
- document retention and compliance;
- avoiding discrimination; and
- sector specific challenges.
The webinar is on the 8th July at 10am.
To register your place, please click here.
Public Sector Property Update
Join us in our Newcastle Office on Tuesday 8th July from 8am – 10.30am for our Public Sector Property Update.
During the event our legal experts will update you on property, litigation, planning and construction law relevant to development of land by the Public Sector.
To register your place, 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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