Local Authority round-up 23 July 2026
24th July, 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.
Health and Social Care
Children’s health further protected with energy drinks ban
On the 16th July 2026, the government confirmed Children’s health will be better protected from the harms linked to high-caffeine energy drinks through banning their sale to under 16s in England.
It is estimated that around 100,000 children in England drink energy drinks high in caffeine every day and evidence suggests this can negatively impact their physical and mental health, as well as their education.
Retailers will be responsible for ensuring these drinks are not sold to under 16s, while local authorities will enforce the ban. Businesses that break the law face fines of up to £2,500.
The government will take forward secondary legislation using powers set out in the Food Safety Act 1990, with the ban intended to come into force in April 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval.
For further information, please click here.
Education
CQC and Ofsted to coordinate activity to avoid placing “unnecessary pressure” on councils during reorganisation
Inspections, assessments and other related activity by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during local government reorganisation (LGR) should be “proportionate”, the government has said.
Setting out shared principles that will guide the regulators’ approaches during the transition, the Government noted that where possible, Ofsted and the CQC will “coordinate their activity” to avoid placing “unnecessary pressure” on local authorities.
A policy paper, published on 16 July 2026, established that LGR is a significant opportunity that will affect public services. Bringing together children’s services and adult social care together with housing, planning and homelessness functions enable local authorities to take a more joined up approach of local needs thus responding more effectively.
LGR is taking place alongside wider system reforms to children’s social care, SEND and integrated care boards. Due to the scale of transformation facing local authorities, Ofsted and CQC have agreed with Government the following shared principles:
- Inspections, assessments, and other related activity will continue throughout transition and following vesting day to provide ongoing oversight. This helps to maintain confidence that local areas are meeting people’s needs alongside managing change.
- Ofsted and CQC will consider how to use the flexibility available within their frameworks to ensure that oversight remains proportionate during transition. This may include timing inspections, assessments, and related activity around key transition points.
- There will be no blanket deferral of inspections or assessments for local authorities undergoing local government reorganisation or for new unitaries created through reorganisation.
- Any flexibility in the timing or nature of inspections and assessments during local government reorganisation will be informed by an assessment of risk and tailored to the circumstances of each local authority.
For more information, please click here.
Housing and Planning
Changes to how HM Land Registry sends emails about applications
From late August 2026, HM Land Registry will introduce a new way of emailing application-related correspondence, such as requisitions, letters and notices.
What is changing
Instead of receiving documents as PDF attachments, customers will receive a secure link within the email which provides access to their correspondence.
The secure link will remain available for 200 days, giving customers access and save documents as required.
What isn’t changing
Customer’s will continue to receive email notifications about requisitions, letters and notices, only the method of accessing the documents is changing.
For further 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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