Local Authority round-up 05/01/24
5th January, 2024
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.
Commercial
Government announces £76 million to support 800 charities
Over 800 charities struggling with increased demand have been awarded £76 million in funding to support vulnerable people. Grants worth between £10,000 and £75,000 are being allocated to cover project and core costs, including rent, utilities, staff and volunteers.
Examples of organisations that will be supported include:
- Springwell Village Community Venue, Sunderland will receive £45,000 in funding to support the supply of hot meals and food parcels, and the provision of toiletry packs for disadvantaged young people in the community. It will also provide a safe and warm space over the winter months to support those struggling with the rising cost of utility bills.
- SHAPE Birmingham offers shelter for homeless young women. SHAPE is currently facing an increase in demand for its services due to a rise in the cost of living, alongside a rise in running costs of the hostel. To enable SHAPE to support more young women, they will receive £35,000 in funding to hire an additional worker.
For more information please click here.
New plans seek to increase the reuse and recycling of electrical goods
The Government has announced plans to make recycling electrical cords, devices and white goods easier for UK households.
Recent statistics have shown that an estimated 155,000 tonnes of household electricals such as cables, toasters, kettles and power tools are wrongly discarded each year. The waste generated during the festive period demonstrates the scale of the problem with 500 tonnes of Christmas lights disposed of every year in the UK.
A range of measures are proposed within the joint UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive consultation for introduction from 2026, including:
- UK-wide collections of waste electricals directly from households. The collections would be financed by producers of electrical items and not the taxpayer.
- Large retailers rolling out collection drop points for electrical items in-store, free of charge, without the need to buy a replacement product.
- Retailers and online sellers taking on responsibility for collecting unwanted or broken electrical items such as fridges or cookers when delivering a replacement.
The proposals will mean consumers will be able to recycle their goods from their home or during their weekly shop.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is set to work closely with manufacturers, major retailers and small and medium enterprises throughout the consultation period to ensure the most efficient and accessible options become a reality.
For more information please click here.
Planning and Housing
Government launches new scheme to increase transparency in the property sector
The Government has recently launched a consultation which outlines plans to improve the transparency of trust information. The Government, by making it clearer as to who owns land trusts, seeks to ensure greater transparency and tackle corruption in the property sector.
Land ownership through a trust means the trustee manages the land on behalf of the legal owner and beneficiary. Currently, the identity of the beneficiary is not recorded or publicly available, often leading to secrecy or corruption in the sector.
The Government’s new plans will mean residents, the media and the public will be able access more information about who owns land and property, who can control the land, and who receives financial benefit from it.
The consultation is set to run for eight weeks and seeks views on widening access to trust information held on the Register of Overseas Entities and on how ownership of land involving trusts can be made more transparent.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming events
Webinar: Immigration Update – Changes to Immigration Policy
Join us for our Immigration Update webinar on Thursday 11th January 2024 at 10am. In this webinar we will provide organisations with an update on the recent Government announcements setting out significant changes to immigration policy with a view to drastically reducing the UK’s net migration figures in advance of the next General Election.
For more information and to book your place, please click here.
Seminar: Employment Law Update – Teesside
Join us for a Teesside Employment Law Update on Tuesday 30th January 2024 8:30am – 10:30am at AV Dawson, Middlesbrough. The new year is a good time to reflect on the recent employment law changes and what can be expected in 2024. This in person event will give you an opportunity to network with peers in Teesside as well as gaining a better understanding of the latest developments and updates in employment law.
For more information and to book your place, please click here.
If you have any questions about the issues raised in this update, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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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