Local authority round-up 16 January 2026
16th January, 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
Government to introduce inspection of multi-academy trusts through amendment to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Millions of children will benefit from a stronger, fairer and more transparent school system as the Department for Education announce plans to bring multi academy trusts into the inspection system. This will be introduced through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
The amendment will focus on giving parents and communities greater confidence that schools are part of strong, supportive trusts focused on improving outcomes for every child.
The trust inspection will focus on “leadership, governance and impact” – including how effectively trusts improve schools, provide high quality education, support staff, use resources and promote pupil wellbeing.
The Bill will also introduce new powers of intervention to step in when trusts are not meeting acceptable standards, for example, moving academies to stronger trusts. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is in the Report stage in the House of Lords currently.
For more information, please click here.
Campaign group launches ‘Dear Prime Minister’ video urging Government to safeguard SEND legal rights ahead of schools White Paper
A group campaign to protect the legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has launched a video urging the Government to safeguard SEND legal rights ahead of the upcoming schools white paper.
In the video, campaigners call on the Prime Minister to properly enforce the existing SEND legal framework, warning that not doing so will have severe consequences on families.
The Schools White Paper is expected to be published soon, and campaigners fear the Government’s priority is to cut the increasing cost of SEN provisions by changing the ways children qualify for extra support.
For more information, please click here.
Public Funding
Local Growth Fund introduces new public funding programme, worth over £475 million in each of the next three financial years
Local Growth Funding (LGF) has been established by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to provide grants towards the delivery of new infrastructure, business support and skills development. The funding, which will run from 1st April 2026 and be worth over £1.5bn over the next three years, will be administered by the Combined authorities in England and through Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Areas in England will be able to access the funding as long as they have an existing Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) and a GDP per head lower than the UK average. Each MSA will then be entitled to direct their allocation towards infrastructure investment, business support and skills development in line with their Local Growth Plans.
The Government will also publish an accountability framework for the remaining MSA’s, setting out the outcomes, indicators and targets which must be satisfied in the delivery of the fund.
For more information, please click here.
Upcoming events
Subsidy control masterclass series
Subsidy control is one of the first considerations in public funded initiatives – but it can also be a significant cause of uncertainty and delay. This course will cut through those concerns by equipping attendees with the expertise to spot potential issues and to manage these within the law, noting recent case law and guidance. It will cover the basics, working up to a level of detail that will be useful to the most experienced practitioners.
This masterclass series is presented by Ward Hadaway Partner Alexander Rose – recognised as a national expert in this area of law – with the following dates remaining across our offices:
- Manchester: Thursday 22 January 2026, 1pm – 3pm
- Birmingham: Wednesday 4 February 2026, 9.30am – 11.30am
Book your place at any of these sessions here.
Legal Services Forum: Hillsborough Law
On 16 September 2025, the Government laid before Parliament the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly known as Hillsborough Law. The Bill introduces a duty of candour and assistance on public authorities and officials in relation to their involvement with public inquiries and inquests.
It ensures that families of victims in state-related deaths are able to access non-means-tested legal assistance and advocacy at inquests and inquiries where public authorities are interested persons. If enacted in full, the Bill is likely to have a significant impact on public inquiries and a large number of inquests.
We are pleased to invite Austin Welch, Counsel from Lincoln House Chambers to talk us through the main features of the Bill and its implications.
This webinar will take place on Thursday 29 January, 10:00–11:00am.
Register here to confirm your place and submit any questions for discussion in advance.
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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