Insolvency

MHCLG updates possession action guidance with new court fees

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its possession action process guidance to reflect new county court fees. The guidance includes separate documents for private landlords, private residential tenants and social tenants. The updated guidance follows earlier changes introducing the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service and clarified Form 6A requirements for Section 21 notices under the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1998).

Judicial Review—still a remedy of last resort? High Court ruled that delays in the FTT did not ...

Local Government analysis: The High Court dismissed a Judicial Review application regarding the lawfulness of an Education, Health and Care Plan (‘EHCP’) issued by the London Borough of Islington, after finding that the First Tier Tribunal was a ‘suitable alternative remedy’. The claimants sought to bring a Judicial Review claim in circumstances where there was an existing appeal against the same EHCP in the First Tier Tribunal Special Educational Needs and Disability ('FTT'). The claimant’s argument was that the appeal in the FTT was not an adequate remedy because of the delay in the scheduled hearing. Ultimately, the Judge ruled that the FTT was the ‘appropriate forum for the complaints made about the EHCP to be ventilated and resolved’ and this was not an exceptional case justifying departure from the well-established principle that Judicial Review is a remedy of last resort. Written by Tamara Dasht, associate at Browne Jacobson LLP.

Welsh Government launches consultation on care services quality code of practice

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation, regarding a new code of practice for regulated care and support services. The draft code, created under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, will provide guidance to local authorities, health boards and NHS trusts on quality assurance, performance management and service closure procedures. The consultation, running until 30 June 2025, aims to replace the existing 2009 statutory guidance on care home closures and concerns.

DfE updates 16-19 education financial support guidance for 2025-26 academic year

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its guidance on financial support for 16-19 education, following the closure of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on 31 March 2025. The update includes revised guidance links regarding the following: 2025-26 academic year covering the 16-19 Bursary Fund, Care to Learn scheme, Residential Bursary Fund and Residential Support Scheme. All ESFA activities have transferred to the DfE, which will now oversee these support programmes directly.