The local authority sought an injunction to restrain the respondent Gypsies from use of land they owned, for residential caravans. The Gypsies had used the site, in breach of planning control, for a number of years. The judge had refused an injunction because of the personal circumstances of the respondents. Held: The court considered the … Continue reading Hambleton District Council v Bird: CA 1995
Fair Coment on Political Activities The defendant newspaper had published articles wrongly accusing the claimant, the former Prime Minister of Ireland of duplicity. The paper now appealed, saying that it should have had available to it a defence of qualified privilege because of the claimant’s status as a politician. Held: The appeal failed (Lords Hope … Continue reading Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd and others: HL 28 Oct 1999
A Local Authority involved in a boundary change has power to make a deal with a neighbouring authority over land. Citations: Gazette 05-Mar-1997, Times 25-Feb-1997 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 68 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Ex Parte Sutton London Borough Council QBD 14-Dec-1995 … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Ex Parte Sutton London Borough Council: CA 25 Feb 1997
Notice to quit was not serveable at last known address of the defendant without specific power. Citations: Times 12-Dec-1996, [1996] EWCA Civ 1048 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 233 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Landlord and Tenant, Housing Updated: 03 November 2022; Ref: scu.80329
The Housing Associations Act 1985 empowered a local authority to give guarantees in relation to registered housing associations. A local authority guaranteed a bank loan for an unregistered housing association. Held: A Local Authority had no power to guarantee a loan to an unregistered housing association. Section 111(1) of the 1972 Act could not be … Continue reading London Borough of Sutton v Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd v Mayor and Burgesses of London Borough of Sutton London Borough of Sutton v Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd Wellesley Housing Association Ltd: CA 24 Oct 1996
Three local authorities disputed whether a contract had been made between them, and if so its terms, as to the financial support of a leisure centre. Held: Later legislation need not frustrate agreement between the parties.Hirts LJ said: ‘the agreement was in my judgment frustrated by supervening illegality . . the parties having covenanted to … Continue reading Islwyn Borough Council and Another v Newport Borough Council: CA 28 Jun 1993
The company appellant, E, wished to develop its land. The Council had declared it to be a conservation area. E said that they had not given the necessary notice of the meeting of the sub-committee at which the initial decision had been made. E appealed against a finding that due notice had been given. Held: … Continue reading Regina v Swansea City Council, ex parte Elitestone Ltd: CA 5 May 1993
The Listed buildings registers are to be read consistently; the trading level is a material consideration in listed buildings consent applications. The weight to be given to a material consideration once identified was a matter of judgment for the decision maker alone. Lord Clyde said: ‘In the practical application of section 18A, it will obviously … Continue reading City of Edinburgh Council v Secretary of State for Scotland and Another; Same v Same (Conjoined Appeals): HL 31 Oct 1997
The district auditor declared that payments made by the Council under an ‘enhanced voluntary severance scheme’, established by it in connection with its policy of not making employees compulsorily redundant, were unlawful. The payments were considerably in excess of the amounts which the council was obliged to pay under the employment legislation. Held:The Council did … Continue reading Allsop v North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 1991
The 1987 Act and its Regulations enabled a local authority with proper grounds for suspecting that a safety provision had been contravened in relation to goods, to issue a ‘suspension notice’ prohibiting a person on whom it was served from supplying those goods. It would be a criminal offence to breach that prohibition. The Council … Continue reading Baby Products Association and Another, Regina (on the Application of) v Liverpool City Council: Admn 23 Nov 1999
The court considered the power of the Secretary of state to vary or amend an enforcement notice under the Act. Held: He could amend a notice which was otherwise invalid but not one which was upon its face a nullity. Lord Denning MR said: ‘He can correct errors so long as having regard to the … Continue reading Miller-Mead v Minister for Housing and Local Government and Another: CA 1963
Land had been owned by the authority and used as a children’s home. After a boundary change taking the land outside its area, it sought to sell the land for development. The neighbours, claiming the benefit of a restrictive covenant allowing only one house on the land, objected. Using the 1972 Act, the authority purported … Continue reading London Borough of Sutton v Bolton and Another: ChD 3 Feb 1993
The authority entered into interest rate swap agreements, whose validity was challenged. The court considered what were the functions of a local authority within the Act. ‘We agree with the Divisional Court that in [section 111(1)] the word ‘functions’, which is accompanied by no statutory definition, is used in a broad sense, and is apt … Continue reading Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: CA 2 Jan 1990
Citations: [1999] EWHC Admin 743 Links: Bailii Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 Citing: See Also – Director of Public Prosecutions v Armstrong-Braun Admn 5-Oct-1998 A building site was subject to a requirement to move great crested newts before work could proceed. The defendant, a local councillor interfered to prevent a digger destroying the land until … Continue reading Regina v Flintshire County Council ex parte Armstrong-Braun: Admn 27 Jul 1999
Citations: [1998] EWHC Admin 29 Links: Bailii Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 122 Local Government Updated: 27 May 2022; Ref: scu.138150
Challenge to appropriation of land enjoyed as recreation land to use for arts centre. Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 1130 Links: Bailii Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 122 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Local Government Updated: 26 May 2022; Ref: scu.138075
It was permissible to look beyond terms of an order to see what property was intended to be affected. Citations: Times 11-Mar-1994 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 51(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Local Government Updated: 26 May 2022; Ref: scu.87782
The defendants were charged after pasting up in telephone booths advertisements for homosexual services. They published a magazine with similar advertisements. The House was asked to confirm the existence of an offence of outraging public decency. Held: There now exists no power in the courts to create new criminal offences. A new criminal offence could … Continue reading Regina v Knuller (Publishing, Printing and Promotions) Ltd; Knuller etc v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 1972
A Local Authority was not able to impose charge for inquiries as to speculative developments and similar proposals, or for consultations, and pre-planning advice. There was no statutory authority for such a charge, and it was therefore unlawful and ultra vires. A power to charge did not arise by necessary implication. The words ‘necessary implication’ … Continue reading Regina v Richmond Upon Thames London Borough Council, ex parte McCarthy and Stone (Developments) Ltd: HL 14 Nov 1991
The local authority had accepted the argument that stag hunting was cruel and had banned it from the land it owned in the Quantocks. The ban was challenged. Held: The ban was unlawful. The decision had been reached on moral, and not on administrative grounds. The purposes it sought to implement were not within the … Continue reading Regina v Somerset County Council Ex Parte Fewings and Others: CA 22 Mar 1995
No undertaking for damages was to be required of a Local Authority exercising a statutory duty. The grant of an injunction in favour of a local authority performing law enforcement duties did not necessarily carry with it a cross-undertaking on damages of a type that is familiar in private litigation. Judges: Scott Baker J Citations: … Continue reading Coventry City Council v Finnie and Another: QBD 2 May 1996
Contract – ultra vires – power of local authority to grant an indemnity – power of local authority to borrow – acquiring the use of borrowed money Judges: Phillips J Citations: Unreported, 06 April 1995 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 111, Local Government (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1976 19(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Contract, Local Government … Continue reading City Leisure (Holdings) Ltd v Lord Mayor and Citizens of the City of Westminster: ComC 6 Apr 1995
On 1 May a sub-committee held a meeting at which land was declared to be a conservation area. Under the Act, the agenda had been open for inspection for three clear days. They were available from April 26, and there was no suggestion that they had not been available for any part of that working … Continue reading Regina v Swansea City Council, ex parte Elitestone Ltd: QBD 1993
A police authority can contract out its vehicle recovery duties, provided the act did not involve a delegation of its duties, and it remained responsible. Citations: Times 31-May-1996 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 111(1) Local Government, Police Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.86761
The local authority sought to use its powers under the Act to enforce planning control over gypsies. Citations: [1992] 90 LGR 557 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 222 Cited by: Cited – Wrexham County Borough Council v Berry; South Buckinghamshire District Council v Porter and another; Chichester District Council v Searle and others HL 22-May-2003 … Continue reading Mole Valley District Council v Smith: 1992
Parliament had made detailed provision in a number of Acts for the discharge of the housing duties by local authorities. These detailed provisions did not contain a power to give a guarantee in connection with a bank loan to a company which the local authority had formed to assist in the acquisition and development of … Continue reading Credit Suisse and Another v Waltham Forest London Borough Council: CA 20 May 1996
Exemplary Damages Award in Defamation The plaintiff had been awarded damages for defamation. The defendants pleaded justification. Before the trial the plaintiff gave notice that he wanted additional, exemplary, damages. The trial judge said that such a claim had to have been pleaded. The Court of Appeal had considered Rookes -v- Barnard to have been … Continue reading Cassell and Co Ltd v Broome and Another: HL 23 Feb 1972
A guarantee of loan to a non-registered housing association was ultra vires. Citations: Times 23-Mar-1995 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – London Borough of Sutton v Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd v Mayor and Burgesses of London Borough of Sutton London Borough … Continue reading Morgan Grenfell and Co Ltd v Sutton London Borough Council: QBD 23 Mar 1995
Swap deals outwith Council powers The authority entered into interest rate swap deals to protect itself against adverse money market movements. They began to lose substantial amounts when interest rates rose, and the district auditor sought a declaration that the contracts were void, there being no express power in the relevant legislation. Held: The arrangements … Continue reading Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: HL 1991
A Local Authority could include ethical considerations in making a decision to ban hunting over land which it owned if the power which it sought to use was in the Act. Citations: Times 10-Feb-1994, Independent 16-Feb-1994 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 120(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Regina v Somerset County … Continue reading Regina v Somerset County Council ex parte Fewings and Others: QBD 10 Feb 1994
The Secretary of State may appoint an arbitrator to decide between local authorities on a land transfer dispute on a re-organisation of local government. Citations: Times 14-Dec-1995 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 68 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Ex Parte Sutton London Borough … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Ex Parte Sutton London Borough Council: QBD 14 Dec 1995
Mrs Z suffered a terminal disease, and sought to travel to Switzerland supported and assisted by her husband, so that she could terminate her life. She appealed an injunction obtained by the authority to prevent her leaving. Held: The authority had been supporting her. When circumstances came to their attention suggesting she had made a … Continue reading In Re Z (Local Authority: Duty): FD 3 Dec 2004
The issue before the courts was whether, in the absence of any express power authorising the Council to do so, the Council was within its power under s 111(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to enter into certain swap transactions;‘The fact that subsection (1) is expressly made subject to ‘the provisions of this Act’ … Continue reading Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council: QBD 1990
A statement made by a politician as to his intentions on a particular matter if elected could not create a legitimate expectation as regards the delivery of the promise after elected, even where the promise would directly affect individuals, and the costs of a child’s education. Any consequences of a failure to keep a promise … Continue reading Regina v Department of Education and Employment ex parte Begbie: CA 20 Aug 1999
The Council sought orders to restrain the defendants from using certain land for the display of advertisements. Moriarty QC [1997] EWHC Admin 800 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 187B, Local Government Act 1972 222, Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 England and Wales Planning Updated: 03 January 2022; Ref: scu.137745
A Local Authority’s guarantee for its own company was void, having been given for impermissible reasons. Independent 17-Jun-1994 England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Credit Suisse v Allerdale Borough Council CA 20-May-1996 Builder’s Guarantee Ultra Vires LA The council set out to provide a swimming pool using powers under s.19 of the 1976 … Continue reading Credit Suisse v Allerdale Borough Council: QBD 17 Jun 1994
Builder’s Guarantee Ultra Vires LA The council set out to provide a swimming pool using powers under s.19 of the 1976 Act. Purporting to use powers under s.111 of the 1972 Act, it set up a company to develop a site by building a leisure pool and time-share units, with a view to selling the … Continue reading Credit Suisse v Allerdale Borough Council: CA 20 May 1996
The House was asked whether someone who wished to appeal against an extradition order had an obligation also to serve his appellant’s notice on the respondent within the seven days limit, and whether the period was capable of extension by the court. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Rodger dissenting). Giving notice, for the purposes of … Continue reading Mucelli v Government of Albania (Criminal Appeal From Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice): HL 21 Jan 2009
The Movement sought to challenge decisions of the Secretary of state to give economic aid to the Pergau Dam, saying that it was not required ‘for the purpose of promoting the development’ of Malaysia. It was said to be uneconomic and damaging. It was said by the defendant’s advisers to be an abuse of the … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ex Parte the World Development Movement Ltd: Admn 10 Nov 1994
D. wanting to develop an office block, bought neighbouring semi-detached houses hoping to provide additional car parking, enhancing the visual aspects and improving highway safety. When temporary planning consent for use of these properties as site offices ran out without being used, D began to demolish the properties which were not listed and not in … Continue reading Cambridge City Council v Secretary of State for the Environment and Milton Park Investments Ltd: 1992
The House gave guidance how it would treat an invitation to depart from a previous decision of the House. Such a course was possible, but the direction was not an ‘open sesame’ for a differently constituted committee to prefer their views to those of the committee which determined the decision unanimously or by a majority. … Continue reading Practice Statement (Judicial Precedent): HL 1966
Under the 1998 and 2006 Acts, the Welsh Assembly was empowered to pass legislation subject to confirmation by the English Parliament Secretary of State. The Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill 2012 was passed by the Assembly and purported to remove the requirement for confirmation and to add to the list of legislation which might be … Continue reading Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill 2012 – Reference By The Attorney General for England and Wales: SC 21 Nov 2012
Right of Recovery of Money Paid under Mistake Kleinwort Benson had made payments to a local authority under swap agreements which were thought to be legally enforceable when made. Subsequently, a decision of the House of Lords, (Hazell v. Hammersmith and Fulham) established that such swap agreements were unlawful. Kleinwort Benson then sought restitution of … Continue reading Kleinwort Benson Ltd v Lincoln City Council etc: HL 29 Jul 1998
In two issues of ‘The Sunday Times’ newspaper on 17 and 24 September 1989 there appeared articles concerning share deals involving the superannuation fund of the Derbyshire County Council. The articles in the issue of 17 September were headed . .
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Planning Committee arrangements were lawful The claimants objected to the grant of planning permission for three wind turbines, saying that the council’s constitution was unlawful, in that the powers delegate to area planning committees required a two thirds majority for their exercise, where the Act required only a majority. Held: The arrangement was not unconstitutional. … Continue reading The Friends of Hethel Ltd, Regina (on the application of) v Ecotricity: Admn 12 Nov 2009
The local authority sought to use its powers under the Act to enforce planning control over gypsies. Citations: [1988] 1 WLR 246 Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 222 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Wrexham County Borough Council v Berry; South Buckinghamshire District Council v Porter and another; Chichester District Council v Searle … Continue reading Waverley Borough Council v Hilden: 1988
The appellant claimed that a prosecution under the 1990 Act could not be made by the Local Authority in its own name, but should rather have been in the name of a nominated official. Held: The 1972 Act gave the authority the power. It had not been intended to make a distinction between a local … Continue reading Monks v East Northamptonshire District Council: QBD 8 Mar 2002
Appeals were brought complaining as to the apparent reversal of the burden of proof in road traffic cases and in cases under the Terrorism Acts. Was a legal or an evidential burden placed on a defendant? Held: Lord Bingham of Cornhill said: ‘The overriding concern is that a trial should be fair, and the presumption … Continue reading Sheldrake v Director of Public Prosecutions; Attorney General’s Reference No 4 of 2002: HL 14 Oct 2004
Tenants complained that the authority landlord had purported to vary a clause in his secure tenancy agreement which gave certain management rights to tenants. Held: The powers to let on secure tenancies were governed by statute. The clause which was removed was an unlawful fetter on the authorty’s powers and duties. As such the court … Continue reading Kilby v Basildon District Council: Admn 26 Jul 2006
The court was asked whether the council held land as public open space. Its predecessor had acquired the land for that purpose in 1926, and had used it as such. During the war, part of the land had been temporarily appropriated for allotment purposes under powers contained in Defence Regulations. By the late 1970s the … Continue reading Day, Regina (on The Application of) v Shrewsbury Town Counci and Another: Admn 19 Dec 2019
Judges: Bidder QC J Citations: [2011] EWHC 1680 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Local Government Act 1972 250(5), Town and Country Planning Act 1990 320 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Costs, Planning, Local Government Updated: 15 September 2022; Ref: scu.441444
The five applicants had lived in the UK for at least three years while attending school or college. All five were subject to immigration control, four had entered as students with limited leave to remain for the duration of their studies, and the fifth had entered with his parents for settlement and had indefinite leave … Continue reading Regina v Barnet London Borough Council, Ex parte Shah: HL 16 Dec 1982
The claimant appealed against dismissal of her petition for an order for the defendants to purchase her shares at a fair value, saying that they had acted unfairly toward her. Her co-directors had acquired, for another company of which they were sole directors, a property which might have been bought by the company. Held: The … Continue reading O’Donnell v Shanahan and Another: CA 22 Jul 2009
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
The defendants had been convicted of offences involving mistreatment of animals, and debarred from having custody of animals. They were now in breach of that order, and the council sought a civil order allowing it access to their land to remove any animals found. Held: The court did not have the necessary jurisdiction. It had … Continue reading Worcestershire County Council v Tongue and others: ChD 6 Aug 2003
Police Officers had been involved in a shooting in which a man died. They were granted anonymity before the coroner’s court, on evidence suggesting they might be at risk. The family of the deceased appealed. Held: The coroner misdirected herself in respect of the threshold of risk test by allowing for ‘a reasonable chance’ of … Continue reading Bennett v Officers A and B and Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis: CA 2 Nov 2004
Parliament’s Approval if statute rights affected In a referendum, the people had voted to leave the European Union. That would require a notice to the Union under Article 50 TEU. The Secretary of State appealed against an order requiring Parliamentary approval before issuing the notice, he saying that the notice could be given under the … Continue reading Miller and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union: SC 24 Jan 2017
Mrs Nolan had been employed at a US airbase. When it closed, and she was made redundant, she complained that the appellant had not consulted properly on the redundancies. The US denied that it had responsibility to consult, and now appealed. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Carnworth dissenting). That the exact situation might not have … Continue reading The United States of America v Nolan: SC 21 Oct 2015
The claimant had taken a lease of property from a local authority. Relying upon an option for renewal, he invested substantially in the property, but it was then decided that the option was ultra vires. Held: Property rights protected under the Convention included such rights. The concept of ‘possessions’ in Art. 1 includes a legitimate … Continue reading Stretch v The United Kingdom: ECHR 24 Jun 2003
The taxpayer appealed against a rating assessment on a barge permanently moored at a riverbank. He claimed that as a chattel, it should not be rated. Held: The vessel was a chattel, but its occupation could be an occupation of the riverbed. The licences were stated to be non-exclusive, but the law of rating looks … Continue reading Cinderella Rockerfellas Ltd v Rudd (Valuation Officer): CA 11 Apr 2003
The Court was asked whether and in what circumstances a lower court may follow a decision of the Privy Council which has reached a different conclusion from that of the House of Lords (or the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal) on an earlier occasion. Held: The court set out the position in law and … Continue reading Willers v Joyce and Another (Re: Gubay (Deceased) No 2): SC 20 Jul 2016
Application for interim injunction to prevent traveller families occupying certain lands. Judges: Patterson DBE J Citations: [2015] EWHC 953 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 187B, Local Government Act 1972 222, Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Local Government, Planning Updated: 30 May 2022; Ref: scu.545603
Judges: Forbes J Citations: Gazette 14-Mar-2002 Statutes: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 320 (2), Local Government Act 1972 259(5) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Planning, Costs Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.167981
A local council introduced a standing order to the effect that an item could not be placed on an agenda without being seconded. In doing so it had failed entirely to consider the fundamental effect this would have on democracy. Independent members and others seeking to be critical could find themselves unable to put unpopular … Continue reading Regina v Flintshire County Council, Ex Parte Armstrong-Braun: CA 20 Feb 2001
An action was brought for for negligence and/or breach of statutory duty under the 1936 Act. The plaintiff alleged that Melford Rural District Council (‘Melford’: the Defendant Council’s predecessor) had failed to inspect with reasonable care the foundations of the house that he was building. However, by the time the plaintiff noticed the defects, Melford … Continue reading Walters v Babergh District Council: 1983
Two senior and long term employees of the Council proposed voluntary early redundancy. After discussions, their contracts were varied with enhanced pay so that they would also have enhanced pensions and redundancy payments. Such enhancing agreements were not part of any long term policy of the Council, but were negotiated ‘one-off’ at a time when … Continue reading Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council v Shaw: QBD 2000
Lion Laboratories manufactured and marketed the Lion Intoximeter which was used by the police for measuring blood alcohol levels of motorists. Two ex-employees approached the Press with four documents taken from Lion. The documents indicated that the Lion Intoximeter had faults which could have resulted in a significant number of motorists being wrongly convicted. Lion … Continue reading Lion Laboratories Ltd v Evans: CA 1985
Blackmail was alleged under section 21 of the 1968 Act, the letter making the unwarranted demand with menaces having been posted from England to an intended victim in Germany. Held: The appeal was dismissed. To allow an English court to have jurisdiction where elements of the offence occurred abroad, the last act constituting the actus … Continue reading Treacy v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 1970
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003
The council had obtained interim and final injunctions in 2017 against anticipated trespassers on its land and the order was due to expire. It now ought its extension and to amend the terms of the order. Held: The court noted that no person had yet been served with any documents, and that the legal landscape … Continue reading London Borough of Enfield v Persons Unknown and Others: QBD 2 Oct 2020
Swimmers sought to be able to swim unsupervised in an open pond. The authority which owned the pond on Hampstead Heath wished to refuse permission fearing liability for any injury. Held: It has always been a principle of the interpretation of statutes that the courts should seek to construe them so as to produce a … Continue reading Hampstead Heath Winter Swimming Club and Another v Corporation of London and Another: Admn 26 Apr 2005
Mutual Knowledge admissible to construe contract The parties had entered into a development contract in respect of a site in Wandsworth, under which balancing compensation was to be paid. They disagreed as to its calculation. Persimmon sought rectification to reflect the negotiations. Held: The appeal succeeded. There were difficulties in construing the contract. The contract … Continue reading Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd and Others: HL 1 Jul 2009
The defendants challenged the power of the local authority to maintain a private prosecution of them on counts of alleged fraud. It was purpotrting to act in effect as a profit making branch of the local authority offering such legal services to CPS. Held: The Council had no such power, though the prosecution had now … Continue reading AB and Others, Regina v: CACD 28 Apr 2017
The plaintiff bought her apartment, but discovered later that the foundations were defective. The local authority had supervised the compliance with Building Regulations whilst it was being built, but had failed to spot the fault. The authority appealed a finding that it was liable, arguing that the claims were time barred and that it had … Continue reading Anns and Others v Merton London Borough Council: HL 12 May 1977
A yacht was damaged by boys who had escaped from the supervision of prison officers in a nearby Borstal institution. The boat owners sued the Home Office alleging negligence by the prison officers. Held: Any duty of a borstal officer to use reasonable care to prevent a borstal trainee from escaping from his custody, was … Continue reading Dorset Yacht Co Ltd v Home Office: HL 6 May 1970
The council appealed against a finding that it had not validly served a notice on the respondent under section 215 of the 1990 Act. Judges: Arden, Lewison LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 50, [2017] WLR(D) 91 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 215 329, Local Government Act 1972 233 Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council v Tanna: CA 10 Feb 2017
The question was whether, when a teacher has applied for and accepted ill-health retirement benefit, usually a lump sum and a pension, on the ground of permanent incapacity, there exists a public law duty on his employer to dismiss the employee. Held: The contract came to an end upon the grant of ill health retirement … Continue reading Verner, Sheppard, Ridley v Derby City Council, Norfolk County Council, St Thomas More Roman Catholic High School: QBD 14 Nov 2003
In each case the local authority sought to recover possession of its own land. In the Lambeth case, they asserted this right as against an overstaying former tenant, and in the Leeds case as against gypsies. In each case the occupiers said that the recovery of possession interfered with their right respect for their family … Continue reading Kay and Another v London Borough of Lambeth and others; Leeds City Council v Price and others and others: HL 8 Mar 2006
Short issue as to the requirements for valid ‘service’ of a completion notice so as to bring a newly completed building within liability for non-domestic rates. The notice had been served by email where no statutory authority existed for this. Held: The LA’s appeal succeeded. ‘Against the background of the detailed scheme established by or … Continue reading UKI (Kingsway) Ltd v Westminster City Council: SC 17 Dec 2018
The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013
The claimant challenged the placing of a prayer on the agenda of the respondent’s meetings. Held: The claim succeeded. The placing of such elements on the Agenda was outside the powers given to the Council, and the action was ultra vires: ‘S111 is the statutory expression of the powers implied by common law for corporations. … Continue reading National Secular Society and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Bideford Town Council: Admn 10 Feb 2012
Identifying ‘maandatory’ and ‘regulatory’ The appellants had sought a Certificate of Alternative Development. The certificate provided was defective in that it did not notify the appellants, as required, of their right to appeal. Their appeal out of time was refused. Held: The House considered the consequences of a failure to comply with a procedural requirement, … Continue reading London and Clydeside Estates v Aberdeen District Council: HL 8 Nov 1979
In the course of ancillary relief proceedings in a divorce, questions arose regarding company assets owned by the husband. The court was asked as to the power of the court to order the transfer of assets owned entirely in the company’s names. The judge had made such an order, finding evidence that the companies had … Continue reading Prest v Petrodel Resources Ltd and Others: SC 12 Jun 2013
The House considered the power of an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue to seize and remove materials found on premises which a warrant obtained on application to the Common Serjeant authorised him to enter and search; but where the source of the power limited the power of seizure and removal to things ‘which … Continue reading Regina v Inland Revenue Commissioners ex parte Rossminster Ltd: HL 13 Dec 1979
The claimant challenged the policy of the respondent council to replace many established trees along streets in the City. Held: Permission to apply for review was refused: ‘Some concern has been expressed by objectors to the scheme that, in some cases, a street has lost all of its trees. Some realism is required. Trees are … Continue reading Dillner, Regina (on The Application of) v Sheffield City Council: Admn 27 Apr 2016
The defendant appealed against his conviction under the 1889 Act for making a corrupt gift to a local government officer. He said that the 1916 Act placed an unfair burden on him to prove that the gift was not corruptly given. Held: The appeal succeeded. Article 6.2 does not provide an absolute prohibition against the … Continue reading Webster v Regina: CACD 1 Dec 2010
The House was asked ‘whether a local authority can obtain a summary order for possession against an occupier of a site which it owns and has been used for many years as a gipsy and travellers’ caravan site. His licence to occupy the site has come to an end. He has no enforceable right to … Continue reading Doherty and others v Birmingham City Council: HL 30 Jul 2008
The claimant was trustee in bankruptcy but the court failed to register the bankruptcy petition at the Land Registry as a pending action. The bankrupt was therefore able to sell her land, and the trustee did not recover the proceeds. The trustee sought to recover from the defendant who was responsible for the court service. … Continue reading Poulton v Ministry of Justice: CA 22 Apr 2010
Court of Appeal must follow Own Decisions The claimant was injured and received compensation. He then sought to recover again, alleging breach of statutory duty by his employers. Held: The Court of Appeal was in general bound to follow its own previous decisions. The court considered the circumstances in which it could depart from a … Continue reading Young v The Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd: CA 28 Jul 1944
The pursuer sought damages after her husband’s death from lung cancer. She said that the defenders were negligent in having continued to sell him cigarettes knowing that they would cause this. Held: The action failed. The plaintiff had not proved that the smoking of cigarettes was the cause of the lung cancer, and it was … Continue reading McTear v Imperial Tobacco Ltd: OHCS 31 May 2005
Appropriation was not in sufficient form The claimants had challenged an order supporting the decision of the Council to use their allotments for a new primary school, saying that the land had be appropriated as allotment land, and that therefore the consent of the minister was needed. Held: The appeal failed. The use of the … Continue reading Adamson, Regina (on The Application of) v Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 18 Feb 2020
An undisclosed principal will not be permitted to claim to be party to a contract if this is contrary to the terms of the contract itself. Thus the provision in the standard form B contract of the London Metal Exchange ‘this contract is made between ourselves and yourselves as principals, we alone being liable to … Continue reading JH Rayner (Mincing Lane) Ltd v Department of Trade and Industry: HL 1989
The Council appealed a finding that the court did not have jurisdiction to obtain without notice injunctions to control the behaviour of youths said to be creating a disturbance, including restricting their rights to enter certain parts of the city with named others. The council was using the orders to attempt to control gang activities. … Continue reading Birmingham City Council v Shafi and Another: CA 30 Oct 2008
Crown Privilege for Documents held by the Polie The plaintiff probationary police constable had been investigated, prosecuted and cleared of an allegation of theft. He now claimed damages for malicious prosecution, and in the course of the action, sought disclosure of five documents, but these were withheld on the ground of Crown privilege. The House … Continue reading Conway v Rimmer: HL 28 Feb 1968
The claimant, a serving prisoner, had sought to sue the prison authorities for the conditions in which he was kept. He complained that his correspondence with his lawyers had been unlwafully opened by the prison. Repeatedly, undertakings were given . .
The court considered the conditions under which the respondent authority replied to all enquiries as to properties within its area. The replies were given by a standardised all inclusive information sheet derived from a central database. The . .
The claimant had tripped on a footpath on a housing estate. There was a depressed manhole cover on the footpath over which he tripped. The footpath had been constructed by Pembrokeshire County Council, who were both the local housing authority and . .
The applicant sought, as a taxpayer, to object to the proposed payment of andpound;121m to the European Community without an Appropriation Act, but under an Order in Council. The claim was that a draft Order in Council laid by the Treasury before . .
