11/09/2025
Welcome to the September edition of Local Authority View, an update summarising recent Government publications, legislation, cases and other developments relevant to those involved in the local authority sector.
This month, we have covered the following:
- The Local Government Act 2000 – 25 years on
- Local Government Reorganisation, LGPS changes and Devolution
- Technology contracts and devolution
- The UK’s Subsidy Control Regime
- Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
The monitoring officer and the Local Government Act 2000 – 25 years on
This article takes a retrospective look at the Local Government Act 2000—giving the perspective of our colleague Philip McCourt, who was appointed a monitoring officer at a local authority at the same time as it was introduced.
One of the governance changes introduced by the 2000 Act was that it required the separation of the role of head of paid service from that of the monitoring officer. He considers the creation of the golden triangle and what the roles mean, how they interact with each other, other officers, with members and externally. He also highlights the headline changes brought about by the 2000 Act.
Local Government Reorganisation, LGPS changes and devolution
New requirements further stretching already strained resources have been placed on many Administering Authorities recently. One of the causes of this additional pressure is the impact of the Pension Schemes Bill 2025 and it applies to the Local Government Pension Scheme (“LGPS”) (the “Pensions Bill”) and the other is the impact of local government reorganisations (“LGR”).
Many of the changes as a result of devolution will also give rise to practical and legal issues for Administering Authorities, with those authorities which will cease to exist having even more issues to consider. This article discusses what Administering Authorities should be thinking about in respect of contracts, governance, training, operational matters, communications and mergers and models.
Technology contracts and devolution – how local authorities can make the most of LGR
There will be many issues keeping local government decision makers awake at night in the present climate, particularly in relation to impending devolution and LGR. The list of related issues to prepare for gets longer and longer.
However, when it comes to technology and IT, devolution and LGR give local government a clear opportunity to modernise, reduce duplication and ultimately reduce costs. Further, consolidating datasets offers potential for more informed decision-making, better predictive analytics and overall, more efficient public services.
Recent changes to the UK’s subsidy control regime
Following responses to its consultation on the UK’s subsidy control regime (which came into force in January 2023), the Government has announced three changes that will be of use to public authorities when managing subsidies and complying with the requirements of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, alongside related secondary legislation.
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025: key changes for local authorities
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (the Act) is a long awaited piece of legislation that passed into law on 19th June 2025. It amends the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). There are key changes that local authorities should be aware of and ways you can prepare.
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Devolution webinar series round up
May - December 2025
Local authorities undergoing devolution and Local Government Reorganisation face a number of challenges, from navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks to ensuring a smooth transition for the local community.
In this webinar series we will provide essential guidance across a number of key areas, highlighting the key considerations at every step of the way.
There is still time to sign up to the series and watch the previous sessions on demand. Registration links and more information about each session can be found here.
For the latest updates relating to this sector, follow our dedicated Central & Local Government LinkedIn page today.
