Public Authority Training Consortium

Watch the latest replay

This webinar was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Connor Hegarty, Associate in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

• The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act
• The most significant case law
• The role of the expert in questions of capacity
• Application of the law in special areas of capacity
• Q&A

Past events

Employment law update | 8 April 2025 | Online

This employment law update webinar, hosted by Louise Price, Head of Employment looked at the latest legislative changes and key case law developments, and covered what’s changing, what it means for public businesses, and the practical steps you need to take to stay compliant.

PATC: Update on care proceedings (Public Law Child Act update) | 13 March 2025 | In-person

This in-person event hosted by Martin Jones and Sara Tomaszewski looked at threshold case law update and best practice, transparency, reporting and the media and international placements.

PATC: Update on DoLs of Children under 16-years-old | 28 January 2025 | Online

This webinar, hosted by Sara Tomaszewski gave an update on DoLs of Children under 16-years-old. In particular, Sara covered the increase in placement of children in residential accommodation because of profound needs and the absence of Secure beds, and the additional need to restrict liberty within a placement.

PATC: Prosecution pitfalls | 15 January 2025 | In-person

This in-person event was delivered by Justin Davies, Legal Director at Hugh James, accompanied by Alex Greenwood and Lee Reynolds of Apex Chambers. The day covered a range of issues including:
• Sentencing guidelines
• Use of ancillary orders
• Theft, fraud and counterfeiting
• Disclosure
• And finished with a Q&A session

PATC: Update for monitoring officers | 6 December 2024 | Online

The webinar featured talks from the Martin Jones, Head of the Regulatory team, who considered a number of relevant topics including the key aspects of the monitoring officer’s role, member’s conduct, specific issues arising in respect of section 5 reports and The group leaders’ duties.

LATC: Guide to a local authority’s role as a charity trustee | 3 October 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Harriet Morgan, Partner in the Commercial Property and Charities team along with Marie Philippe, Associate in the Charities team. Over the course of the webinar Harriet and Marie explored the risks for Councils and Local Authorities when holding the position of corporate trustee of a charity in the light of renewed Charity Commission guidance on this issue and the first ever Official Warning issued by the Charity Commission to a Local Authority holding this role. In particular the team discussed:

• The pitfalls for Councils highlighted by the Official Warning
• The main issues arising from the updated Charity Commission guidance
• How to identify where the Council is holding trust land to ensure that it is not using such land for its statutory functions in breach of the charitable trusts
• How to manage charitable trusts as a Cabinet and to make proper decisions
• What governance arrangements are acceptable to the Charity Commission to make the role of charity trustee easier for Councils to manage.

LATC: Overage and achieving best value | 13 August 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Peter Hurn, Partner in the Property team. Over the course of the webinar Peter discussed the legal considerations to achieve best value and the types of overage agreements available.

• How to achieve best value and who to consult to make the best consideration
• What is overage and its purpose
• The types of overage and related key provisions
• Real life examples of overage agreements and where things can go wrong

LATC: Legal issues in renewable energy projects | 11 July 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Ioan Prydderch, Partner in the Construction team, Peter Hurn, Partner in the Property team and Gemma Davies, Senior Associate in the Commercial Team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at the legal considerations in the following areas:

• Planning and property
• Construction and infrastructure
• Procurement
• Commercial
• Banking

LATC: Protection of council officers from harassment and Hybrid / flexible working | 3 June 2024 | In-person

The webinar was delivered by Richard Locke, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, Louise Price, Partner in the Employment Team and Sara Tomaszewski, Partner in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

• The different forms of harassment and related legislation
• The challenges and legal issues arising from the move back to the office

LATC: Residential accommodation of children | 6 December 2023 | North Wales

Our LATC Residential Accommodation of children session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Head of the Regulatory Department. Over the course of the day we’ll look at:

• Residential accommodation
• Placements involving a deprivation of liberty

LATC: Capacity decisions in the Court of Protection | 23 November 2023 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Connor Hegarty, Associate in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

• The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act
• The most significant case law
• The role of the expert in questions of capacity
• Application of the law in special areas of capacity
• Q&A

LATC: Governance and Judicial Review | 17 October 2023

This LATC session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner in the Regulatory team and Tracey Singlehurst-Ward, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team and covered:

Governance

• The legal framework
• Officer decision reports
• Cabinet reports
• The role of the Monitoring officer
• Conduct issues

Judicial Review

• The basic principles
• The pre-action protocol
• Case Studies

LATC: Residential accommodation of children – regulation and authority for deprivation of liberty | 20 September 2023

This LATC session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Head of the Regulatory Department. Topics covered included:

• Residential accommodation
• Placements involving a deprivation of liberty

LATC: Renting Homes | April 2022

Discussing some of the particular issues Local Authorities in Wales need to prepare for under the new Renting Homes Wales Act, with a particular focus on the nature of the agreements which local authorities need to be using, the future of temporary housing for the homeless, and the role of local authorities in Supported Housing.

Disclaimer: The information on the Hugh James website is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. If you would like to ensure the commentary reflects current legislation, case law or best practice, please contact the blog author.