Legislation / Legal
CLG: Ministers gave backing recently to a council byelaw that would make spitting in the street a criminal offence. The London Borough of Enfield applied to the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, for provisional approval to make byelaws that prohibit anti-social spitting across the borough due to the extent of the localised problem.
Councils across the country already have byelaws in place to tackle anti-social behaviour, from dog fowling to urination. Byelaws may be submitted to the Department for confirmation if they are formally adopted by the council and submitted in accordance with the procedure set out in the guidance notes, which can be found on the Communities & Local Government website.
PC&PE: A Bill establishing a statutory code for pub companies should be brought forward at the earliest opportunity, says the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee in a Report published last week.
The Committee welcomes the Government’s consultation on a Statutory Code of Conduct, an action it recommended in 2011, but warns that there can be no more delays in resolving the matter and bringing forward legislation.
The Committee welcomes the Government’s consultation on a Statutory Code of Conduct, an action it recommended in 2011, but warns that there can be no more delays in resolving the matter and bringing forward legislation.
TIS: The Supreme Court last week delivered judgment in the matter of Lehman Companies (No. 2) following an appeal brought by the administrators. The appeal was allowed, meaning that liabilities under a Financial Support Direction issued against an insolvent company rank as an unsecured claim. The Government welcomes the decision and careful consideration will be given to the implications of this important judgment.
Press release & links
Press release & links
CC: The Competition Commission (CC) has provisionally ruled that the merger between kaolin suppliers Imerys Minerals Limited and Goonvean Limited could lead to a loss of competition & higher prices for some of their customers.
ICO: The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued an enforcement notice ordering a police force to review its use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. The decision follows the ICO’s investigation into Hertfordshire Constabulary’s extensive use of ANPR cameras surrounding the town of Royston.
The use of these cameras has effectively made it impossible for anyone to drive their car in & out of Royston without a record being kept of the journey. The scheme is regularly referred to as ‘the ring of steel’. The ICO has now ruled that the collection of the information is unlawful – breaching principle one of the Act – and excessive – breaching principle three.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has been issued with an enforcement notice ordering the force to stop processing people’s information in this way, unless they can justify the ANPR cameras use by way of a proper privacy impact assessment, or similar such assessment.
MoJ: The needs of bereaved families will be put at the heart of a reformed coroner system by a new national code, Justice Minister Helen Grant announced. The new legal framework will ensure all 96 coroners in England & Wales will work to the same standards, ending the past inconsistencies which led to criticisms of a postcode lottery – with bereaved people in some areas facing long waits for inquests.
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