Documents

This LTN explains the responsibility for maintenance of a closed churchyard and the standard of maintenance required in a closed churchyard.

• Legal Topic Note 65: Closed Churchyards and Disused Burial Grounds revised Nov 2021 (PDF, 199 Kb)

This LTN outlines a local council's legal responsibility for memorials in local council cemeteries. It covers planning, insurance and safety as well as arrangements for closed churchyards.

• Legal Topic Note 64: Tombstones and Memorials revised May 2014 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN gives an overview on enforcement procedures in respect of planning and building control.

• Legal Topic Note 63: Planning and Building Control Enforcement revised June 2017 (PDF, 64 Kb)

This LTN explains when planning permission is required for agricultural land and buildings and covers the different classes of agricultural development.

• Legal Topic Note 62: Planning Control over Agricultural Land and Buildings revised July 2012 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN clarifies the status of a local council at public enquiries.

• Legal Topic Note 61: The Status of Parish, Town and Community Councils at Public Enquiries revised July 2012 (PDF, 29 Kb)

This LTN explains the legislation relating to copyright for planning documents.

• Legal Topic Note 60: Copies of Planning Documents revised July 2016 (PDF, 35 Kb)

This LTN explains the relationship between the local planning authority and a local council in terms of consultation on planning applications and notification of planning decisions.

• Legal Topic Note 59: The Rights of Local Councils to be notified of Planning Applications and Decisions revised August 2016 (PDF, 48 Kb)

This LTN outlines the planning appeal process and the rights of local councils.

• Legal Topic Note 58: Appealing Planning Decisions revised April 2015 (PDF, 63 Kb)

This LTN considers the statutory and common law relating to the use of motor vehicles and rights of way including the complexities of easements over common land and village greens.

• Legal Topic Note 57: Easements over Common Land and Village Greens revised November 2020 (PDF, 193 Kb)

This LTN outlines the law relating to the provision of facilities on village greens.

• Legal Topic Note 56: The Provision of Play and Sports Equipment on Village Greens revised August 2015 (PDF, 47 Kb)

This LTN gives guidance on claiming possession of ownerless land.

• Legal Topic Note 55: Adverse Possession Claims revised October 2016 (PDF, 40 Kb)

This LTN defines the term common land and explains about ownership and the rights of individuals particularly in relation to use as pasture.

• Legal Topic Note 53: Protection of Common Land revised April 2011 (PDF, 74 Kb)

This LTN covers the temporary letting of an allotment site for an alternative use where demand for allotments has diminished (whilst still allowing the land to return to use as an allotment site once demand increases).

• Legal Topic Note 52: Temporary Use of Allotment Land revised November 2012 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN explains the circumstances in which the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 can be used instead of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995.

• Legal Topic Note 51: Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 revised November 2007 (PDF, 70 Kb)

This LTN explains the landlord and tenant relationship in agricultural tenancies including an explanation of the definitions and terms used in The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995. It explains tenants rights, rent reviews and notices to quit.

• Legal Topic Note 50: The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 revised October 2010 (PDF, 59 Kb)

This LTN covers the legislation around business tenancies and the right to a new tenancy.

• Legal Topic Note 49: Business Tenancies revised October 2010 (PDF, 37 Kb)

This LTN clarifies the difference between a lease and a licence. The contractual arrangement which both afford and how they affect land ownership is explained.

• Legal Topic Note 48: The Difference between Leases and Licences revised October 2010 (PDF, 31 Kb)

This LTN describes what easements are and how they are created, with particular emphasis on implications for local councils. The document explains rights of way by foot and vehicle.

• Legal Topic Note 47: Easements revised April 2011 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN explains the difference between registered and unregistered land and includes contact information for the land registry.

• Legal Topic Note 46: Registered Land revised August 2014 (PDF, 47 Kb)

This LTN outlines the general rules covering the appropriation and disposal of land including open spaces, playing fields and allotment sites. See LTN45A for information relating to the disposal of charity land.

• Legal Topic Note 45: Disposal and Appropriation of Land by Local Councils revised December 2016 (PDF, 91 Kb)

This LTN explains the legal consequences of wrongful entry to land and buildings.

• Legal Topic Note 44: Trespass to Land revised October 2016 (PDF, 62 Kb)

This LTN gives guidance to councils in relation to licences for access from private gardens onto council owned land.

• Legal Topic Note 43: Private Access to Council Land revised April 2011 (PDF, 42 Kb)

This LTN outlines a local council's legal obligations to visitors, contractors and trespassers at council owned land and buildings under the Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 & 1984.

• Legal Topic Note 42: Occupiers Liability revised January 2017 (PDF, 68 Kb)

This LTN gives guidance to councils who occupy land. It covers duty of care, occupiers liability and covenants.

• Legal Topic Note 41: The Responsibilities of Councils as Landowners revised June 2016 (PDF, 35 Kb)

This LTN gives an overview of copyright, the use of copyrighted materials and guidance on breach of copyright.

• Legal Topic Note 39: Copyright revised January 2023 (PDF, 200 Kb)

This LTN explains a local councils obligations in relation to the protection of an individual's personal data.

• Legal Topic Note 38: Data Protection revised November 2018 (PDF, 3 Mb)