Documents

This LTN gives an overview of the law relating to public rights of way. It explains what they are, how they are created and covers issues particular to local councils. Also refer to LTN47 - Easements and LTN57 - Easements over common land and village greens.

• Legal Topic Note 77 : Public Rights of Way revised June 2014 (PDF, 77 Kb)

This LTN explains the requirements to display energy use certificates in council buildings which are open to the public having a floor area of over 250m2.

• Legal Topic Note 76 : Energy Performance Requirements revised May 2014 (PDF, 42 Kb)

This LTN explains the information which should be included in a lease and the process to follow in drafting a lease including professional advice. It goes on to advise on rent reviews, repairing obligations and insurance.

• Legal Topic Note 75 : Lease Negotiations revised July 2012 (PDF, 149 Kb)

This LTN explains the process for a local council to change its style (e.g. parish, town, community or village council) and refers to all relevant legislation.

• Legal Topic Note 74 : Alternative Names and Styles for Parish Councils revised July 2008 (PDF, 34 Kb)

This LTN considers the use of community governance reviews to create, abolish, alter or group parish councils.

• Legal Topic Note 73 : Community Governance Reviews revised July 2015 (PDF, 84 Kb)

This LTN explains the legislative powers of the highways authority to carry out works to the highway including traffic calming and signage.

• Legal Topic Note 72 - Highways revised July 2012 (PDF, 51 Kb)

This LTN covers the two separate and mutually exclusive sets of statutory provisions which govern the naming and numbering of streets in England.

• Legal Topic Note 71 : Naming and Numbering of Streets revised November 2007 (PDF, 33 Kb)

This LTN gives an overview of the powers of principal authorities so parish councils can make representations with regard to the environment and the appearance of the local environment. Includes vehicles on the road, abandoned vehicles, graffiti and fly posting, noise and lighting.

• Legal Topic Note 70 : The Local Environment revised September 2017 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN gives an overview of provisions to enable local councils to make representations regarding anti-social behaviour following the introduction of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

• Legal Topic Note 69 : Anti Social Behaviour and Harrassment revised July 2016 (PDF, 62 Kb)

This LTN explains the legal terms related to negligence including 'duty of care', 'breach of duty' and 'causation'. It also covers the importance for local councils to hold public liability insurance.

• Legal Topic Note 68 : Negligence revised February 2017 (PDF, 54 Kb)

This LTN gives an overview of a civil wrong ( a tort) i.e. private nuisance with reference to the relevant legislation.

• Legal Topic Note 67 : Nuisance (Private) revised October 2014 (PDF, 53 Kb)

This LTN concerns statutory and public nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Note that nuisance defined as private is covered in LTN67)

• Legal Topic Note 66 : Nuisance (Public and Statutory) revised August 2014 (PDF, 47 Kb)

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)