Documents
Legal Topic Note 78 : The Equality Act 2010 revised January 2013
This LTN outlines key provisions of The Equality Act 2010 which protects individuals from discrimination. This act replaced legislation such as the Sex Discrimiation Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Equal Pay Act 1970.
The Act protects individuals from discrimination because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, sex (gender), pregnancy and maternity (a protected characteristic separate to sex), race, religion or belief, sexual orientation.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 77 : Public Rights of Way revised June 2014
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 76 : Energy Performance Requirements revised May 2014
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 75 : Lease Negotiations revised July 2012
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 74 : Alternative Names and Styles for Parish Councils revised July 2008
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 73 : Community Governance Reviews revised July 2015
This LTN considers the use of community governance reviews to create, abolish, alter or group parish councils.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 72 - Highways revised July 2012
This LTN explains the legislative powers of the highways authority to carry out works to the highway including traffic calming and signage.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 71 : Naming and Numbering of Streets revised November 2007
This LTN covers the two separate and mutually exclusive sets of statutory provisions which govern the naming and numbering of streets in England.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 70 : The Local Environment revised September 2017
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 69 : Anti Social Behaviour and Harrassment revised July 2016
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 68 : Negligence revised February 2017
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 67 : Nuisance (Private) revised October 2014
This LTN gives an overview of a civil wrong ( a tort) i.e. private nuisance with reference to the relevant legislation.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 66 : Nuisance (Public and Statutory) revised August 2014
This LTN concerns statutory and public nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Note that nuisance defined as private is covered in LTN67)
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 65 : Closed Churchyards and Disused Burial Grounds revised Nov 2021
This LTN explains the responsibility for maintenance of a closed churchyard and the standard of maintenance required in a closed churchyard.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 64 : Tombstones and Memorials revised May 2014
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 63 : Planning and Building Control Enforcement revised June 2017
This LTN gives an overview on enforcement procedures in respect of planning and building control.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 62 : Planning Control over Agricultural Land and Buildings revised July 2012
This LTN explains when planning permission is required for agricultural land and buildings and covers the different classes of agricultural development.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 61 : The Status of Parish, Town and Community Councils at Public Enquiries revised July 2012
This LTN clarifies the status of a local council at public enquiries.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 60 : Copies of Planning Documents revised July 2016
This LTN explains the legislation relating to copyright for planning documents.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 59 : The Rights of Local Councils to be notified of Planning Applications and Decisions revised August 2016
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 58 : Appealing Planning Decisions revised April 2015
This LTN outlines the planning appeal process and the rights of local councils.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 57 : Easements over Common Land and Village Greens revised November 2020
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 56 : The Provision of Play and Sports Equipment on Village Greens revised August 2015
This LTN outlines the law relating to the provision of facilities on village greens.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 55 : Adverse Possession Claims revised October 2016
This LTN gives guidance on claiming possession of ownerless land.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 53 : Protection of Common Land revised April 2011
This LTN defines the term common land and explains about ownership and the rights of individuals particularly in relation to use as pasture.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 52 : Temporary Use of Allotment Land revised November 2012
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).
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 51 : Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 revised November 2007
This LTN explains the circumstances in which the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 can be used instead of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 50 : The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 revised October 2010
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 49 : Business Tenancies revised October 2010
This LTN covers the legislation around business tenancies and the right to a new tenancy.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 48 : The Difference between Leases and Licences revised October 2010
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020