Documents
Legal Topic Note 47 : Easements revised April 2011
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 46 : Registered Land revised August 2014
This LTN explains the difference between registered and unregistered land and includes contact information for the land registry.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 45A : Disposal of Charity Land by Local Councils Acting as Charity Trustees revised December 2016
This LTN covers the particular rules relating to the disposal of charity land by councils that are also charity trustees. See LTN 45 for the general rules relating to the disposal of non charity land.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 45 : Disposal and Appropriation of Land by Local Councils revised December 2016
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 44 : Trespass to Land revised October 2016
This LTN explains the legal consequences of wrongful entry to land and buildings.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 43 : Private Access to Council Land revised April 2011
This LTN gives guidance to councils in relation to licences for access from private gardens onto council owned land.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 42 : Occupiers Liability revised January 2017
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.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 41 : The Responsibilities of Councils as Landowners revised June 2016
This LTN gives guidance to councils who occupy land. It covers duty of care, occupiers liability and covenants.
Fri, 03 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 39: Copyright revised March 2016
This LTN gives an overview of copyright, the use of copyrighted materials and guidance on breach of copyright.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 38: Data Protection revised November 2018
This LTN explains a local councils obligations in relation to the protection of an individual's personal data.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 37: Freedom of Information revised April 2021
This LTN covers legislation relating to Freedom of Information (FOI) and the requirement for a local council to have a publication scheme. It also advises where exemptions are applicable, the role of the Information Commissioner and how FOI relates to Data Protection.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 36: Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 revised January 2017
This LTN refers to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (business contracts) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (consumer contracts) and explains negligence within contract law.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 35: Contracts revised February 2017
This LTN describes how contracts are created, different types of contractual obligations, and the consequences of breaching them.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 34: Retirement Gratuities revised May 2012
This LTN covers retirement gratuities.The majority of local councils cannot now pay a gratuity but this document explains the contractual circumstance in which a council may be required to pay a retirement gratuity.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 33: Councillors' Allowances revised August 2019
This LTN covers the chairman's allowance and the different types of allowances that can be paid to councillors.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 32 : Local Councils and VAT revised January 2011
This LTN outlines the basics of VAT and explains business and non-business activities, exempt supplies, reclaiming VAT and VAT as it applies to land and buildings. Useful links to VAT notices relevant to local councils are included.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 30: Defamation revised October 2020
This LTN covers the legislation relating to defamation and explains the terms slander and libel as well as insurance requirements.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 29: Straying Animals revised November 2007
This LTN outlines the liability of owners in terms of straying animals on highways and common land and refers local councils to the relevant legislation.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 28: Basic Charity Law updated February 2022
This LTN explains basic charity law as it applies to local councils. It explains sole trustees, joint trustees and custodian trustees and the role of the charity commission.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 24: The Human Rights Act 1998 revised May 2019
This LTN covers the rights and freedoms outlined in The Human Rights Act 1998 and explains how this may be relevant to local councils.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 23: Health and Safety revised July 2015
This LTN covers the legislation relating to Health and Safety such as The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The document covers the guidance relating to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Manual Handling and highlights a council's responsibilities to employees, contractors and members of the public in terms of insurance.
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Legal Topic Note 22: Template Grievance Policy Updated May 2021
Grievance policy template updated May 2021
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 22: Template Disciplinary Policy updated May 2021
Disciplinary policy template updated May 2021
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 22: Disciplinary and Grievance Arrangements revised November 2019
This LTN covers the arrangements local councils should have in place to deal with disciplinary or grievance in relation to its employees. Editable template documents are available on the YLCA website to assist local councils to produce a Disciplinary Policy and a Grievance Policy.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 21:Local Council Help for Village Halls revised May 2019
This LTN gives guidance on the relationships between village halls and local councils and includes information about custodian trustees, grants, loans, VAT and conflicts of interest.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 20: Markets and other events revised March 2017
This LTN outlines the legislation which allows local councils to establish or acquire markets in their area.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 19: Unauthorised Parking on Private Land revised August 2013
This LTN outlines the statutory powers of principal authorities and the police to immobilise or remove vehicles on land that is not a public place.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 18: Local Councils' Power to Provide Parking Spaces revised March 2017
This LTN explains a local council's powers and limitations together with the methods for providing parking spaces.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 16: Control of Litter revised May 2015
This Legal Topic Note sets out the law and procedures in relation to keeping public places free of litter.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
Legal Topic Note 15: Legal Proceedings revised July 2015
This LTN identifies the main types of legal proceedings (litigation) in civil law that local councils may become involved in and describes important considerations.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019