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Welcome to the Public Authority Training Consortium Hub

Our Public Authority Training Consortium (PATC) has been running since 2007. It provides a platform for in-house legal teams and other officers from our local authority clients across Wales and England to receive the latest training on legal topics of interest, as well as connect with their peers.

We run sessions throughout the year. They take place both online and face to face and are delivered by lawyers from our dedicated Public Sector practice, with occasional appearances from guest speakers.

A PATC Steering Group of local authority contacts contributes input and ideas to help make sure the topics covered by the training add the most value and upskilling opportunities for local authority colleagues. Previous sessions have covered a wide variety of subjects, including child protection, employment, planning, commercial litigation, construction and more.

If you would like any further information on the PATC or would like to share an idea for a future session, please contact Tamsin Quinn, Client Relationship Manager.

Local authority training consortium

We are excited to notify you of a change in how we approach our external training programme for our public sector contacts.

Since 2007 we have provided regular training through the Local Authority Training Consortium (LATC), holding sessions throughout the year taking place both online and face to face and delivered by lawyers from our dedicated Public Sector practice with occasional appearances from guest speakers. Recently it has been noted that a number of the sessions would also be relevant to our non-Local Authority public sector clients, we therefore thought it would be sensible to widen our mailing list so that more contacts can get the benefit of this training.

The newly named Public Authority Training Consortium (PATC) will provide a platform for in-house legal teams and other officers who work in the public authority across Wales and England to receive the latest training on legal topics of interest, as well as having the opportunity to connect with their peers.

The sessions feature topics suggested by a steering group of PATC contacts to help make sure the subjects covered add the most value and upskilling opportunities. Previous sessions have covered a wide variety of subjects, including child protection, employment, planning, commercial litigation, construction, charity law, renewable energy and more.

Upcoming PATCs

PATC: Update for monitoring officers | 6 December 2024 | Online

The webinar will feature talks from the regulatory team, who will consider a number of relevant topics including the key aspects of the monitoring officer’s role, member’s conduct, specific issues arising in respect of section 5 reports and The group leaders’ duties.

PATC: Prosecution pitfalls | 15 January 2025 | In-person

Justin Davies, Legal Director and Lee Reynolds of Apex Chambers will take a detailed look into disclosure in criminal proceedings, prosecuting outside a local authority area and abuse of process.

PATC: Update on DoLs of Children under 16-years-old | 28 January 2025 | Online

Sara Tomaszewski, Partner in the Children Social Services team will give an update on DoLs of Children under 16 years old.

PATC: Procurement challenges update | 13 February 2025 | Online

As the go-live date for the Procurement Act 2023 edges closer, Abigail Flanagan, Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team, and Matt Detheridge, Associate in the Commercial team, will look into:

  • Risks associated with not undertaking a procurement exercise properly
  • Update on the Procurement Act 2023

If you would are interested in attending any of these session, please contact Tamsin Quinn, Client Relationship Manager.

Watch the latest replay

This webinar was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Connor Hegarty, Associate in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

  • The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act
  • The most significant case law
  • The role of the expert in questions of capacity
  • Application of the law in special areas of capacity
  • Q&A

Past events

LATC: Guide to a local authority’s role as a charity trustee | 3 October 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Harriet Morgan, Partner in the Commercial Property and Charities team along with Marie Philippe, Associate in the Charities team. Over the course of the webinar Harriet and Marie explored the risks for Councils and Local Authorities when holding the position of corporate trustee of a charity in the light of renewed Charity Commission guidance on this issue and the first ever Official Warning issued by the Charity Commission to a Local Authority holding this role. In particular the team discussed:

  • The pitfalls for Councils highlighted by the Official Warning
  • The main issues arising from the updated Charity Commission guidance
  • How to identify where the Council is holding trust land to ensure that it is not using such land for its statutory functions in breach of the charitable trusts
  • How to manage charitable trusts as a Cabinet and to make proper decisions
  • What governance arrangements are acceptable to the Charity Commission to make the role of charity trustee easier for Councils to manage.

 

 

LATC: Overage and achieving best value | 13 August 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Peter Hurn, Partner in the Property team. Over the course of the webinar Peter discussed the legal considerations to achieve best value and the types of overage agreements available.

  • How to achieve best value and who to consult to make the best consideration
  • What is overage and its purpose
  • The types of overage and related key provisions
  • Real life examples of overage agreements and where things can go wrong

 

 

LATC: Legal issues in renewable energy projects | 11 July 2024 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Ioan Prydderch, Partner in the Construction team, Peter Hurn, Partner in the Property team and Gemma Davies, Senior Associate in the Commercial Team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at the legal considerations in the following areas:

  • Planning and property
  • Construction and infrastructure
  • Procurement
  • Commercial
  • Banking

 

 

LATC: Protection of council officers from harassment and Hybrid / flexible working | 3 June 2024 | In-person

The webinar was delivered by Richard Locke, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, Louise Price, Partner in the Employment Team and Sara Tomaszewski, Partner in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

  • The different forms of harassment and related legislation
  • The challenges and legal issues arising from the move back to the office

 

 

LATC: Residential accommodation of children | 6 December 2023 | North Wales

Our LATC Residential Accommodation of children session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Head of the Regulatory Department. Over the course of the day we’ll look at:

  • Residential accommodation
  • Placements involving a deprivation of liberty

 

LATC: Capacity decisions in the Court of Protection | 23 November 2023 | Online

The webinar was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Connor Hegarty, Associate in the Regulatory team. Over the course of the webinar the team looked at:

  • The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act
  • The most significant case law
  • The role of the expert in questions of capacity
  • Application of the law in special areas of capacity
  • Q&A

 

 

LATC: Governance and Judicial Review | 17 October 2023

This LATC session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner in the Regulatory team and Tracey Singlehurst-Ward, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team and covered:

Governance

  • The legal framework
  • Officer decision reports
  • Cabinet reports
  • The role of the Monitoring officer
  • Conduct issues

Judicial Review

  • The basic principles
  • The pre-action protocol
  • Case Studies

 

 

LATC: Residential accommodation of children – regulation and authority for deprivation of liberty | 20 September 2023

This LATC session was delivered by Martin Jones, Partner and Head of the Regulatory Department. Topics covered included:

  • Residential accommodation
  • Placements involving a deprivation of liberty

 

 

LATC: Renting Homes | April 2022

Discussing some of the particular issues Local Authorities in Wales need to prepare for under the new Renting Homes Wales Act, with a particular focus on the nature of the agreements which local authorities need to be using, the future of temporary housing for the homeless, and the role of local authorities in Supported Housing.

Disclaimer: The information on the Hugh James website is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. If you would like to ensure the commentary reflects current legislation, case law or best practice, please contact the blog author.

 

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