Welcome to Trowers April 2025 edition of Local Government Matters. This edition of LGM continues to explore the impact of the Devolution White Paper. We feature updated episodes of our podcast series "Devolution Dissected" prepared with Inner Circle Consulting exploring both local government reform and devolution four months after the publication of the white paper. We also consider the implications of devolution for businesses and local economies and include our comprehensive guide to local government reform.
In addition, we also feature a range of articles and webinars on AI in public procurement, our Cyber and Fraud Update, progress of the Employment Rights Bill, updates to the JCT suite of contracts and our new Regeneration Campaign "Ages and Stages" – which we launched at MIPIM. With lots more in addition – we hope you enjoy!
Click the links below to access the full articles:
Devolution plans create business opportunities
The Devolution Dissected podcast series delves into the key themes of the Devolution White Paper and episodes 5 and 6 have been recently recorded to explore the current developments in LGR and devolution.
Hosted by Amardeep Gill, Partner and National Head of Trowers & Hamlins' Public Sector team, the series features an expert panel comprising Paul McDermott, Evie John, Managing Director of Place and Chris Naylor, Managing Director of Transforming Services at Inner Circle Consulting.
Devolution Dissected podcast series
The Devolution Dissected podcast series delves into the key themes of the Devolution White Paper, offering insights into its implications for public sector transformation and regional governance.
Hosted by Amardeep Gill, Partner and National Head of Trowers & Hamlins' Public Sector team, the series features an expert panel comprising Paul McDermott, Evie John, Managing Director of Place and Chris Naylor, Managing Director of Transforming Services at Inner Circle Consulting.
What is an asset of community value?
An asset of community value (ACV) is a building or other land considered to be land of community value if:
(a) the actual current use (or use in the recent past) furthers the social well-being or social interests of the local community; and
(b) it is realistic to think that there can continue to be (or will be in the next five years) use of the building or other land which will further the social well-being or social interests of the local community.
Employment Rights Bill progress!
There's still lots of detail to be filled in, but the Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) is beginning to take shape (as well as more bulk; it now runs to 310 pages!). It has finished its passage through the House of Commons and was published in amended form on 14 March. It has now progressed through its first and second readings in the House of Lords and will proceed to the Committee stage on 29 April. It may well gain Royal Assent this summer.
Procurement in Profile - Procurement Week 2025 roundup
Welcome to our special edition of "Procurement in Profile", rounding up all of the events, podcasts and insights published to celebrate the "go live" date of the Procurement Act 2023 and Trowers & Hamlins' Procurement Week 2025!
The future of AI in public procurement
The UK Government has demonstrated a clear ambition to harness AI to enhance efficiency, transparency, and value for money in public services, as evidenced by initiatives like the “Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government” (well worth a read to understand all the legal, ethical and practical issues relevant to the topic of AI in public sector) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) such as PPN 02/24 and its updated iteration, PPN 017.
Ages and stages: connecting UK homes with economic growth
The UK needs to achieve growth and improve the nation’s productivity to create the economic and social wellbeing and stability we yearn for over the next 20-30 years. Economic growth drives the delivery of new homes, but it is also dependent on having the homes that the people who create that growth need.
Zero hours: ending one-sided flexibility
The Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) introduces measures to combat "exploitative zero hours contracts". It aims to end "one-sided flexibility, ensuring that all jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability".
The new measures are unlikely to come into force until 2026 and much of the detail of the new zero hours regime will be the subject of consultation over the coming months. For the moment though it's worth being aware of the Bill's provisions.
Trade unions: increasing worker empowerment
There are a number of sweeping reforms in respect of trade unions in the Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) and these reflect the government's commitment "to strengthen workers' rights" by "ensuring that people are more empowered in the workplace". The Bill will "remove unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity" and ensure that "industrial relations are based around good faith negotiation and bargaining".
Remediating the Building Safety Act?
On 31 October, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LFRA) brought further significant changes to the Building Safety legislation into force, particularly affecting applications for Remediation Orders (ROs) and Remediation Contribution Orders (RCOs). The changes have helped leaseholders in some respects, but still leave hurdles for those seeking to force developers or others to fund the remediation of their building.
The EU AI model contractual clauses: a comprehensive overview for UK legal practitioners
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into public and private sectors has prompted a pressing need for robust frameworks to govern its procurement and deployment.
In the European Union, this need has been met, in part, by the development of the EU AI Model Contractual Clauses (the Clauses), which are a set of standardised terms designed to support public buyers in procuring AI systems that are trustworthy, fair, and secure.
Update on the JCT 2024 contract suite
We survey the changes in the JCT 2024 Design and Build contract and Measured Term Contract, the Joint Contracts Tribunal's (JCT) long-awaited new edition of its standard building contracts. Here's what's new and what could be improved.
The 2024 edition incorporates JCT's response to recent insolvency legislation and the new obligations imposed by Building Safety Act 2022.
Fraud and Cyber Insight - March 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly Fraud and Cyber Newsletter, where we explore the critical challenges and developments in cyber security, data governance, and fraud prevention. As digital transformation reshapes industries, robust cyber security measures and proactive risk management have become essential. This edition offers expert insights and practical strategies to help organisations navigate the complex landscape of cyber and fraud related threats.
Construction Leadership Councils launches new public sector procurement guidance
On 24 February 2025, The Construction Leadership Council published its public sector procurement guidance on potential solutions to common evaluation issues faced by clients in the built environment sector.
Trowers & Hamlins are pleased to have worked alongside key stakeholders across the sector (comprising clients, industry and consultants) to develop this useful guidance focusing on ten common evaluation issues facing the built environment sector in the course of public procurement.
English devolution: a guide to local government re-organisation
The English Devolution White Paper outlines the Government's plans to decentralise power from Westminster, addressing regional disparities and empowering local communities. The proposals aim to create simpler governance structures, making it easier for residents to identify their local representatives and enabling strategic decisions to unlock growth and deliver better services.
The Government publishes the new National Procurement Policy Statement
Rather excitingly, and as a sort of warm-up to the main event in 10 days' time (the "go live" of the Procurement Act 2023 on 24th February 2024), the Government has published the new National Procurement Policy Statement (the NPPS).
Framed in the same language as its Mission-based objectives, this new NPPS recognises the power that procurement has to help position the entire public-sector purse behind its overall Missions, primarily by securing value for money but also by requiring contracting authorities and their outsourced contractors.
Webinar: Procurement Act readiness - Top 10 tips
Monday 24 February marked the "go live" date of the Procurement Act 2023.
The new regime underpinned by the legislation has been anticipated since December 2020 and in the ensuing four years, lots has been written and discussed about the procurement reforms. The sheer bulk of information can be quite overwhelming. Rebecca Rees and Lucy James take time out on "Go Live" day as part of Trowers' Procurement Week to cut through the waffle to highlight the essential issues that every well constructed "to do" list needs to contain.
