How to challenge local authorities that cut without proper consultation

Submitted by Lindsay Peniston on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 17:34

A workshop on how to challenge local authorities that cut without proper consultation or equality impact assessment. 07 December 2011.

This NAVCA workshop will equip you with the skills to identify when a local authority or primary care trust may be behaving illegally by deciding to cut without proper consultation or without regard to the impact of the cut on disabled people, black people, women and other disadvantaged groups.

Programme

  • Introduction: Fighting the cuts with all the tools the sector has
  • Using the law to fight the local cuts (Steve Broach, public law barrister, Doughty Street Chambers)
  • Practical considerations when using legal challenges to tackle cuts decisions (Alex Rook, associate solicitor, public law team, Irwin Mitchell)

There will be lots of opportunity for questions and discussion.

The workshop costs £25.

How to book

Download a booking form

For more information, contact NAVCA on 0114 278 6636 or email events@navca.org.uk

Workshop leaders

Stephen Broach

Steve is a public law barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and co-author of Children in Need: Local Authority Support for Children and Families (Legal Action Group, April 2011) and Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook (Legal Action Group, October 2010). He is instructed on a wide range of challenges to local cuts and was junior counsel for the claimants in R (W, M and others), the successful challenge to Birmingham’s decision to move to ‘critical only’ adult care. Before coming to the Bar Steve held several senior roles in the voluntary sector, most recently as Campaign Manager for the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign. Steve was awarded Young Barrister of the Year at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2011.

Alex Rook

Noted in the Legal 500 for his “admirable ability for forensic legal analysis”, Alex is an Associate Solicitor in the Public Law team at Irwin Mitchell in London. He specialises in public law, community care, mental capacity, disability discrimination and human rights law. He is also regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to act on behalf of vulnerable adults who lack capacity to make decisions regarding their health and welfare.