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Well-being power meaning

What does Well-being power mean?
In practice, “well-being power” refers to a local authority’s broad ability to do anything it considers likely to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of its area and people (including those present in or connected with the area). The expression stems from the statutory power first enacted in Part 1 of the Local Government Act 2000. England: Largely superseded by the broader general power of competence in the Localism Act 2011. The concept remains relevant for historic decisions and legacy arrangements. Wales: The well-being formulation informed Welsh local government powers and duties; the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 now provides a general power of competence, with well-being objectives prevalent in wider Welsh legislation and policy. Scotland: The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 retains an express statutory “power to advance well-being”, commonly used to support regeneration, community planning and partnership projects. Northern Ireland: Councils principally rely on the general power of competence under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014; “well-being power” is a descriptive term rather than a defined one. Ireland: The term is not used in legislation; local authorities act under the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) to promote community interests. Use is constrained...
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View the related Checklists about Well-being power

CHECKLISTS
Overage in secured property transactions: funder’s checklist on charge priority, excluding seller’s lien, restrictions, enforcement and successor covenants (England and Wales)

Funder’s primary objective When a buyer takes property subject to overage and seeks finance secured on that asset, a funder will require assurance that the overage provisions do not obstruct or curtail enforcement of its security. The lender must be confident its charge constitutes sound security over the property. Property and associated rights Assess the character of the site to be charged. Where it forms part of a broader development, consider whether, on a power of sale being exercised, the property will depend on rights over adjoining land held (or to be acquired) by the buyer, such as: rights of way rights concerning service media rights of support If such rights are necessary, agree a form of deed of easement to be annexed to the charge, and allow the funder to require grant of that easement when needed. Also examine whether the seller’s chosen mechanism for securing the overage is acceptable to a funder...

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CHECKLISTS
UK National Security and Investment Act 2021: buyer due diligence—assessing mandatory notification, call-in risk, trigger events since 12 November 2020, prior outcomes and structuring

This Checklist sets out the matters a buyer’s legal due diligence ought to cover to evaluate the potential effect of the UK’s National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSI Act) on the deal... Preliminary considerations The buyer’s legal due diligence should factor in the potential implications of the UK’s NSI Act on the transaction (see Practice Note: The National Security and Investment Act 2021). The principal NSI Act-related diligence points include: confirming whether any undertaking within the target’s group conducts activities that fall within sectors of the economy requiring mandatory notification under the NSI Act where the transaction does not meet the mandatory notification criteria, assessing whether there remains a meaningful risk of the transaction being called in for a national security review checking whether any member of the target’s group has been involved in a trigger event since 12 November 2020, which could be examined and potentially acted upon under the government’s call-in power in the NSI Act What...

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CHECKLISTS
Land option agreements for buyers: drafting and due diligence checklist—charges, planning, valuation, tranches, VAT/SDLT, insurance, registration (England and Wales)

Call or put option? Under a ‘call’ option, the purchaser holds the reins, as it can demand a transfer of the property. By contrast, a ‘put’ option leaves the seller in charge, enabling it to compel the purchaser to complete a transfer. Accordingly, the purchaser must take particular care that the transfer provisions—especially on valuation and, where relevant, insurance—are as advantageous as possible. Seller's charges If the property is charged when the option is granted, the mortgagee might defeat the option by using its power of sale. To guard against this, ensure the mortgagee either: becomes a party to the agreement (uncommon in practice), or gives written consent to the grant of the option In both scenarios, the mortgagee should confirm that, if the purchaser exercises the option, it will take the property free of the charge; or, if the mortgagee sells under its power, it cannot dispose of the property free of the option. Is the exercise of...

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NEWS
Construction law and industry update: notification clauses (Drax), PFI/PF2 adverse weather costs (Pevensey), CLC output, RICS housing and land manifestos, JCT 2024 forms, trackers—20 June 2024

In this issue: Contract law PFI/PF2 contracts Construction industry news Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Construction trackers Contract law Compliance with a notification clause—does the other side know enough? (Drax v Scottish Power) In Drax Smart Generation Holdco Ltd v Scottish Power Retail Holdings Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 477, the Court of Appeal examined the contractual rules on notices of claim. These notification provisions are commonplace in share purchase agreements and, with growing regularity, in other forms of agreement. In essence, such clauses state that, before one party can bring a claim against the other, the claimant must first serve a notice of that claim on the counterparty. Non-compliance with the notification clause can render the claim unenforceable and expose it to being struck out and/or summarily dismissed. What, then, amounts to compliance? In this matter, the Court of Appeal indicated that it is sufficient if the recipient is provided with enough information...

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NEWS
Anticipating disputes in the low-carbon hydrogen value chain: joint ventures, certification, pricing, construction, interfaces, trade, ESG and investment

Overview Hydrogen is the universe’s most plentiful chemical element and, in some uses and certain applications, yields only water at the point of use. Although the fuel itself is colourless, it is often labelled by ‘colours’ according to the production route, depending on how it is produced. Black, brown and grey hydrogen arise from coal or natural gas, with grey presently the most widespread form produced and currently the most commonly produced type. Blue hydrogen likewise originates from natural gas, but its manufacture is paired with carbon capture and storage to deliver a more carbon neutral variant. Green hydrogen, by contrast, relies on renewable electricity (for example, from solar or wind) to split water through electrolysis. Because electricity is the key input, green hydrogen sits within the so‑called ‘power‑to‑x’ world of technologies and applications which are attracting significant investment. Together, green and blue hydrogen are generally referred to as ‘low carbon hydrogen’. A closely related field showing promise is also green (and blue) ammonia as well...

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NEWS
UK Supreme Court in R (Hicks): preventative arrest without charge to prevent a breach of the peace upheld under ECHR Article 5(1)(c), implications for protest policing and data

Original news R (on the application of Hicks and others) v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2017] UKSC 9, [2017] All ER (D) 129 (Feb) The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals brought by four individuals arrested and detained during a royal wedding and subsequently released without charge, ruling that preventative detention followed by swift release fell within the exception to the prohibition on deprivation of liberty set out in Article 5(1)(c) of the European Convention on Human Rights in this context. What are the practical implications of the decision for lawyers and their clients? This ruling may indeed also prompt greater reliance on mass arrests rather than containment in the setting of public protest activity overall in practice. Similarly, that shift carries further consequences for data collection, as a formal arrest ordinarily results in the recording of the arrestees’ names and usually the taking of their photograph, as well as potentially other personal data too. What was the background to the case? The backdrop...

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PRACTICE NOTES
The Pensions Regulator's moral hazard powers: contribution notices and financial support directions: tests, procedure, reasonableness, guidance, case law, clearance and Pension Schemes Act 2021 criminal offences

The Pensions Regulator (the Regulator) The Regulator is an arm’s-length public body set up under the Pensions Act 2004 (PeA 2004). Its authority to impose contribution notices and financial support directions appears in PeA 2004, ss 38–50. Although the Act does not use the label, these provisions are widely known as the Regulator’s ‘moral hazard’ powers. Their purpose is to counter the ‘moral hazard’ arising from the Pension Protection Fund (PPF): the possibility that corporate groups might organise their structures so as to heighten exposure within their pension schemes, comfortable that the PPF would intervene if the employer entered insolvency. The principal moral hazard tools—and the only ones exercised so far—are the power to issue a contribution notice (CN) and the power to issue a financial support direction (FSD). A CN compels the recipient to pay a specified amount into a defined benefit occupational pension scheme. A CN can be issued where the criteria in PeA 2004, s 38 are satisfied. These mechanisms exist to deter behaviour that would...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK GDPR lawful bases for personal data processing: consent, contract, legal obligation, vital interests, public task and legitimate interests, with DUAA 2025 updates and Article 9/10 conditions

STOP PRESS: On 19 June 2025, the Data (Use and Access) Bill secured Royal Assent, transforming into the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) and taking partial effect on that same date. Provisions of DUAA 2025 dealing with issues such as handling data subject access requests, and granting the power to make further regulations, commenced immediately on 19 June 2025. Other elements, relating to notices issued by the Information Commissioner and certain facets of law enforcement processing, began to apply on 19 August 2025 (being two months from the date of Royal Assent). The bulk of DUAA 2025’s measures will only commence once additional regulations, by way of statutory instruments, are made and brought into force. Parts 5 and 6 of DUAA 2025 operate to revise and update areas of UK data protection and ePrivacy law within the UK, including the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation, Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Construction Products Regime: UKCA/CE marking with continued CE recognition, designated standards, conformity assessment, enforcement, GB-NI divergence, and reforms post-Grenfell under the Building Safety Act 2022

Why are construction products regulated? Construction products are regulated to: confirm that any item entering the market meets all legal obligations, and build trust among consumers, public authorities and manufacturers regarding product conformity What sort of products are affected? ‘Construction product’ means any product or kit manufactured and placed on the market for permanent incorporation in construction works, or their parts, where its performance affects how those works satisfy the basic requirements. This includes items such as doors, windows, shutters and gates, membranes, thermal insulation, chimneys and flues, sanitary appliances, fire alarms, flooring, fire-retardant products, space heating appliances, power cables, glass, fixings, and many others. Key definitions Placing on the market ‘Placing on the market’ is the first time a construction product is made available on the GB market, as described in UK government guidance. Making available on the market ‘Making available on the market’ means any supply of a construction product for distribution or use...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent: bank account charge over blocked accounts (chargor-specific monies) for syndicated facilities (England and Wales)

This Deed is made on [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties [ Insert name of Chargor ], being a company incorporated in England and Wales, with registered number [ insert company number ], and whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the “ Chargor ”); and 1 [ Insert name of Security Agent ], acting as security agent and trustee for the Finance Parties pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in the [ Facilities Agreement OR Intercreditor Agreement OR Security Trust Deed ] (the “ Security Agent ”). Recitals: (A) The Finance Parties have consented to provide loan facilities subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Facilities Agreement (as defined below). (B) As a condition precedent to the loan facilities becoming available, the Chargor must execute this Deed for the purpose of granting security in favour of the Security Agent in relation to the Secured Obligations (as defined below)...

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PRECEDENTS
Director’s power of attorney for takeover bid or scheme of arrangement (England and Wales): authorising co-directors to approve and execute offer and shareholder materials

1 By this power of attorney dated [ insert date ] I, [ insert name of director ] of [ insert address of director ], being a director of [ insert company name ] (incorporated in [England and Wales] under registered number [ insert company number ]) (the Company), appoint every other director of the Company, severally, as my true and lawful attorney (each an Attorney). Each Attorney may, on my behalf and in my name or in the Attorney's name, carry out all acts, deeds and matters, and may negotiate, approve, agree to, sign, execute and deliver any deeds, contracts, agreements, documents, undertakings and assurances which, in my personal capacity or in my capacity as a director of the Company [ or any of its subsidiaries (as appropriate) ], are necessary or required, or which the board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof (the Board) considers desirable, for or in connection with: 1.1 the proposed offer to be made by the Company for...

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PRECEDENTS
Bonus clawback and malus clause (Great Britain): triggers, calculation errors, ERA 1996 deductions, repayment and enforcement, share plan reductions and power of attorney

1 Should the [ Board OR Remuneration Committee ], at any point in time within [ three ] years from the date a bonus has been paid to you, in its sole and absolute discretion conclude that any event set out in sub-clauses 1.1 to 1.4 of this clause has arisen, it may demand that you repay some or all of the pertinent bonus payment (irrespective of whether you remain in employment with the Company or any other Group Company), with such repayment to be carried out strictly in line with clause 2: 1.1 [ the Company or any other Group Company being required to materially restate all or part of its financial statements OR your gross negligence, fraud, dishonesty or other misconduct having caused or helped to cause the Company or any other Group Company to materially restate all or part of its financial statements ] ; 1.2 your gross negligence, fraud, dishonesty or other misconduct, or your commission of any further act or...

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Q&As
Road maintenance: 'construction operations' under HGCRA 1996?

Such works may fall under section 105(1)(b) of the HGCRA 1996 Such works may fall within section 105(1)(b), which treats road maintenance as a construction operation covering the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, extension, demolition or dismantling of works forming, or to form, part of land, including walls, roadworks, power lines, electronic communications apparatus, runways, docks, harbours, railways, inland waterways, pipelines, reservoirs, water mains, wells, sewers, industrial plant, and installations for land drainage, coast protection or defence. Alternatively, section 105(1)(e) catches operations integral to, preparatory for, or rendering complete those works, including site clearance, earth-moving, excavation, tunnelling, laying foundations, erecting, maintaining or dismantling scaffolding, site restoration, landscaping, and providing roadways and other access. No specific authority concerns these works, yet courts have often held that less orthodox activities are construction operations, for example: Baldwins Industrial Services plc v Barr: crane with driver hire held integral, preparatory to, or completing works under sections 105(1)(a) and (e). Some contracts are excluded from being a ‘construction...

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Q&As
Land Registry: are superior title (Form N) consents required to register a s.56 1993 Act lease extension?

Where a long residential lease is extended under section 56 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (LRHUDA 1993) and the freehold is subject to a Form N restriction in respect of a charge to the freeholder’s lenders, will the HM Land Registry require lender consent to be submitted in order for the lease extension to be registered notwithstanding that the lease extension is pursuant to statute? A restriction entered on the register indicates that the proprietor’s power to deal with the land is constrained in some manner. Its practical effect is either to bar registration of a disposition, or to oblige the applicant to satisfy specified requirements before registration can proceed, for example by producing evidence of consent from the person entitled to the benefit of the restriction. A restriction may apply to every disposition, or be confined to a defined class of disposition. It can prevent any entry from being made permanently, for a stated period, or until a stated...

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Q&As
IHT charge on discretionary appointment from pre-2006 IIP (now RPT)

On the life tenant’s death, an inheritance tax (IHT) liability would arise pursuant to section 49 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA 1984), subject to any property that was eligible for relief at that time...

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