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United Kingdom
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Local authority definition What does Local authority mean? In legal practice, a local authority is the elected council that provides local government for a defined area, exercising statutory functions including planning, housing, social care, education, highways, environmental health, licensing, and the collection of council tax or rates. The expression appears widely in legislation and case law; its precise scope is set by the relevant statute. England: county councils and district councils (including metropolitan boroughs), unitary authorities, London Boroughs and the Common Council of the City of London; parish and town councils are local authorities at the most local tier. Wales: unitary county and county borough councils. Scotland: the...
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Section 20 Children Act 1989 (England): Local authority duties for voluntary accommodation: consent, parental responsibility, withdrawal, capacity, s17 v s20 and Human Rights Act risks
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Practice notes
Practice Note
This Practice Note sets out a local authority’s obligation to secure accommodation for children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989) and describes voluntary accommodation under ChA 1989, s 20, highlighting the practical difficulties an authority may encounter, such as arranging suitable delegation of parental authority and questions regarding parental capacity. Please note this Practice Note concerns the law currently applicable in England. In Wales, the position is governed by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and associated statutory instruments; for further material, see Practice Notes: Local authority powers and duties to provide accommodation for children in Wales, Local authority duties to looked after children in Wales, and Local authority duties to children in Wales—child protection. Under section 20 of the Children Act 1989—ChA 1989, s 20—every local authority is under a duty to accommodate children assessed as children in need living in its area who appear to need accommodation due to specified circumstances set out in legislation. A range of considerations will guide an authority when determining whether it is required to provide accommodation, or whether it may instead exercise a discretion to provide it. In such determinations under the legislation, A local...
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Web page updated on 26/05/2026
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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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