Legal Services contains a broad range of legal skills to provide advice to Council services on a wide range of matters which include general legal issues, contract and commercial issues, planning and highways matters, litigation issues, community law issues (including education and child care), employment law issues, development projects and property law.

In order to support the quality of the in-house service, successful partnership arrangements have been put in place with Counsel’s Chambers and a leading private firm of solicitors.

Property

• buying, leasing and selling of land and buildings
• occupational arrangements where the Council permits others to use its land
• advice to Council services concerning a wide range of land holding/property issues
• presence on all major development projects
• local land charges

Planning

• advice on all planning matters
• representation at planning Public Inquiries and other associated Inquiries
• a senior officer in this team acts as legal adviser to the Planning Committee 
• legal procedures relating to planning enforcement
• complusory purchase orders

General Legal, Contract and Litigation (Including Highways)

• prosecutions in the Magistrates and Crown Courts and civil cases in the County and High Courts as part of the Council's statutory enforcement powers
• judicial review, injunction proceedings, commercial possession claims and debt recovery
• advocacy services and support are also offered in respect of other non-prosecution regulatory functions such as licensing appeals and statutory nuisance matters
• drafting and formalisation of a wide range of contracts
• legal advisors to both the Regulatory and Appeals Committee and the Licensing Committee
• advice and support in respect of all statutory highway procedures and highway development
• Traffic Regulation Orders and Footpath Orders

Community law

• advice and support to social workers at all stages of their involvement with families especially with regard to child protection and safeguarding
• advice to adult services on mental health and guardianship issues, vulnerable adults and asylum seekers
• advice in relation to Education Supervision Orders, special needs, admissions and exclusions, awards, transport and complaints
• advice on all areas of Employment Law giving advice to Corporate Human Resources and all departments of the council