R (A and C) v Oxfordshire County Council
Peter Oldham KC appeared for Oxfordshire CC which successfully defended a judicial review challenge to its decision to reorganise children’s centre provision. The claimants’ case was that there had been a failure to consult as required by section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006, a breach of the PSED and a failure to take into account a needs assessment, and that budget cuts for the re-organised provision should be quashed. At a rolled-up hearing, Langstaff J dismissed the application for permission to apply. This is the first judgment to consider the operation of the PSED in the context of the different functions carried out by full Council in setting the budget, and by the executive in acting within budget envelopes.
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