Protecting the public realm without shutting it down
As Martyn's Law approaches, this free special report from LocalGov and Hill & Smith sets out how councils can protect public spaces without shutting them down.
Hackney investigates food safety at Shoreditch House
30/09/2026 Hackney Council has opened a food safety investigation at Shoreditch House after a former chef alleged staff were pressured to serve out-of-date products. |
Schools lag on processed meat substitutes
01/09/2025 Over two thirds of councils are yet to remove cured meats from school menus, experts have warned. |
School meals posing ‘worrying’ health risks, charity warns
29/05/2025 Schools must do more to support children’s long-term health by reducing the quantity of processed meat served at mealtimes, charity says. |
Public health officials ‘disappointed’ by junk food ad ban delay
22/05/2025 Local authority directors of public health have voiced their disappointment in response to the Government’s decision to delay the ban on junk food advertising. |
Mayors back Jamie Oliver’s call to ban junk-food advertising
25/09/2024 Nine UK mayors have signed up to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s campaign to ban junk-food advertising. |
Decades of ‘neglect’ have left children shorter and overweight
19/06/2024 Children in England are getting shorter, more obese and sicker because of poor diets, food insecurity and poverty, health experts warn. |
One in 10 takeaways fail food standards inspections
30/05/2023 Councils should be enabled to spend more time ensuring food standards are maintained, study says as one in 10 takeaways are found to have failed inspections. |
Edinburgh first Scottish city to endorse plant-based diet
18/01/2023 Edinburgh Council has become the first Scottish city and first European capital to endorse an initiative aimed at tackling emissions from animal agriculture. |
Town council first in Europe to endorse plant-based diet treaty
04/08/2022 Haywards Heath Town Council has become the first town in Europe to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, an initiative aimed at tackling animal farming emissions. |
Council chiefs criticise food strategy as ‘missed opportunity’
14/06/2022 Local authority leaders have criticised the Government’s new food strategy which they argue does not tackle the underlying causes of obesity. |
Council to serve only vegan food at events
16/03/2022 Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has approved plans to serve only locally sourced plant-based food at council catered events. |
Charity calls for reform of public sector food sourcing standards
21/04/2021 A charity is calling for a major overhaul of public sector food sourcing standards to protect school children and hospital patients from being served a low welfare menu. |
Council action sees Tesco fined £7.5m for selling out of date food
20/04/2021 Tesco has been fined £7.5m for selling out of date food after a successful prosecution brought by Birmingham City Council. |
Report highlights impact of 'broken' food system
21/09/2020 There has been little progress in mending the 'broken' food system over the past three years, a report has warned today. |
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Food regulation showing 'signs of strain' warns report
12/06/2019 Some local authorities are failing to meet their legal responsibilities on food control due to budget cuts, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned. |
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Councils need more powers to tackle junk food adverts, campaigners say
24/04/2019 Campaigners have called for local authorities to be given more powers to push back against junk food advertising. |
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Care homes spend less than £3 per resident on food
25/01/2019 Elderly care homes are spending an average of just £2.44 per resident on food, according to new research. |
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Online takeaways should be ‘forced’ to display hygiene ratings, council chiefs say
28/09/2018 Local government leaders have called for businesses serving food to be ‘forced’ to display food hygiene ratings to improve standards and protect people. |
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Brexit threatens UK’s access to food safety systems, warn council chiefs
30/05/2018 Council leaders have called on Whitehall and the EU to ensure the UK's access to food safety and animal health systems remains available after Brexit. |
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Councils should be given more powers to tackle junk food, MPs say
30/05/2018 Council leaders have welcomed a call for local authorities to be given more powers to tackle the advertising and sale of unhealthy food and drink to children. |
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Council launches investigation after chef ‘spikes’ vegan meal
03/01/2018 A council is investigating after a chef boasted online about ‘spiking’ a vegan’s meal with animal-based products. |
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Lancashire CC bans unstunned halal meat
27/10/2017 Lancashire CC yesterday decided to stop providing schools with unstunned halal meat due to concerns over ‘unnecessary stress and suffering’ for the animals. |
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Figures reveal ‘concerning decrease’ in food standards interventions
19/09/2017 There has been a decrease in the number of planned interventions for food standards by local authorities, new data reveals. |
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‘Scores on the doors’ must be mandatory for restaurants after Brexit, council leaders say
11/09/2017 Displaying food hygiene ratings must be made mandatory for all restaurants and cafes in England after Brexit, council chiefs say. |
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Analysis reveals worst local authority areas for eating out
27/03/2017 Councils call on Whitehall to force food outlets to display hygiene ratings as analysis reveals one in five eateries do not meet health standards. |
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London restaurants and cafes ‘most unhygienic’ in country
06/01/2017 The restaurants and cafes in London’s local authority areas are some of the most unhygienic in the country, according to a food hygiene website. |
