Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil Council: A game changing decision for local authorities
Phoebe Price of UK law firm Browne Jacobson, looks at how the Court of Appeal's decision in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil Council allows courts to mandate parties to engage in non-court dispute resolution processes, such as negotiation, mediation, or internal complaints procedures, before taking legal action. This ruling provides local authorities with an opportunity to resolve low-value disputes more efficiently and cost-effectively by using their internal processes to address issues before resorting to litigation.