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Rates – Rateable occupation. The district judge upheld the respondent local authority's unoccupied non-domestic rate demand against the appellant company and rejected the appellant's argument that the properties were exempt on the ground that non-occupation was the result of dilapidations and the state of the properties was such that occupation was prohibited by law. The appellant appealed by way of case stated. The Divisional Court, in dismissing the appeal, held that health and safety legislation did not prohibit occupation and the risk of breach of the legislation if the premises had been, without more, occupied did not suffice to exempt the appellant.
Rates – Rateable occupation. The district judge upheld the respondent local authority's unoccupied non-domestic rate demand against the appellant company and rejected the appellant's argument that the properties were exempt on the ground that non-occupation was the result of dilapidations and the state of the properties was such that occupation was prohibited by law. The appellant appealed by way of case stated. The Divisional Court, in dismissing the appeal, held that health and safety legislation did not prohibit occupation and the risk of breach of the legislation if the premises had been, without more, occupied did not suffice to exempt the appellant.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts