A hearing in the matter of R (on the application of Stephanie Hudson) v Liverpool City Council was listed on 26th September 2016 before HHJ Pelling QC, in the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, sitting in Manchester.
Stephanie Hudson brought contempt proceedings against Liverpool City Council (‘LCC’) on the basis that it had failed to comply with its undertaking to review its decision to restructure its consumer protection services in 2014. Jonathan Kirk QC represented Ms Hudson.
At the hearing in the High Court, LCC agreed that it would conduct a further review of its decision, having regard to its domestic and European consumer protection duties.
LCC agreed to appoint a new reviewer to conduct the further review who (a) was not a party to or, in any way, involved in the original restructuring decision, the judicial review proceedings or the subsequent review; and (b) considered themselves to have sufficient professional competence and experience to conduct the review effectively. The further review must be completed within 12 months and published on the LCC website.
LCC made no admission that its original decision or previous review had been unlawful.