Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

MoJ: New guidance for the family courts aimed at reducing unnecessary delay in the care proceedings system has been published by the Ministry of Justice. The Public Law Outline (PLO), an initiative led by the judiciary of England & Wales, is designed to promote better co-operation between all the parties involved in care and supervision cases.
 
Under the PLO (which will operate from 1 April 2008), the current six stages of the court processwill be reduced to four, resulting in a simpler more streamlined process with fewer unnecessary hearings.  The court will set an appropriate timetable for the case, focused around the needs of the individual child.  Free pre-proceedings legal advice will be available to parents with the aim of narrowing or resolving the issues in the case.
Press release ~ The Public Law Outline (PLO) ~ Children Law UK
 
Sport England: Sport England's Active Design guidance - which aims to put sport at the heart of new building developments - was a finalist in the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute Awards (RTPI) held at the Hilton Hotel, London recently.

Active Design gives easy-to-use guidance & information to town planners and urban designers on how to put sport & activity at the heart of new housing and community developments.
Press release ~ Active Design guidance
 
C-NLIS: The Council for the NationalLand Information Service (C-NLIS) has launched a free consumer guide to property searches.  Entitled ‘Property Searches - Your Guide to the Facts’, the guide:
* offers practical advice & guidance on the different search options available
* describes how to choose a search provider and
* gives a clear explanation on the latest home information pack (HIP) requirements
Press release ~ Council for the National Land Information Service (C-NLIS) ~ ‘Property Searches - Your Guide to the Facts’
 
ScotGov: Guidance on how NHS priority treatment will be extended to all armed service personnel who have developed health problems as a result of service to their country has been issued to health boards in Scotland. Previously, war veterans were only entitled to priority treatment for conditions relating to service if they received a war pension.
 
The guidance issued to health boards asks them to ensure that all relevant staff are aware of the new arrangements, which come into effect on February 29 2008. The Scottish Government will shortly organise a workshop for individuals, representatives from veterans' organisations and representatives from Citizens Advice Scotland promote understanding of the new guidance.
Press release ~ Guidance ~ Veterans Scotland
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