New Duty Rota Allocation Consultation Out 

Here it is, comments required by 18th May.

Two Bits of News 

Firstly more evidence that the proposed Peer Review “roll out” is happening on schedule as we have received a panicky call from a Mental Health supplier. Also the Leeds RO confirm that Bingley and Keighley, soon to be merged with Bradford in a new larger Duty boundary, also count as a “designated area” for the […]

What to do? 

Over the years I have come across “in-tray” exercises in a number of contexts – assessment centres as part of training courses etc. I have always thought them somewhat artificial however I am faced with a real life one today. There are course notes for this forthcoming tour, a special features notice on a large […]

Radio Silence 

We will not be discussing football here for some time to come.

Out With a Bang 

We have just received the result of my final Cost Committee ever. As anticipated this was a success returning a Cat 1 outcome. This will give my memories of the Contract Compliance Wars a somewhat rosier glow. The final score – we won, or rather they lost, four out of five.

Decemberists 

I am trapped at home today having somehow managed to lose both my sets of car keys! I have wasted a huge amount of time trying to find them too (the main set is now in Coventry with Andy). Given that, and because it is a Friday, I will dispense with lengthy and potentially depressing […]

House in the Country 

Dealing with a phone query surrounding the new Mags standard fee regime has put me in mind of a discussion we had yesterday afternoon. I am aware that we are now to refer to “main urban areas” as “designated areas” for standard fee purposes. That said the original intent was to differentiate town from country. […]

Form an Orderly Queue 

The Gazette reports on the latest body of Lawyers litigating against the Commission. This time it is the Society of Asian Lawyers and the Black Solicitors Network. Carters proposals will definitely, in our view, disproportionately impact on smaller firms and given that ethnic minority firms are over-represented amongst such firms their point seems well made. […]

Northern Delights 

I don’t go in for that regional stereotyping thing so I make no claims that its the extra friendly nature of our North East clients which makes working in this part of the world so enjoyable. To be frank it is probably the shorter travel times and greater knowledge of the roads which makes this […]

Welcome… 

To the much heralded redesign of the site! It is all but complete, few minor changes on the sidebar still to do, but otherwise it is fully operational from today (and we couldn’t wait any longer). That said any thoughts on further improvement, or glitches you spot, will be gratefully received. We think it looks […]