PLC Public Sector reports:
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Central government: government service users will be interested in the government’s announcement of which public services will be in the first wave of those available online, by 2015.
FOI and data protection: information lawyers dealing with freedom of information requests should note that the ICO has published guidance notes on detailed aspects of the freedom of information regime.
Education: education lawyers should note the following recent developments:
- The publication of statutory guidance on the assessment and reporting requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage for those responsible for the assessment of children from birth to the age of five.
- A three year copyright licensing agreement for schools has been signed between the Copyright Licensing Agency and the Department for Education, which means that from April 2013 local authorities will be relieved of responsibility for administering the licences that permit the legal reproduction of books, magazines and websites.
- The Department for Education has updated its model funding agreement for use by university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools.
Employment: employment lawyers should be aware that:
- The Parental Leave (EU Directive) Regulations 2013, which amend existing provisions relating to parental leave in the Employment Rights Act 1998 and the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999, have been published in draft form.
- The EAT in SG Petch Ltd v English-Stewart has held that a redundancy dismissal of an employee after maternity leave was not discriminatory since it was apparent to the employer that her work could be carried out by three other members of the team who covered her work during her maternity leave.
- The new standard rates for statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay have been announced by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Local government: local government lawyers should note the following developments:
- From April 2013, taxpayers will have the option to pay their council tax over 12 months, instead of ten.
- A draft Anti-Social Behaviour Bill has just been published.
Property and planning: planning lawyers should be aware that:
- The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England)(Amendment No. 3) Order 2012, which makes changes to the planning procedures contained in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010, comes into force on 31 January 2013.
- The Department for Communities and Local Government has published new approved documents to reflect changes to the Building Regulations 2010.
Public procurement: procurement officials should note that:
- 300 complaints about poor procurement practice are being investigated, as a result of the Cabinet Office’s Mystery Shopper Scheme.
- The government has stated that ICT frameworks will only be agreed if they can attract SMEs and they comply with the Commercial ICT Strategy.
- The state aid recovery interest and reference rates that apply from 1 January 2013 have been published by the European Commission.
Consultations: a consultation has been published on the ICO’s strategic plan for 2013-16.