| News
Simplified arbitration to cut cost and length of rural
A new simplified arbitration service has being launched to reduce the cost & time taken to resolve disputes disputes over rural rent reviews . The service can also be used for other rural sector disputes .
T he Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ( RICS ) Simplified Arbitration Service promises to be quick , transparent , even-handed and inexpensive . The service has been developed by the RICS Rural ADR Working Party , a group of experienced surveyors and lawyers led by Shropshire surveyor Philip Meade of Davis Meade Property Consultants at Oswestry .
“ Dispute resolution is a vital part of both domestic and international law ,” said Philip . “ Disputes over rent can be lengthy and expensive and we wanted to develop a system that makes the process more efficient and cost effective .”
The RICS Simplified Arbitration Service is :
A much more informal and relaxed procedure for dealing with disputes compared to courts and traditional approaches to arbitration .
An uncomplicated and straightforward process , which still allows both parties a reasonable opportunity to have their say .
Speedy and low-priced . The
parties will know how long it is going to take to get a decision , and how much they will have to pay .
Use of the Simplified Arbitration System must be a joint decision between both parties in the dispute and they must both agree to abide by the rules published by RICS .
If both parties agree to use SAS , arbitrators will sign up to a fixed timetable and costs regime , with aims to reach a decision within 28 days , at a maximum cost to each party of £ 2,000 .
As long as parties abide by the
SAS procedural rules , the arbitrator will only charge for three days work at £ 1000 per day ( plus VAT ). If the parties choose to have a hearing / meeting , the arbitrator may charge an additional fee up to £ 1000 . These costs will be shared equally by the parties , regardless of the outcome .
Martin Burns , RICS Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution Research and Development , confirmed that the service is up and running and parties can cite the procedure in tenancy agreements immediately .
Response to confirmation of avian influenza found in a wild duck in Wales
The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed ( 22 December ) a finding of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a wild duck , a wigeon , in Llanelli , Carmarthenshire .
T he Prevention Zones ( housing orders ) previously announced on Tuesday 6 December remain in place in England , Scotland and Wales . Poultry and captive bird keepers should continue to house their birds , where practicable , maintain their biosecurity and remain vigilant about the health of their birds .
Earlier this week steps were taken to further protect poultry and captive birds by introducing a temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry . Poultry keepers , including those with fewer than 50 birds , are encouraged to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register . This will ensure they can be contacted immediately in the
event of an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their flock at the earliest opportunity .
Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl ( swans , geese or ducks ) or gulls ( species known to be infected in Europe ), or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location , to the APHA helpline on 03459
335577 .
The advice from Public Health England ( PHE ) is that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency ( FSA ) has stated that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers . Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products , including eggs , are safe to eat .
06 | Farming Monthly | January 2017 www . farmingmonthly . co . uk