Latest news from the Michelmores website http://www.michelmores.com/Legal-News-publications.htm Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:58:22 +0100 Feed Creator 1.7.2 http://www.michelmores.com/bribery-act-effective-from-1-july-2011-is-your-business-prepared--news.htm On 1 July the new Bribery Act becomes law. As well as creating the key criminal offences of bribing and being bribed, the Act includes the new offence of failure by a commercial organisation (eg. companies and partnerships etc) to prevent bribery. Under the previous law, in order for a company Michelmores Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:58:22 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/bribery-act-effective-from-1-july-2011-is-your-business-prepared--news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/court-of-appeal-decision-will-benefit-holiday-park-operators-news.htm A recent Court of Appeal decision has held that planning conditions attached to an expired permission are not enforceable and this could have a significant impact on some holiday parks' development potential.The decision involved a case (Avon Estates Ltd v Welsh Ministers and another [2011] EWCA Civ Michelmores Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:21:55 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/court-of-appeal-decision-will-benefit-holiday-park-operators-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/take-the-chance-to-influence-development-in-cornwall-news.htm On 7 February, Cornwall Council opened a consultation on its Core Strategy Options Document.It is important that landowners, developers, businesses and individuals with an interest in land affected take the time to respond to the consultation. This is because the document is due to become a key part Michelmores Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:15:15 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/take-the-chance-to-influence-development-in-cornwall-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/burden-of-red-tape-for-farmers-news.htm While British agriculture has a good future, farmers will struggle to rise to the challenge against the deluge of "red tape" from the EU and an unsympathetic Government.Some red tape is necessary. Public and animal health are paramount, but the burden of red tape on farmers is personal, cumbersome a Michelmores Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:37:46 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/burden-of-red-tape-for-farmers-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/new-iht-relief-offers-tax-planning-opportunities-news.htm Under Government proposals announced in March's Budget, the current 40% rate of Inheritance Tax (IHT) is to be reduced to 36%.The reduced rate applies where death occurs on or after 6th April 2012 and at least 10% of the value of the net estate has been left to a registered charity.Chris Butcher, a Michelmores Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:45:03 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/new-iht-relief-offers-tax-planning-opportunities-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/government-announces-outcome-of-fast-track-review-on-feed-in-tariff-scheme-news.htm The Department of Energy and Climate Change has confirmed that the proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) will now take effect from 1 August 2011.The announcement follows the recent public consultation on large-scale solar and anaerobic digestion. The fast-track review looked at reduci Michelmores Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:06:22 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/government-announces-outcome-of-fast-track-review-on-feed-in-tariff-scheme-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/bribery-act-to-come-into-force-on-1-july-2011-news.htm The long-awaited and controversial Bribery Act Guidance has been published this morning by the Ministry of Justice. The Act will now come into force on 1 July 2011. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has sought to reassure opponents of the Act by confirming that he would like to see the legislation im Michelmores Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:53:29 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/bribery-act-to-come-into-force-on-1-july-2011-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/competition-rules-to-apply-to-land-agreements-news.htm Final guidance has been issued in March 2011 by the Office of Fair Trading confirming that certain provisions of the Competition Act 1998 will apply to land agreements as well as to other types of agreement, with effect from 6 April 2011. Final guidance highlights the kinds of restriction on th Michelmores Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:47:29 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/competition-rules-to-apply-to-land-agreements-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/budget-help-for-first-time-buyers-news.htm In the March 2011 Budget, the government announced plans to provide £250,000 through a shared equity loan programme called "FirstBuy" in order to boost construction and sale of new homes.  The programme is expected to fuel the construction of some 10,000 new homes. Equity loans of 20% of Michelmores Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:45:48 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/budget-help-for-first-time-buyers-news.htm# http://www.michelmores.com/default-retirement-age-to-go-in-october-news.htm Currently, an employer may retire employees at the age of 65 without the risk of facing Employment Tribunal proceedings, provided the correct statutory procedure is followed... but not for long!The Government has now confirmed that the default retirement age (DRA) of 65 is set to be abolished in Oct Michelmores Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:31:50 +0100 http://www.michelmores.com/default-retirement-age-to-go-in-october-news.htm#