JUDGES GUIDELINES

The Northern Ireland Amenity Council "Best Kept" Competitions
Judging Guidelines
Introduction
The Northern Ireland Amenity Council (hereafter referred to as "The Council") was established to promote for public benefit, the protection preservation and improvement of the physical environment in Northern Ireland. These objectives are pursued strictly in a non-party political manner and without discrimination, either religious, political, or sexual.

To further these objectives, the Council administers the various Best Kept competitions. The Competitions have been held annually since 1957 and the judging guidelines below now apply to all competitions.

Judging Guidelines for Best Kept Town & Village Competitions
1. As judging is to be completely impartial it is desirable that a judge will not live, work, or have a relevant connection to an area which he or she is judging.
2. Judging panels shall be formulated in a manner approved by the Council.
3. Judging will not take place during abnormal conditions such as Public Holidays, Fair Days etc. Entrants are to advise the council of such dates at the time of entry into a competition.
4. The entries within each category will be divided into groups for judging by a single judge. The top two entries within each judge's group will proceed to a final judging stage.
5. Final judging for each category will be carried out by a panel of no less then two judges, neither of whom shall be involved in the interim judging of the same category.
6. No members of the Council or employee of the Council are to act as a judge in any competition.
7. Final judging marks to be presented to the Board of Council for ratification before publication.
8. The panel of judges will meet with the Executive Secretary and a Board Member(s) prior to the commencement of judging.
9. Names of judges should remain anonymous.
10. No date of judging will be made public prior to the judging of an area.
11. A Winner of a category three times consecutively will be invited to enter on a non - competitive basis for the fourth time.
12. It is the duty of Council Members, employees and judges to endeavor to act in the best interests of the objectives of the Council.
13. The decision of the Board is Final.
Judging Guidelines for Best Kept Competitions for Health and Social Care Facilities, Schools and Housing Areas
   
The guidelines for Towns and Villages shall apply except as modified by (a), (b) and (c) below
(A) Judging by individual judges will be permitted in any category.
(B) Generally, one-stage judging will apply.
(C) In the event of a tie, joint winners will be declared.