Article 12 The court’s general powers of management

(1)

The list of powers in this rule is in addition to any powers given to the court by any other rule or practice direction or by any other enactment or any powers it may otherwise have.

(2)

Except where these Rules provide otherwise, the court may—

(a)

extend or shorten the time for compliance with any rule, practice direction or court direction (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired);

(b)

adjourn or bring forward a hearing;

(c)

require a party or a party’s legal representative to attend the court;

(d)

hold a hearing and receive evidence by telephone or by using any other method of direct oral communication;

(e)

direct that part of any proceedings be dealt with as separate proceedings;

(f)

stay the whole or part of any proceedings or judgment either generally or until a specified date or event;

(g)

consolidate proceedings;

(h)

hear two or more applications on the same occasion;

(i)

direct a separate hearing of any issue;

(j)

decide the order in which issues are to be heard;

(k)

exclude an issue from consideration;

(l)

dismiss or give judgment on an application after a decision on a preliminary issue;

(m)

direct any party to file and serve an estimate of costs; and

(n)

take any other step or give any other direction for the purpose of managing the case and furthering the overriding objective.

(3)

The court may not extend the period within which a section 89 order must be made.

(4)

Paragraph (2)(f) does not apply to proceedings in a magistrates' court.