think carefully about which documents should be sent to the adoption panel or decision-maker. It is unhelpful to them to receive hundreds of pages through which they have to sift to find the important information, so a summary of the information, agreed by all parties, should be provided to them. The full reports must, however, be available to them. 2.68. Where court proceedings are taking place, it is important that the children’s guardian’s views are conveyed to the decision-maker, particularly if these differ from those of the local authority. There may also be expert reports available which 49 have been prepared in connection with the court proceedings. Although this may sometimes give rise to difficulties of timing, it is essential that these or a summary (agreed between the local authority’s legal adviser and the other parties to the proceedings) be made available to the decision-maker. Referral to the adoption panel or decision-maker 2.69. Since 1 September 2012 the agency only refers a child’s case direct to the adoption panel for a recommendation in certain circumstances. All other cases will be referred direct to the agency decision-maker for a decision. The following table sets out to whom a case must be referred. The adoption panel and the decision- maker should be sent the same reports and information as each other except that all medical reports and information referred to in AAR 17.2D.ii and iii must be sent to the decision-maker. See chapter 1, paragraph 7. Circumstances Refer to adoption panel Refer direct to decision- maker without referral to adoption panel Authority to place: Apply for placement order or Obtain parental consent 1. Child accommodated by the local authority or relinquished for adoption and the birth parent has indicated they will conse