HM Courts and Tribunals Service Board meeting 2 December 2021
Updated 28 February 2022
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1. Board members present
1.1 HMCTS
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Tim Parker | Independent Chairman |
| Victoria Cochrane | Senior Independent Non-Executive Member |
| Lakh Jemmett | Non-Executive Member |
| Nicky Wilden | Non-Executive Member & Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair |
| Kevin Sadler | Acting Chief Executive |
| Andrew Baigent | Chief Financial Officer |
| Paul Harris | Operations Director |
| Gemma Hewison | Strategy and Change Director |
| Annabel Burns | Judicial & Legal Services Policy Directorate Director – MoJ Representative |
| Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave | Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ) |
| Lord Justice Keith Lindblom | Senior President of Tribunals (SPT) |
1.2 Presenters and additional attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jan Gower | Non-Executive HMCTS Change Portfolio Board member/Critical Friend |
| Antonia Romeo | Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice |
| Mark Stewart | Acting Courts and Tribunals Director |
| Daniel Flury | Deputy Director, Crime |
| Lisa Killham | Delivery Director for Crime – London |
| Damian McCleave | Head of Crime - London |
| Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb | Presiding Judge – South East |
| Barry Hughes | Crown Prosecution Service |
| Lionel Idan | Crown Prosecution Service |
| Garry Poole | Head of Operations, Public Sector Prison Directorate |
| Sasha Bailey | Representative of the Criminal Bar |
| Ed Wagstaff | Deputy Director, Business Strategy |
| Business Strategy Lead - Judicial & Mags Workforce | |
| Alice Ripley | Deputy Chief Executive, Judicial Appointment Commission |
| Andrew Key | Chief Executive, Judicial Office |
| John Laverick | Chief Digital and Information Officer |
| Sally Richards | Senior Responsible Owner, Decommissioning and Legacy Risk Mitigation (DLRM) Programme |
| Programme Director – DLRM Programme | |
| DLRM Programme, Governance & Assurance | |
| Will Breame | Deputy Director, Central Operations & Tribunals Scotland |
| Clare Farren | Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices |
| HMCTS Board Secretary | |
| Head of HMCTS Corporate Governance & Board Secretariat |
1.3 Apologies
District Judge Tim Jenkins, Judicial Board member
2. Welcome and introductions
Attendees were welcomed to the meeting and the apologies were given.
3. Minutes and actions
The minutes from 4 November 2021 were approved and updates on actions were noted.
4. Performance and finance updates
The Board noted that increase in COVID-19 infection rates in HMCTS, though still at a lower level than the wider population.
Whilst the recently announced changes to the COVID restrictions/controls did not affect HMCTS sites, HMCTS continued to work closely with health agencies to ensure best practice was being implemented. In addition, collaborative work was taking place with prisons and the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) to maximise the safe use of cells within HMCTS sites.
Significant work had taken place in relation to cases where custody time limits (CTLs) were due to end, though this still remained a risk.
An overview of recovery within HMCTS was provided and there were substantive discussions in relation to the Crown Court, the magistrates’ court and the Family jurisdiction. The current performance in relation to tribunals was noted and the Board recognised that improvements had been in made in terms of probate performance.
The Board considered the period 7 finance report.
5. HMCTS Reform Programme Update and Common Platform update
An update was provided on the key achievements and key areas of focus in relation to the HMCTS Reform Programme.
The Board discussed the Common Platform and was pleased to see the progress that had been made in improving performance. The Board would continue to receive updates on the work being done in the new year. An update was given in relation to union engagement and ongoing consultation.
6. HMCTS Board Terms of Reference 2021-22
Following the incorporation of the Board’s feedback, the HMCTS Board Terms of Reference 2021-22 were approved.
7. Permanent Secretary Introduction
The Board welcomed Antonia Romeo, MoJ Permanent Secretary, who set out her priorities for the Department, and thanked the Board and judiciary for their leadership.
8. In-depth discussion of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in London
Representatives from HMCTS and the other stakeholders were invited to highlight the key factors affecting Crown Court performance in London and potential solutions and/or initiatives from their perspective and that of the organisations or groups that they represented.
The Board welcomed all the initiatives that were taking place to improve performance, and sought assurance that there was a coherent plan, with accountability, to pull them all together.
9. Spending review settlement – capital funding and 2022-23 HMCTS allocations
There was a discussion in relation to the potential impacts of the Spending Review (SR) on HMCTS’s capital spending plans, with a particular focus on the property elements.
Consideration was given to how to best utilise the funding available this year and the remaining property elements of the Reform Programme.
An oral update was provided on progress with, and the process for, confirming the 2022-23 HMCTS financial allocations.
10. Judicial workforce strategy
The Board considered HMCTS’s approach of working with the MoJ, Judicial Office and the judiciary to reflect the statutory arrangements and to build recruitment plans that reflect future needs.
There were discussions covering areas such as the potential factors affecting the filling of salaried judge vacancies and the initiatives being undertaken to increase the quality and diversity of candidates.
11. Preparations for the 2022/23 corporate business plan
The Board provided feedback on the proposed approach for next year’s HMCTS Corporate Business Plan.
12. Decommissioning and Legacy Risk Mitigation (DLRM) Programme – strategic outline business case
Following a discussion, the Board endorsed the strategic outline business case and proposed approach.
13. Freephone 0800 telephone numbers for Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSC)
The Board endorsed HMCTS’s proposed approach of focussing on call-back options, particularly in the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Chamber, rather than the blanket provision of an 0800 facility.
14. Any other business
The Board approved the proposed approach in relation to the lease for the new City of London Law Courts.