Summary of Board meeting held on 7 April 2022
Published 11 July 2022
Applies to England and Wales
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1. Attendance
1.1 Present HMCTS members
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Tim Parker | Independent Chairman |
| Victoria Cochrane | Senior Independent Non-Executive Member |
| Nicky Wilden | Non-Executive Member & Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair |
| Nick Goodwin | HMCTS Chief Executive |
| Andrew Baigent | Chief Financial Officer |
| Paul Harris | Operations Director |
| Gemma Hewison | Strategy and Change Director |
| Annabel Burns | Judicial & Legal Services Policy Director- MoJ representative |
| Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ) | |
| Sir Keith Lindblom | Senior President of Tribunals (SPT) |
| District Judge Tim Jenkins | Judicial Board member |
1.2 Presenters and additional attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Adam Lennon | Deputy Director and Service Owner – Family |
| Product Owner – Civil & Family | |
| Private Law BAU Manager/ Product Owner | |
| Mark Stewart | Acting Courts & Tribunals Director |
| Tracey Calleia | Delivery Director for Midlands |
| Hugh Simkiss | HMCTS Midlands Region Head of Crime |
| Mr Justice Pepperall | Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit |
| Crown Prosecution Service Representative | |
| Crown Prosecution Service Representative | |
| Jason Latham | Acting Development Director |
| Strategy Manager, Business Strategy Team | |
| Head of Income Strategy & Debt Management (MoJ) | |
| Head of Court and Tribunal Fees Policy (MoJ) | |
| Tim Stamp | Deputy Director, Strategic Finance & Planning |
| Mark Evans | Deputy Director, Capital Planning |
| Craig Robb | Deputy Director, Governance & Assurance |
| Head of Counter Fraud & Corporate Reporting | |
| Clare Farren | Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices |
| HMCTS Board Secretary | |
| Head of Corporate Governance & Board Secretariat |
1.3 Apologies
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Lakh Jemmett | Non-Executive Member |
| Jan Gower | Non-Executive HMCTS Change Portfolio Board member/Critical Friend |
2. Welcome and introductions
Attendees were welcomed to the meeting and the apologies were given.
3. Minutes and actions
The minutes from 18 February and 3 March 2022 meetings were approved and updates on actions were noted.
4. Performance and finance updates
The Board was informed that, since the papers were issued, ‘no fault’ divorce had come into force and the new online system had gone live without significant issues arising for users.
Consideration was given to the key successes across the organisation over the last month, which included Common Platform being implemented in new criminal courts, planned activity around the early notification of non-molestation orders, and the implementation of an Automated Payment Line.
In terms of challenges, although the position in relation to COVID-19 absence varied across different sites, it was leading to a number of trials being interrupted and/or delayed and adding to the overall fatigue of operational staff which was causing performance challenges in certain jurisdictions.
The Board was provided with individual updates on the performance of the different jurisdictions.
An oral update was provided on the end of year financial position, which was in the process of being finalised.
5. HMCTS Reform Programme and Common Platform update
The Board considered the key achievements and challenges of the Reform Programme over the last month.
6. Demonstration of Family Private Law Service
A demonstration was provided on the issuing of Family Private Law Service applications for professional users through MyHMCTS and the key functionality was discussed.
7. Deep dive on Midlands crime – workload, performance and recovery plans
The Board received and discussed an update on Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court performance in the Midlands from representatives of agencies across the criminal justice system, with a focus on current workload and recovery plans and priorities.
8. Judicial delegation to HMCTS authorised officers
Following a discussion, the Board supported work to investigate further the potential opportunities for judicial delegation to HMCTS authorised officers, in line with the required constitutional considerations.
9. Update on the MOJ financial landscape: court and tribunal fees – a strategic view
The Board discussed the current level of cost recovery, the current policies in place and areas of improvements that were being considered.
10. Update on Equality Act requirements
Following a discussion, the Board noted and provided its feedback on the current activity to ensure compliance with the Equalities Act.
11. 2022-23 HMCTS Business Plan
Subject to the consideration of its feedback, the Board approved the proposed 2022-23 HMCTS Business Plan.
12. 2022-23 HMCTS Allocations
The Board was presented with a further update on the 2022-23 HMCTS Allocations process and provided its steers in relation to its advice to the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals.