Transparency data

HM Courts and Tribunals Service Board meeting – 7 March 2024

Published 25 October 2024

Applies to England and Wales

1. Attendees

1.1 Present

Name	Role
Sir Richard Broadbent	Chair
Nicky Wilden	Non-Executive Member
Nick Fishwick	Non-Executive Member
Lakh Jemmett	Non-Executive Member
Nick Goodwin	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Andrew Baigent	Chief Financial Officer
Paul Harris	Deputy Chief Executive and Operations Director
Louise Alexander	HR Director
Lord Justice Andrew Edis	Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ)
Sir Keith Lindblom	Senior President of Tribunals (SPT)
District Judge Tim Jenkins	Judicial Board member
Jerome Glass	Director General, Policy Courts and Access to Justice

1.2 Additional attendees and presenters

Name	Role
Annabel Burns	Strategy, Analysis and Planning Director
Richard Price	Director General, Performance Strategy and Analysis
Jan Gower	Change Portfolio Board member/Critical Friend
Alison Wedge	Deputy Director, Governance and Assurance
Head of Modelling and Forecasting
Clare Farren	Deputy Director Head of Judicial Private Offices

1.3 Secretariat

Role
Head of Corporate Governance and Board Secretariat
Deputy Head of HMCTS Corporate Governance and Board Secretariat
Head of Operational Judicial Private Offices

2. Board Minutes

The draft minutes from 8 February 2024 were approved and the action log was noted. An update was provided on a number of changes to the HMCTS senior executive team.

3. HMCTS Board Terms of Reference

The revised Terms of Reference were approved.

4. HMCTS Corporate Governance Review

The Board discussed the initial report and agreed that the internal recommendations should be taken forward by the executive. The Chairman would write to the Principals and engage the Permanent Secretary in respect of external-facing recommendations.

5. Quarterly Report from the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) Chair

Following the ARAC meeting on 15 February, fire risk actions, detention related failures and safety and security issues were highlighted as matters for consideration by the Board.

6. Performance and Finance Updates

The continued challenges around available prison capacity, its impact and the actions that was being taken were highlighted. It was agreed that the Board would be kept updated and would be informed if matters escalated.

The security measures at a number of HMCTS sites were discussed in advance of a substantive security item being scheduled for a future meeting.

The continued positive performance in the Crown Court was highlighted, however, the potential disruption to this jurisdiction and the magistrates’ court work as a result of the prison capacity issues was noted.

In terms of the financial position, it was highlighted that a recently received rate-rebate would help offset emerging pressures. Overall, the forecast expenditure remained consistent with prior months, and was within the required tolerance threshold.

7. Quarterly Service Demand forecasting update

The Board agreed the conclusions from the review of the incoming demand across 2023-24, noting the upward trend in many areas which, if projected to continue in the medium term, might merit further consideration.

8. Update on Critical Friend Review of Reform Programme plans

An oral overview was given in respect of the draft conclusions of the Critical Friend Review which had been commissioned by the Chief Executive. Whilst the review had focused on addressing challenges and lessons-learned, the significant achievements of the Reform programme so far were recognised.

9. Principals Review of HMCTS Performance

The Board considered and provided its feedback on the new agenda structure for the regular Quarterly Review meetings.

10. Financial Allocations Update

The Board reviewed progress and noted the discussions that were underway.

11. Spending Review – potential timelines and strategic questions

The importance of the next Spending Review was emphasised, and it was suggested that the Board needed to be kept updated as matters progressed.