HM Courts and Tribunals Service Board meeting – 8 February 2023
Published 26 March 2024
Applies to England and Wales
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1. Board members present
1.1 HMCTS
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Victoria Cochrane | Interim Chair and Senior Independent Non-Executive Member |
| Lakh Jemmett | Non-Executive Member |
| Nicky Wilden | Non-Executive Member and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) Chair |
| Nick Goodwin | HMCTS Chief Executive |
| Andrew Baigent | Chief Financial Officer |
| Paul Harris | Operations Director |
| Annabel Burns | Judicial and Legal Services Policy Director MoJ representative |
| Lord Justice Andrew Edis | Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ) |
| District Judge Tim Jenkins | Judicial Board member |
1.2 Presenters and additional attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jan Gower | Non-Executive HMCTS Change Portfolio Board member/Critical Friend |
| Head of Modelling and Forecasting | |
| Tim Stamp | Deputy Director, Strategic Finance & Planning |
| Emily Wickens | Deputy Director and Service Owner - Civil reform |
| Civil Reform Team | |
| Product Owner – Civil, Family and Tribunals programme | |
| Louise Alexander | Human Resources Director |
| Neil Sheppard | HR Organisational Capability Deputy Director |
| Head of Engagement and Wellbeing | |
| Ed Wagstaff | Deputy Director, Business Strategy |
| Head of Strategy Unit | |
| Criminal Appeal Office Lawyer (observing) | |
| Clare Farren | Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices |
| HMCTS Board Secretary | |
| Head of Corporate Governance and Board Secretariat |
1.3 Apologies
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Gemma Hewison | Strategy and Change Director |
| Sir Keith Lindblom | Senior President of Tribunals (SPT) |
2. Welcome and introductions
Attendees were welcomed to the meeting and the apologies were noted.
3. Minutes and actions
The minutes from the meeting on 24 November 2022 and 1 December 2022 were approved and updates on actions were noted.
4. Performance and finance updates
Nick’s recent attendance before the Justice Select Committee alongside the Permanent Secretary and other senior MoJ officials was noted.
It was highlighted that the concordat process was due to commence shortly in the context of a challenging wider economic situation. In advance of the Public Accounts Committee hearing, the updated report on the Reform programme from the National Audit Office (NAO) was in the process of being finalised.
The Board discussed Common Platform and noted the recent move from Ofgem to ask energy suppliers to suspend the forced installation of prepayment meters.
The current position in relation to the prison places was noted and assurance was given that HMCTS was working collaboratively with Prisoner Escort and Custody Service suppliers.
The Board was informed that operational environment continued to be challenging and a summary of the position in relation to courts and tribunals jurisdictions was provided.
An update on the financial position was presented to the Board.
5. Reform programme re-planning
An update was provided on the current position in relation to the proposed re-planning of the Reform programme.
6. Quarterly service demand forecasting update
The Board reviewed the latest demand forecasting which now assumed a lower-level of forecast cases in certain jurisdictions as demand had not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
7. 2023-24 HMCTS allocations
The Board was provided with the current position in relation to the potential proposals being considered and noted its role in the concordat process was to provide clear advice to the Lord Chief Justice and the SPT.
8. Demonstration of standard directions orders
Following an introduction, the Board observed demonstration of the Standard Directions Orders.
9. 2022 people survey
The Board reviewed and provided feedback in relation to the proposed actions following analysis of the 2022 HMCTS People Survey data.
10. Quarterly principals review of HMCTS performance
It was agreed that the paper and supporting annexes for the Principals’ meeting were to be amended in line with the points raised by the Board
11. HMCTS board effectiveness evaluation 2022-23 approach
The Board agreed to the approach for the 2023 Board Effectiveness Evaluation and the questions to be asked.