Transparency data

HM Courts and Tribunals Service Board meeting – 1 December 2022

Published 26 March 2024

Applies to England and Wales

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 and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) Chair
Nick Goodwin	HMCTS Chief Executive
Andrew Baigent	Chief Financial Officer
Paul Harris	Operations Director
Gemma Hewison	Strategy and Change Director
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
Joe Gilonis	Portfolio Delivery Deputy Director
Tim Stamp	Deputy Director, Strategic Finance and Planning
Rose Pennells	Deputy Director, HMCTS
John Laverick	Interim Chief Digital and Information Officer
Jason Latham	Development Director
Tom Ring	Deputy Director, Legal Operations
Alison Wedge	Deputy Director, Head of Governance and Assurance
Clare Farren	Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices
HMCTS Board Secretary
Head of Corporate Governance and Board Secretariat

1.3 Apologies

Name	Role
Annabel Burns	Judicial and Legal Services Policy Director - MoJ representative

2. Welcome and introductions

Attendees were welcomed to the meeting and the apologies were noted.

3. HMCTS recovery and reform

Following a discussion, the Board agreed to recommend Option 2 to the Principals, subject to agreement of funding.

4. Common Platform update

The Board discussed an update on the Common Platform, with particular focus on following-up in respect of actions taken from the Crime Programme Board on 18 October 2022, and the output of the independent technical review

5. Minutes and actions

The minutes from the meeting on 3 November 2022 were approved and updates on actions were noted.

6. Performance and finance updates

The Board was informed that good progress was being made in terms of listing Crown Court cases following the suspension of the Criminal Bar Association action. However, it was noted this was likely to become more challenging given the case-mix of the outstanding work. In addition, issues in relation to fulfilment levels for interpreter bookings and the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services were highlighted.

An update was provided on the Autumn Fiscal Event and the challenges posed by the additional industrial action by PCS of legal advisors and court associates were highlighted.

The announcement of the building of a new county and magistrates’ court in Blackpool and the publication of the HMCTS Vulnerability Action Plan update were highlighted.

An oral update from the most recent quarterly Principals’ review was provided.

The Board was presented with an overview of operational performance and an update on the current financial position.

7. Disposals update

The Board was presented with the disposal rates across the jurisdictions including comparisons to pre-pandemic levels and the activity underway to make improvements.

8. Authorised officers – national framework

Subject to assurance that the proposals were consistent with the agreed design principles and consideration of its other comments, the Board provided its endorsement.

9. HMCTS risk register / risk appetite

The Board provided its feedback in terms of the planned comprehensive risk refresh, the current corporate risk register, and matrix and revised risk appetites.

10. HMCTS audit and risk assurance

Consideration was given to the quarterly report by the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

11. Revised HMCTS board terms of reference

Following a discussion, the Board agreed the revised Terms of Reference.