HM Courts and Tribunals Service Board meeting – 26 January 2022
Published 3 May 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) |
| Sir Keith Lindblom | Senior President of Tribunals (SPT) |
| District Judge Tim Jenkins | Judicial Board member |
1.2 Presenters and additional attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Craig Robb | Governance & Assurance Deputy Director |
| Ed Wagstaff | Deputy Director, Business Strategy |
| Strategy Lead | |
| Louise Alexander | Human Resources Director |
| Neil Sheppard | HR Organisational Capability Deputy Director |
| Head of Employee Engagement and Wellbeing | |
| Tim Stamp | Deputy Director, Strategic Finance & Planning |
| Head of Financial Strategy | |
| Rupert Morgan | Property Director |
| Clare Farren | Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices |
| HMCTS Board Secretary | |
| Head of HMCTS Corporate Governance & Board Secretariat |
1.3 Apologies
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| 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 2 December 2021 were approved and updates on actions were noted.
4. Performance and Finance Updates
The Board was informed that all courts and tribunals had continued to operate despite the Omicron surge in COVID-19 cases and the Board expressed it thanks to the operational teams. The good progress being made in relation to cases with expiring custody time limits (CTLs) was also recognised. An update was provided on PCS’s ongoing formal dispute with HMCTS.
The Board was provided with an update on recovery, particularly in the Crown Court, the magistrates’ court and the Family jurisdiction.
It was highlighted that the position in the Social Security & Child Support (SSCS) tribunal remained stable with fewer receipts and a lower number of outstanding cases than before the pandemic. Improvements in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC) were welcomed.
The Board considered the latest monthly finance report.
5. HMCTS Reform Programme update and Common Platform update
The Board considered the key updates in relation to the HMCTS Reform Programme.
An update was provided on the progress that had been made in preparation for consideration of the decision in terms of re-starting the Common Platform roll-out.
6. HMCTS corporate business plan 2021-22
The Board discussed the progress made on business plan delivery and provided its feedback.
7. Quarterly review of HMCTS performance by the Principals
The Board provided its steers on the report to be prepared for the Principals’ third quarterly performance review meeting.
8. 2021 HMCTS People Survey results
The summary of the HMCTS People Survey 2021 results, the proposed next steps and the approach for 2022 were considered. The Board thanked all those involved in the positive results and the significant improvements that had been made.
9. HMCTS workforce strategy and planning
The Board discussed the overview of HMCTS workforce strategy and planning, and the proposed approach to Reform benefit realisation in 2022/23.
10. Unit cost update
Consideration was given to the work done to date to develop unit costings for individual HMCTS services and the current findings for the initial services that had been reviewed.
The next steps were agreed, which included the capturing of all financial and non-financial benefits of reformed services.
11. 2022-23 HMCTS allocations
An update on the 2022-23 HMCTS Allocations process was provided.
12. Central London tribunals capacity replacement
Following a discussion, the Board approved the business case and agreed how the costs of this project would be met.
13. HMCTS Board effectiveness evaluation 2022
The Board noted the previous effectiveness action plan and agreed to the proposed approach for the 2022 Board Effectiveness Evaluation, including the questions to be asked.