HMCTS Board meeting summary - 3 February 2021
Published 31 March 2021
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1. Present HMCTS Members
| Board member | 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 Finance Officer |
| Gemma Hewison | Strategy and Change Director |
| Paul Harris | Acting Operations Director |
| Annabel Burns | Judicial & Legal Services Policy Directorate Director – MoJ Representative |
| Lord Justice Keith Lindblom | Senior President of Tribunals (SPT) |
| Lady Justice Kate Thirlwall | Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ) |
| District Judge Tim Jenkins | Judicial Board member |
1.1 Presenters and additional attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave | Deputy Senior Presiding Judge (DSPJ) |
| Jan Gower | Non-Executive Change Portfolio Board member/Critical Friend |
| Louise Alexander | HR Director |
| Neil Sheppard | Deputy Director, HR Organisational Capability |
| Head of Reward | |
| Catherine Blair | Deputy Director, Strategic Finance |
| Amy Caldwell-Nichols | Deputy Director, Head of Insights & Analysis |
| Head of Modelling and Forecasting | |
| Craig Robb | Deputy Director, Governance & Assurance |
| Head of Employee Engagement | |
| Service Manager Video Hearings | |
| Business Change Manager | |
| Video Hearings Delivery Manager | |
| Video Hearings Project Team Member | |
| Clare Farren | Deputy Director, Judicial Private Offices |
| HMCTS Board Secretary | |
| Head of HMCTS Corporate Governance & Board Secretariat |
2. Welcome and Introductions
Tim Parker welcomed attendees to the meeting.
3. Minutes and actions
The minutes from 19 January 2021 were approved and updates on actions were noted.
4. Performance and Finance Updates
The Board was informed that performance levels had held up relatively well despite the strengthening measures in response to the increase in coronaviris (COVID-19) infection numbers experienced across the country as well as the spread of new variants. These measures included reducing the footfall within HMCTS sites, increasing remote hearings and changing the listing approach in magistrates’ courts. The Board emphasised its support and gratitude to HMCTS staff for their continued hard work and efforts during this period.
It was noted that staff absence was less than 1 percentage point higher than average rates for this time of year and HMCTS was working with the Department of Health and Social Care seeking to provide court staff with home Covid-19 testing kits as part of its wider approach to testing.
Further steps were being taken to reassure professional users, such as a new escalation route and strengthened mechanisms for local engagement. It was also highlighted that 40 Nightingale courtrooms were now being used with another two sites due to open over the coming months.
The Board considered the latest financial report.
5. Delegated Pay Award Business Case Update
The Board discussed the update provided on the proposed MoJ pay deal, the high-level implications for HMCTS and the possible outcomes from Her Majesty’s Treasury on the business case that had been submitted for consideration.
6. HMCTS indicative sitting day allocations 2021-22 – update
Consideration was given to a number of scenarios, based on different sitting day allocations and the Board provided its feedback to be considered as the process progressed.
7. 2021to 22 HMCTS Corporate Business Plan
The Board reviewed the proposals for the business plan and provided steers on its production and content.
8. 2020 HMCTS People Survey Results
The summary of the HMCTS People Survey 2020 results, the proposed next steps and approach for 2021 was presented to the Board.
The Board recognised that the positive results represented a significant achievement, particularly given the circumstances, and thanked all those who had been involved in maintaining high engagement during pandemic.
9. Demonstration of Video Hearings Service
The Board was provided with a demonstration of the new service from the users’ perspective and facilities available such as testing in advance, instant messaging with video hearing officers and customising the layout of the view of the hearing participants. Feedback was provided in respect of additional features that might be considered for future releases of the service.
The Board congratulated the team on the progress that had been made in developing the Video Hearings Service and suggested that they return for a further demonstration in the future to see further enhancements that had been made.