A report last week by the National Audit Office (NAO), ‘Transforming courts and tribunals: a progress update’, found HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was facing a ‘significant challenge’ to deliver the programme on time and on budget.
HMCTS has set up its first two courts and tribunals service centres as well as some new services including online divorce, civil money claims and probate services with simplified forms and faster processing.
However, it has also cancelled two projects and extended the timetable for the reform programme by one year until December 2023, meaning it will now take seven years. HMCTS had previously extended the timetable from four to six years.
So far, HMCTS has closed 127 courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Future closures have been delayed until capacity is freed up, and it has reduced the number of closures from 96 to 77 following a value for money assessment.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: ‘HMCTS must maintain a strong grip if it is to deliver a system that works better for everyone and delivers savings for the taxpayer.’
Richard Atkins QC, chair of the Bar Council, said: ‘This modernisation programme must not become the HS2 of the justice system.
‘Whilst the Bar Council is relieved to see that the planned court closures have been scaled back, we have previously expressed considerable concern about the lack of access to justice for people who find that they live many miles from their nearest court, and we remain concerned over the future.’
