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Have your sayWe welcome news and views on any subject related to administrative justice and tribunals. Pass it on!Please forward Adjust to people who might find it interesting. To have your name added to our list of recipients, click here Adjust is free! New look for the Council's website!The Council has recently redesigned its website to make it a more user-friendly and accessible online resource. Of particular interest is the 'links' page which contains a list of many of the tribunals and inquiries overseen by the Council. Scottish Committee moves officesThe Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals has moved offices to: George House, 126 Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4HH. The new contact telephone number is 0131 271 4300 Residential Property Tribunal Service NewsletterThe Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS) has published a newsletter 'Housing Dispute Update' which has been widely distributed to MPs, Council Leaders, Citizens Advice Bureaux and other advice centres. The newsletter aims to raise awareness of RPTS particularly as it acquires new jurisdictions under the Housing Act 2004. The newsletter is not available online but a copy can be obtained from the RPTS. TouchbaseTouchbase is the Department for Work and Pensions newsletter for advisers, intermediaries and other professionals. Centre for Public Scrutiny: Scrutiny NewsThe Centre for Public Scrutiny, established in 2003, is a national support and advisory organisation that works to promote the value of scrutiny in modern and effective government. National Pro Bono Week: June 2006National Pro Bono week, backed by the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Institute of Legal Executives, celebrated its fifth year in June. With more than fifty events held nationwide, law firms, community centres and MPs surgeries offered free advice sessions and promoted the benefits of pro bono work. Journal of Public Law celebrates its 50th Anniversary YearThe Journal of Public Law is celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Established in 1956, Public Law publishes scholarly articles, reviews and surveys on constitutional and administrative law in the UK and abroad. The Summer 2006 edition includes articles on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) within Public Law and the rise of mediation in administrative law disputes – comparing experiences from England, France and Germany. Good Doctors, Safer PatientsProfessor Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, has published his review of the regulation of the medical profession. One of the recommendations in his report 'Good doctors, safer patients' includes the establishment of an independent tribunal in order to adjudicate on fitness to practise matters. The General Medical Council (GMC) will focus on the assessment and investigation of cases. Legal Services Commission Welsh Language SchemeFollowing a consultation exercise, the Legal Services Commission has launched its Welsh Language Scheme. The aim of the service is to enable everyone who receives a service through the Legal Services Commission in Wales to do so in English or Welsh, according to their personal choice. This includes providing forms and correspondence in Welsh and access to Welsh-speaking staff. Judicial Appointments and Conduct OmbudsmanThe Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman (JACO) investigates complaints about the judicial appointments process and the handling of matters involving judicial discipline or conduct. Sir John Brigstocke KCB has been appointed as the inaugural JACO from 3 April 2006. Telecoms & Energy OmbudsmanElizabeth France OBE has been appointed as the new Energy Supply Ombudsman with effect from 1 July 2006. She will be responsible for resolving all customer complaints about electricity and gas suppliers, and will have the power to award customers up to £5,000 in compensation. She will retain her existing responsibility for telecommunications and becomes Telecommunications and Energy Ombudsman. APOSTim Corner QC has recently been appointed as Interim Chairman for The Advisory Panel on Standards for The Planning Inspectorate, replacing Corinne Swain. Birthday Honours 2006Hazel Genn, Professor of Socio-Legal Studies at University College London, has been made a DBE (Dame of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for 2006. Professor Genn is a leading authority on civil justice and has published widely in the field, including her most recent research Tribunals for Diverse Users. Pat Thomas, a member of the Council on Tribunals has been made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire). Mrs Thomas was a Local Government Ombudsman for 20 years, and Vice-Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England from 1993–2005. Worth a click...The Public Legal Education and Support Task Force (PLEAS) is an independent body set up to develop proposals for how to promote and improve public legal education in society today. JSB Training Dates9-11 October 2006 27-28 November 2006 16 January 2007 19-21 March 2007 15-17 November 2007 For further details see the JSB's Tribunals' Training Prospectus |
Council on Tribunals publishes its 2005-06 Annual Report"The year we cover was perhaps the most significant for the tribunals world since 1958, when the Council on Tribunals itself was established after the Franks Report"
– Lord Newton Chairman of the Council on Tribunals The Council on Tribunals' 2005-06 Annual Report provides an account of the Council's work in the reporting year from April 2005 to March 2006. Of particular significance has been the establishment of the new Tribunals Service under the aegis of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Other highlights of the past year have included:
The Report also records the Council's work during the year, including 75 visits to tribunals by Council members, and attendance at over 60 conferences and training seminars. Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill published in draftThe Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill was published in draft on 25 July. Comments are sought by 22 September 2006. Review of the Role of Non-Legal Tribunal Members
Baroness Ashton, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, talks about the Review of the Role of Non-Legal Tribunal Members. Other News :Decision making standards in DWPOn 4 July 2006 the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions published his report on the standards of decision making in Jobcentre Plus, The Pensions Service, Disability and Carers Service and the Child Support Agency in 2002 and 2003.
Consultation – Regulatory Justice: Sanctioning in a post-Hampton World
The Cabinet Office has issued a consultation document Regulatory Justice: Sanctioning in a post-Hampton World by Professor Richard Macrory. Professor Macrory was asked to examine the system of regulatory sanctions to ensure that these were consistent and appropriate for the risk based approach to regulation set out in the Hampton Review. The consultation document contains Professor Macrory's initial findings on the penalties system and outlines his vision for a modernised system of regulatory sanctions, including a proposal to create a specialist regulatory appeal tribunal. Professor Macrory's final recommendations will be published in Autumn 2006. Seminar Series: Administrative Justice – practitioners and policy makers welcome!The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are organising a series of seminars on administrative justice. The aims of the seminars are to review the current state of theoretical work on administrative justice; consider recent developments in public administration in the UK; assess the current state of administrative justice in the UK and consider how administrative justice might be enhanced. Consultation on Legal Aid reformThe publication of Lord Carter of Coles' Review of Legal Aid Procurement, Legal Aid: A market-based approach to reform has been welcomed by Sir Michael Bichard, Chair of the Legal Services Commission, who said it offers "an important opportunity to ensure that legal aid has a sustainable future." In response to the review the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Legal Services Commission have jointly prepared and published a consultation paper Legal Aid: a sustainable future. The consultation paper seeks views on proposals in relation to Civil Controlled Work including the provision of legal aid in Immigration, and Mental Health cases.
Parking Policy and Enforcement"At present participating local authorities fund the service. This projects an unfortunate appearance that the service may be under the control of the councils. It certainly does not convey the impression of independence that is the basis for raising its status and profile."
The House of Commons Transport Committee has published a report Parking Policy and Enforcement that is critical of current parking policies. Among those who gave evidence to the Committee were Caroline Sheppard, Chief Parking Adjudicator for England and Wales, and Martin Wood, Chief Parking Adjudicator for London. Recommendations from the report include ensuring there is less confusion between the roles of the parking adjudication service and the Local Government Ombudsman over parking appeals. The report also recommends that Government review the funding of the parking adjudication service and proposes arrangements that emphasise its separate judicial status and independence from local councils. The Transport Committee concludes with recommendations for change including a 'single decriminalised enforcement system'.
Bill of Rights parking fines challenge failsMr Justice Collins has refused an application for judicial review in which it was contended that the 1689 Bill of Rights outlaws parking fines because they have not been imposed by a court of law. Mr Justice Collins said 'This argument has been produced on a number of occasions and seems to have worried local authorities and possibly even parking adjudicators. All I can say is that they should cease to worry'. Asylum and Immigration Tribunal - Review Report"...the Review has been taking evidence during a period of considerable challenge and change for the AIT"
Following the implementation of the new AIT in April 2005, a review has been carried out to consider whether it is realising its intended benefits. The report provides an analysis of how the AIT has been performing in its early stages, including a review of findings and recommendations to further develop the handling of work through the AIT.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill:
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