The Tribunals Service inherited a network of hearing venues of varying quality across the UK. Many of these venues are in the same towns/cities. An examination of venue usage showed a substantial under-utilisation of courtrooms in many areas. The Tribunal Service aims to rationalise this network to unify services and operate more efficiently, by introducing a network of multi-jurisdictional hearing centres which more accurately reflect the varying demand of appeal caseload across the UK.
Work to deliver some Tribunals Service venue rationalisation has already begun, where estate opportunities have allowed. The following table provides details of the changes which have taken place.
Venue Action Date Completed Area: Scotland Aberdeen Combine Employment Tribunals (ET) and Social Security and Child Support Appeals (SSCSA) venues in Aberdeen January 2008 Dundee Combine ET and SSCSA venues into new premises in Dundee July 2007 Glasgow Relocate Criminals Injuries Compensation Appeal Panel (CICAP) to current SSCSA premises in Glasgow December 2007 Area: north-east/north-west Carlisle Combine ET and SSCSA venues in Carlisle July 2006 North Shields Close SSCSA venue and move to Asylum and Immigration Tribunal venue in North Shields February 2007 Hull Close SSCSA venue and combine with current ET venue in Hull January 2008 Westpoint, Manchester Relocate Pensions Appeal Tribunal and Finance and Tax Tribunals to current ET and SSCSA venues in Manchester December 2007 Area: Midlands Boston Close poor and underutilised venue and move to daily hire venue in Boston December 2007 Nottingham Close SSCSA venue and combine with current ET venue in Nottingham May 2007 Leicester Close SSCSA venue and move to current ET venue in Nottingham November 2007 Area: Wales and south-west Bournemouth Move to daily hire premises in Bournemouth at lease end of current SSCSA venue September 2007 Area: Greater London and south-east Ashford Close SSCSA venue and move to current ET venue in Ashford March 2008 Brighton Close ET venue and move to current SSCSA venue in Brighton July 2006 Eastbourne SSCSA venue of a poor standard. Move to a daily hire venue in Eastbourne July 2008 Exeter Close SSCSA venue and move to current ET venue in Exeter March 2008 Note: A ‘daily hire’ is a non permanent venue hired when appeal demand for a particular area dictates.
The Tribunals Service has inherited a network of hearing venues of varying quality across the UK, many of which were in the same towns and cities. An examination of venue usage showed a substantial under-utilisation of courtrooms in many areas. The Tribunal Service aims to rationalise this network to unify services and operate more efficiently, by introducing a high quality network of multi-jurisdictional hearing centres which more accurately reflect the varying demand of appeal caseload across the UK.
The proposed future network multi-jurisdictional hearing centres and the associated rationalisation plans have not yet been finalised and are currently subject to internal consultations and funding approval. The internal consultation process is due to be finalised by the end of the summer.