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Chapter 3: The Agencies and Associated Offices

    		• Court Service
    		• Public Trust Office
    		• The Associated Offices

    TABLE 10: Performance against key performance indicators
    TABLE 11: Performance against key performance indicators

      Court Service

    1. The Court Service exists to carry out the administrative and support work of courts and tribunals and to promote their impartial and efficient operation. The Court Service supports the judiciary in the exercise of their functions and it works closely with them in promoting the impartial and efficient operation of the courts. It consults the judiciary in preparing its plans before they are submitted to the Lord Chancellor for approval, and on all major initiatives and changes affecting the operation of the courts.

      Objective

    2. The Court Service aims to provide a good quality service in a cost-effective manner. In meeting its purpose, it will:

      • provide a courteous, reliable and accurate service, relevant information and suitable facilities

      • complete all administrative processes promptly

      • reduce waiting times for trial or hearing

      • reduce the cost of the services provided

      • achieve full cost recovery in the civil courts.

      Vision and values

    3. The Court Service wants to be:

      • a well-focused Agency delivering excellent, value-driven performance to its clients and stakeholders

      • an Agency where people feel involved and are clear what is expected of them, delivering services and results through well-motivated, committed staff

      • an Agency playing its full part with others involved in the justice system.

    4. The values that will help it become this kind of organisation are:

      • valuing people throughout the Court Service for their contribution; building partnerships and working in teams, achieving more together than is possible individually

      • focusing on customer service supported by Information Technology

      • getting value for money in everything it does.

    5. Performance against the aims and objectives is measured by the Court Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). In 1999/2000 the Court Service introduced a new KPI for asylum appeals.

      View Table

      TABLE 10: Performance against key performance indicators

      Further information

    6. Further information on the work of the Court Service can be found in the Court Service Annual Report and Plan which are available from:

      The Court Service
      Southside
      105 Victoria Street
      London
      SW1E 6QT
      Tel: 020 7210 1673
      www.courtservice.gov.uk

      Public Trust Office

      Aim

    1. The aim of the Public Trust Office (PTO) is to ensure the effective management of private assets and financial affairs entrusted to its care by, or on behalf of, people unable or unwilling to manage these matters themselves.

    2. The Public Trustee is responsible for ensuring that the statutory functions of the Public Trustee and Accountant General of the Supreme Court are carried out.

    3. There are four main areas of PTO work:

      • The PTO acts as the administrative arm of the Court of Protection. The Court of Protection has jurisdiction, under the Mental Health Act 1983, over the property and affairs of people who are incapable by reason of mental disorder of managing these matters themselves. The PTO also deals with applications for registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney under the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985.

      • The Public Trustee carries out the full range of receivership duties when appointed as receiver by the Court of Protection where no willing or suitable person can be found to act as receiver.

      • The Public Trustee acts as executor or administrator of estates and as the appointed trustee of settlements or when requested to take over these responsibilities by retiring trustees.

      • The PTO provides a banking and investment service for funds which are deposited in court, including payments in satisfaction and monies held in trust for minors.

      Objectives

    4. In pursuit of its aims, the PTO's objectives are to:

      • provide effective administrative services in relation to the Mental Health and Enduring Power of Attorney Acts; incorporating support for the Court of Protection, overseeing and assisting receivers in carrying out their duties and (where the Public Trustee is appointed receiver) to provide the full range of receivership duties

      • provide an effective executor and trustee service to the general public or if appointed by the courts, on a non-profit making basis

      • provide a secure and efficient banking and investment service for funds which are held in court.

      Key Performance Indicators

    5. The PTO's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), targets and performance are shown in the following table.

      View Table

      TABLE 11: Performance against key performance indicators

    6. Full details of the PTO's performance against these Key Performance Indicators are published in the Annual Report, together with details of the corporate initiatives which support the achievement of these targets.

      Reform of the PTO

    7. See Chapter 1, for details of the 1999 PAC Report on the PTO and the results of the Quinquennnial Review published on 18 November 1999.

      Further information

    8. For further information about the Public Trust Office and copies of its Annual Report, Framework Document, Corporate and Business Plans, contact:

      Public Trust Office
      Planning and Human Resource Division
      Stewart House
      24 Kingsway
      London WC2B 6JX
      Tel: 020 7664 7000
      www.publictrust.gov.uk/

    The Associated Offices

    Legal Services Commission

    Chairman: Peter G Birch CBE
    Chief Executive: Steve Orchard CBE

    The Legal Services Commission is an executive non-departmental public body working within a statutory framework laid down by the Access to Justice Act 1999. The Commission has a statutory duty to establish, develop and maintain the Community Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Services, which replace the old legal aid scheme.

    The Commission replaced the Legal Aid Board on 1 April 2000.

    The Legal Aid Board's Annual Report for 1998/99 was published on 24 June 1999.

    Legal Services Commission
    85 Gray's Inn Road
    London WC1X 8AA
    Tel: 020 7813 1000

    Council on Tribunals

    Chairman: The Rt. Hon. The Lord Newton of Braintree OBE
    Secretary: Mrs PJ Fairbairn

    The Council was established in 1958 by the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1958, (following the Report of the Franks Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Enquiries in 1957). The Council now operates under the Tribunals and Inquires Act 1992.

    The main role of the Council is to keep under review the constitution and working of the tribunals specified in the Act. The Act requires Government Departments to consult the Council in respect of procedural rules for those tribunals. The Council's jurisdiction also extends to certain statutory inquiries held by or on behalf of Ministers.

    The work of the Council of Tribunals during the period 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999 is described in their fortieth Annual Report, published on 15 December 1999.

    Council on Tribunals
    7th Floor
    22 Kingsway
    London
    WC2B 6LE
    Tel: 020 7936 7045
    Fax: 020 7936 7044

    The Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales

    Legal Services Ombudsman: Ann Abraham

    The Legal Services Ombudsman was established under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. Her role is to oversee the handling of complaints about solicitors, barristers, legal executives and licensed conveyancers and patent agents by the professional bodies responsible for setting and maintaining standards of conduct and service within the legal profession.

    The Ombudsman's Annual Report for 1998/99 was published in June 1999.

    The Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman
    22 Oxford Court
    Oxford Street
    Manchester
    M2 3WQ

    E-mail: enquiries.olso@gtnet.gov.uk
    Tel: 0161 236 9532
    Lo Call No: 0845 6086565
    Fax: 0161 236 2651

    Law Commission

    Chairman: The Honourable Mr Justice Carnwath CVO
    Secretary: M W Sayers

    The Law Commission was established by the Law Commissions Act 1965. Its main purpose is to recommend reform of the law. It aims to ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and cost effective as possible. Over 100 of its reports have resulted in Acts of Parliament since 1965. Some 70% of its reports have been implemented by legislation, fully or partly. The Commission is also responsible for the consolidation of legislation and for the repeal of obsolete legislation. All the Commission's recent publications, including its Annual Report, are on its website.

    The Law Commission
    Conquest House
    37/38 John Street
    Theobalds Road
    London
    WC1N 2BQ
    Tel: 020 7453 1220
    Fax: 020 7453 1297

    E-mail: secretary.lawcomm@gtnet.gov.uk
     www.lawcom.gov.uk

    Judicial Studies Board

    Chairman: The Right Honourable Lord Justice Waller
    Director of Studies: Judge David Pearl
    Secretary: E Adams

    The Judicial Studies Board was established in 1979. Its objectives are to provide high quality training to full and part-time judges in the exercise of their jurisdiction in civil, criminal and family Law; to advise the Lord Chancellor on the policy for and content of training for lay magistrates and on the efficiency and effectiveness with which Magistrates' Courts' Committees deliver such training; to advise the Lord Chancellor and Government Departments on the appropriate standards for and content of training for judicial officers in administrative tribunals; and to advise the Government on the training requirements of judges, magistrates and judicial officers in tribunals if proposed changes to the law are to be effective and to provide and advise on the content of such training. Its relationship to the Lord Chancellor's Department is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding which was first published in 6 June 1996 and which was re-issued in April 1999.

    The Annual Report for 1998/99 was published in July 1999.

    Judicial Studies Board
    9th Floor, Millbank Tower
    www.jsboard.co.uk
    Tel: 020 7217 4763
    E-mail: jsboard@compuserve.com

    The Official Solicitor's Office

    Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court: Laurence Oates.

    The Official Solicitor (a statutory appointment under section 90 of the Supreme Court Act 1981) acts in legal proceedings for those unable to represent themselves. In particular, he acts for children and the mentally disabled who are vulnerable litigants because they lack capacity. He will also intervene when there is no-one else suitable to do so, to prevent an injustice which would arise were he not to act for a party. His main objective is to protect the best interests and human rights of those he represents.

    Details of the Office's activities and caseload are published annually in the Department's Judicial Statistics Annual Report (the report for 1998 was published in July 1999).

    The Official Solicitor's Office
    81 Chancery Lane
    London
    WC2A 1DD
    Tel: 020 7911 7118
    http://www.officialsolicitor.gov.uk/


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