Our Work

  • Executive Committee Meeting Dates

      Meetings are currently held via Microsoft Teams and in person once a year. The dates planned for the 2024 cycle are:

      • 24 January 2024
      • 24 April 2024
      • 20 June 2024
      • 1 September 2024

  • Joint Meeting Date

      Every six months a meeting is held with the Deputy and/or Chamber President and senior members of the administrative team. Dates are set from one meeting to the next, so only one can be advertised at a time. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss issues raised by members and matters of policy or practice within the MHTS of concern to us all. This includes both complaints and congratulations as they are in our view merited. Usually, where a matter has been raised the DCP has included it in a communication with members if it relates to a matter of policy or practice which we have been able to make clear needs clarification. We have reciprocated if their side raises a matter about which they are concerned which we agree might helpfully be referenced in a newsletter from MHTMA. The DCP has made it clear that he saw this meeting as a key arena for communication and consultation. Members will always be reminded of them and encouraged to send issues into Exec members which they would like to be raised.

      The next meeting is on:

      •   2024

MHTMA is run by a committee of up to 12 members elected at the AGM with the assistance of our part-time administrator.

Below are examples of the work we have done over the past year:

  • Responded to consultations, carrying the weight of MHTMA members’ views. Recent ones have included the proposed change to widen Rule 35 for paper hearings, proposed pension changes for Judges appointed pre 2003 and Additional fees
  • Submitted evidence to the SSRB for the annual review of all Judicial Officer Holders’ sitting fees
  • Following a serious assault upon a Circuit Judge at Milton Keynes County Court in November 2023, the Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ), Edis LJ, is engaged in an ongoing Serious Incident Learning Review and review of the Potentially Violent Person Protocol. Invited to do so by the Senior President of Tribunals, we submitted evidence of security issues/incidents experienced by members when sitting.
  • Successfully applied to HMRC to be added to the list of organisations whose members may claim income tax relief in respect of annual membership subscriptions
  • Attended regular meetings with our CP and DCP and the Tribunal Administration which address issues concerning the management of Tribunals. Recent discussions included safety issues for Tribunal Members, bookings policy, recording of hearings.
  • Sent out surveys to seek members’ views
  • Co-opted non committee members to tackle important issues under discussion
  • Representation at the Forum of Tribunal Organisations consisting of13 other different Tribunal organisations and associations where issues of mutual interest are discussed. Through these meetings we are able to gain a bigger picture of the Tribunal Service and can discuss problems within it. The Forum also meets regularly with the Senior President of Tribunals and the MOJ.
  • Liaison with MIND, The Law Society and the Mental Health Lawyers’ Association when it benefits our members.

Find our MHTMA Privacy Notice