TRIBUNALS ON SATURDAYS

I was at the Liverpool Tribunal Venue yesterday and a clerk told me they were going to hold oral hearings on Staurdays from 17th September.

We have had no notification of this or any consultation with the Tribunal Service.

Has anyone else heard anything about this?

No, but I’m presuming they will only schedule unrepped clients because if they think I’m going to turn out on a Saturday then they better think again.

I have heard that it is for un repped clients but I have not heard anything official form them

Hi,

They’ve also been doing Saturday hearings in Surrey, in my experience the tribunal service have offered the Saturday hearing but have been quite happy to change it to a weekday if people ask.

Jane

It appears that Dundee is running Saturday hearings too.

This possibility was mentioned at a TUG meeting last week.

It is not at all clear what type of hearings may be involved, but we were told that for it would only happen at venues where adequate security was available.  There are also issues regarding attendance of presenting officers from DWP and Local Authorities.

Hi everyone

Saturday Appeal hearing are being offered to appellants that do not have a representative. I was made aware of the offer after a client (with rep) received his Enquiry form and a letter offering the Saturday hearings. After making enquiries I was told that it has come about after a successful pilot scheme in London where the take up has been allegedly good and response from consultation of those using the facility has been positive. They don’t have to accept a Saturday and can simply say ‘no’ and we are advising clients that we are no able to represent on Saturdays   The HM Courts & Tribunal Service are of the opinion that due to the delays that we are faced with because of the substantial increase in the workload, it seems as though working on Saturdays is one way to reduce the backlog.  Birmingham ASC office are also running two shifts with a twilight shift doing specific areas of the processing work. However I am still firmly of the opinion that there would be a lesser backlog if decision makers made appropriate decisions especially in cases of IB migration and ESA cases