C1Part II Organisation of Functions of Justices
Magistrates’ courts committees
22AF2 General powers and duties of magistrates’ courts committees.
1
A magistrates’ courts committee shall be responsible for the efficient and effective administration of the magistrates’ courts for their area.
2
A magistrates’ courts committee may, in particular—
a
allocate administrative responsibilities among the justices’ chief executive, the justices’ clerks and the staff of the committee, and
b
determine the administrative procedures to be followed by any of the persons mentioned in paragraph (a) above.
3
It shall be the duty of every magistrates’ courts committee to provide courses of instruction for justices’ clerks and for staff of the committee.
4
The Lord Chancellor may give directions to magistrates’ courts committees requiring each of them, in discharging their responsibilities under subsection (1) above, to meet specified standards of performance.
5
The Lord Chancellor may also give directions to magistrates’ courts committees requiring each of them to take specified steps, at such intervals as may be specified—
a
for the purpose of keeping the magistrates for their area informed as to the activities of the committee, or
b
for the purpose of ascertaining the views of those magistrates on particular matters related to the functions of the committee.
6
In discharging their responsibilities under subsection (1) above, a magistrates’ courts committee shall have regard to the needs of court users who are disabled; and so long as any direction under subsection (4) above is in force the standards of performance required under that subsection must include standards relating to the provision made for such court users.
7
A direction under this section may be given to all magistrates’ courts committees or to one or more particular committees.
8
The Lord Chancellor shall arrange for any direction given under this section to be published in such manner as he thinks fit.
Pt. II (ss. 17-30) extended (1.11.1994 for specified purposes and 1.4.1995 for all remaining purposes) by 1994 c. 29, s. 79(2)(6); S.I. 1994/2594, art. 4; S.I. 1995/685, art. 3.