Listing not floating?

Having recently returned from a holiday in Mexico it is only now that I have found the time to blog again. I have put the links to my holiday videos at the bottom. They are mostly of mummy Grey Whales with their calves plus some Sea Lions (if you are interested – please excuse the commentary).

I attended the recent users meeting in Southampton and the news in relation to administration especially listing does not look good. The phone still appears to be going unanswered and the use of floating is set to increase. It is not surprising that the use of mediation is on the rise as the lack of resources is effectively leading to the privatisation of the Tribunal system by the backdoor.

My subject today is listing related and is an increasingly common problem. This happened in Croydon but my experience is that this happens in the Southern Region as well. My four day case that was due to start yesterday has been postponed (remember when this never happened to multiday cases). The circumstances were that the listing office contacted my 'oppo' on the morning before to inform him that they could only guarantee three days hearing time.

The date was set last July and the likelihood of getting another slot before the end of the summer is very small. A delay of perhaps another 6 months is on the cards due to the Tribunals inability to manage the four day slot. This means a further wait for justice/resolution.

In a case I had in Reading just after Christmas the parties were informed that although we had a 9 day slot in December 2011, this fixture could not be guaranteed and there was a chance that it might be moved. It beggars belief that the parties have to wait this long and risk not getting on. I could go on about the 6 day case I had in Southampton in September of last year which was finally heard last week.

The point is the situation is getting worse and no matter what representations the users make the need for the Tribunals to meet their targets appears to take precedence over justice for individuals. This is the problem of having a macro approach to the issues. It makes little difference to the party whose case is delayed a further 6 months whether or not the Tribunal met its target for that quarter; he or she just wanted to get their case heard within a reasonable time!

Peter D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvGx9LSnB9o&feature=BF&list=ULZpCtt8gYpPQ&index=4