Meeting Summaries
Family Justice Council - First Council Meeting
Monday 19th July 2004
Welcome And Introductions
The President of the Family Division, as Chairman of the Family Justice Council, welcomed all members to the inaugural meeting. The President emphasised that although the Chairman and Deputy Chairman are members of the judiciary, the Council is an interdisciplinary body and it is the joint view of the Council which must prevail.
Vision For The Family Justice Council
Having recited a brief history of interdisciplinarity in family proceedings since the implementation of the Children Act in 1991, the Deputy Chairman proceeded to set out his vision for the FJC.
The first challenge is to establish a relationship with the local Family Court Business Committees and Fora based at each care centre throughout England and Wales. It was agreed that the local committee structure needs to be revitalised and this proposal will be considered at the conference to be held by the Council in October.
Conclusions reached by the Council will be worked through collaboratively with the care centres and the local communities they serve through the Designated Family Judges.
A draft skeleton business plan was produced. Members will comment on the draft and a final version including priorities will be formalised during the autumn.
The Deputy Chairman emphasised the opportunity which the creation of the Council affords to do a great deal to tackle family justice practice and policy in a true interdisciplinary sense.
Acting Executive Committee
Membership of an Acting Executive Committee was agreed pending the establishment of a formal Executive Committee at the October conference.
The President's Committees
It was agreed that the President's Interdisciplinary Family Law Committee and its Education & Training sub-committee, the President's International Family Law Committee and the President's Ancillary Relief Advisory Group shall be adopted as sub-committees of the Council. The President's Adoption Committee shall continue as a separate body until full implementation of the Adoption and Children Act 2002; then it too will become a sub-committee to the Council.
October Conference
A conference spread over two days will be held in October at which the Council will map out its priorities for the year ahead. In advance of the conference, representatives on the Council from government departments will produce papers identifying government initiatives relevant to the work of the Council.
Future Meetings
The Council will meet four times a year. The dates for meetings in 2005 were provisionally agreed.