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Chapter 2: Performance Summary

The objectives of the Scottish Court Service are supported by targets which relate to the speedy, efficient and effective disposal of court business and the standards of service provided to court users. A more detailed summary of performance, targets and supporting activity is covered in chapters 3 and 4. The key measures are reported on within this Chapter.

Key Ministerial Targets:

Brief description TARGETS, OUTTURNS & ACHIEVEMENTS
    2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 TARGETS
FOR
2005-06
Court of Session
Average waiting periods in civil appeals other than early disposal Target 18
Term Weeks		 18
Term Weeks		 18
Term Weeks		 18
Term Weeks
Outturn 27
Term Weeks		 30
Term Weeks		 27
Term Weeks
Average waiting period for ordinary proofs Target 19
Term Weeks		 19
Term Weeks		 19
Term Weeks		 19
Term Weeks
Outturn 35
Term Weeks		 41
Term Weeks		 34
Term Weeks
High Court of Justiciary
Average waiting period for solemn sentence appeals from date leave granted Target 5
Weeks		 5
Weeks		 9
Weeks		 9
Weeks
Outturn 10
Weeks		 13
Weeks		 11
Weeks
Average waiting periods for solemn conviction and sentence appeals from date leave granted Target 10
Term Weeks		 10
Term Weeks		 17
Term Weeks		 17
Term Weeks
Outturn 42
Term Weeks		 42
Term Weeks		 29
Term Weeks
Average waiting period for summary sentence appeals from date leave granted Target 5
Weeks		 5
Weeks		 9
Weeks		 9
Weeks
Outturn 9
Weeks		 26
Weeks		 15
Weeks
Average waiting period for summary stated case appeals from date leave granted Target 6
Term Weeks		 6
Term Weeks		 6
Term Weeks		 6
Term Weeks
Outturn 50
Term Weeks		 53
Term Weeks		 25
Term Weeks
Sheriff Court
Percentage of summary criminal cases disposed of within 20 weeks Target 81% 83% 85% 85%
Outturn 80% 84% 84%
Average waiting period (weighted) for ordinary civil cases agreed with the Sheriffs Principal Target 12
Weeks		 12
Weeks		 12
Weeks		 12
Weeks
Outturn 11
Weeks		 11
Weeks		 11
Weeks


Brief description TARGETS, OUTTURNS & ACHIEVEMENTS
    2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 TARGETS
FOR
2005-06
Quality
Percentage achievement of the administrative standards set by the Lord President and the Lord Justice General for the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary Target 95% 96% 97% 97%
Outturn 89% 94% 98%
Percentage achievement of the administrative standards agreed with the Sheriffs Principal in the Sheriff Courts Target 96% 97% 98% 98%
Outturn 97% 96% 96%
Percentage of Courthouses meeting the ‘Coming to Court’ standards Target 88% 89% 94% 94%
Outturn 88% 94% 94%
To meet the anticipated demand for sitting days Target 31,500 31,700 31,900 31,900
Outturn 32,593 33,177 33,068
Customer satisfaction rating as measured by annual survey Target 75% 80% 75% 75%
Outturn 68% 75% 79%*

* The methodology used to obtain the 2004-2005 Customer satisfaction rating as measured by annual survey has changed from that used in the previous 2 years therefore no comparison between the years can be drawn.

Waiting Periods In The Court Of Session And High Court of Justiciary

Procedural changes and additional judicial resources led to improvements in bringing down waiting periods in criminal appeals. This year, with civil waiting periods either holding steady or improving, marked reductions have been achieved across all main criminal appeal categories. The most substantial was in relation to summary stated case appeals with a reduction of more than 50% on 2003/04 outturn. This impetus will continue in the coming year.

Sheriff Court Targets

Performance was at or close to target in relation to summary criminal case throughput and on criminal and civil waiting periods. A combination of pressures (staff shortages, vacancies and temporary absences, which affected numbers and level of experience) within 2 of the largest courts meant that 3 of the administrative targets were not met within 2 Sheriffdoms, this resulted in a lower overall average. Extra resources have now been allocated to these areas to ensure that the targets are met and improvements are now evident.

Change in methodology used for customer survey

The methodology used to obtain the 2005 customer satisfaction rating as measured by annual survey has changed from that piloted in 2003 and revised in 2004. The main changes were the inclusion for the first time in 2005 of professional court users in the survey; administration of the survey by exit interview in all but three Sheriff Court locations; and use of self-completion questionnaires for jurors, administered by clerks. The survey questionnaire was also revised to take account of the needs of professional users and disabled users, and a question about satisfaction with the SCS website was added.