Agricultural Land Tribunal

THE AGRICULTURAL LAND TRIBUNAL FOR WALES

FEE PAID CHAIRMAN

JOB DESCRIPTION

This appointment presents an important opportunity to lead the Agricultural Land Tribunal for Wales (ALT Wales).

PURPOSE OF OFFICE

The ALT Wales was established under the Agriculture Act 1947 and has jurisdiction for the geographical area of Wales.

The ALT Wales plays an important role in determining disputes and other issues between agricultural landlords and tenants arising from tenancy agreements held under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. The ALT Wales also determines disputes relating to the drainage of agricultural land under the Land Drainage Act 1991.

The Chairman will be responsible for the overall judicial administration of the ALT Wales and will provide leadership to tribunal members. The Chairman will ensure that practical consistency and high standards in decision making and efficiency is achieved throughout the Tribunal.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

The main activities of the Chairman are as follows:

Presiding over hearings

• Regularly chair Tribunal hearings.

• Providing clear written reasons for the Tribunal’s decision.

• Decide (or if not present, advising upon as necessary) issues of law and procedure that may arise during a tribunal.

• Ensure that cases are decided by considering the facts and applying the relevant law and any applicable code of conduct to them.

• Determine any award of costs where appropriate

Leadership for Tribunal members

• Provide information and advice to members of the tribunal on any changes to current policies and developments in statutory and case law, non-statutory regulations and procedures.

• Prepare suitable training for members of the tribunal to ensure ability to undertake their role as panel members.

• Lead on the monitoring and appraisal of the performance of Members.
• Issue guidance and directions on the practice and procedure to be followed and how tribunals drawn are to reach decisions.

• Allocate members’ work and monitor the regularity of their sittings.

• Ensure that every tribunal hearing is conducted properly, fairly and in accordance with the relevant law and practice.

• Develop the procedures governing the conduct of tribunal business and ensuring that members are familiar with them.

• Ensure that an accurate written record of the tribunal’s findings of fact and reasoning is kept.

• Ensure that membership of Tribunals does not give rise to conflicts of interest (real or perceived).

• Consider and resolve complaints against Tribunal members.

Leadership for Tribunal administration

• Work closely with the Secretary to the tribunal.The day to day administration is largely delegated to the Secretary who deals with all the preliminary paper work. The Secretary will consult with Chairman on any legal points arising during the preliminary pre-hearing stages of the proceedings, and will pass on the Chairman's rulings and directions in writing to the parties.

• IT literate - make the fullest use possible of electronic means of communication and to use IT to deliver decisions within strict timeframes.
• Ensure an effective and efficient service of the judicial elements of the ALT Wales.

• Facilitate all parties to have their applications to the tribunal presented and considered as fully, fairly and proportionately as possible.

• Maintaining public confidence in the work of the Tribunal.

• Ensure in each case the most expeditious dispatch of business compatible with the interests of justice.

• Work closely with the Welsh Tribunals Unit and attend the regular Judicial Leads meetings.

• Produce an annual report on the Tribunal’s activities.

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