The Civil Procedure Rule Committee issued a new update yesterday.

The key change is that there will be a Video Hearings Pilot Scheme - effective from 30 November 2018 – looking initially at applications to set aside County Court default judgments on money claims. This will not apply (at least for the time being) to mortgage possession actions.

The pilot will take place in the Manchester and Birmingham Civil Justice Centres, via web based video links. Parties and lawyers can attend the hearing by video. Hearings will still be public in the sense that any member of the public can still turn up to the courtroom and see the judge and the parties on their screens.

This pilot will run from 30th November 2018 to 30th November 2019 and is likely to be the forerunner to much more sweeping use of technology in the future. Watch this space for news about how the video hearings operate in practice.

This CPR update also included an extension of the circumstances in which legal advisers at the County Court Business Centre (CCBC) can act, specifically to enable them to consider applications to make a counterclaim after a defence has been filed (except where the limitation period for bringing the counterclaim has expired). This is a technical amendment and there is no need for any concern or new action by creditors or suppliers.

Finally some good news - there are no new forms released with this CPR update.

If you would like further information or to discuss any aspect of video hearings or the CPR update generally, please contact my colleague Shilpi Jairath who is an expert on these matters – Shilpi is at Shilpi.jairath@ascent.co.uk or on 07702 116 285