The Criminal Procedure Rules 2015

ASSESSMENT OF COSTS

Assessment and re-assessment

45.11.—(1) This rule applies where the court directs an assessment under—

(a) rule 33.48 (Confiscation and related proceedings – restraint and receivership proceedings: rules that apply generally – assessment of costs);

(b) rule 45.6 (Costs on appeal); or

(c) rule 45.7 (Costs on an application).

(2) The assessment must be carried out by the relevant assessing authority, namely—

(a) the Lord Chancellor, where the direction was given by a magistrates’ court or by the Crown Court; or

(b) the Registrar, where the direction was given by the Court of Appeal.

(3) The party in whose favour the court made the costs order (‘the applicant’) must—

(a) apply for an assessment—

(i) in writing, in any form required by the assessing authority, and

(ii) not more than 3 months after the costs order; and

(b) serve the application on—

(i) the assessing authority, and

(ii) the party against whom the court made the costs order (‘the respondent’).

(4) The applicant must—

(a) summarise the work done;

(b) specify—

(i) each item of work done, giving the date, time taken and amount claimed,

(ii) any disbursements or expenses, including the fees of any advocate, and

(iii) any circumstances of which the applicant wants the assessing authority to take particular account; and

(c) supply—

(i) receipts or other evidence of the amount claimed, and

(ii) any other information or document for which the assessing authority asks, within such period as that authority may require.

(5) A respondent who wants to make representations about the amount claimed must—

(a) do so in writing; and

(b) serve the representations on the assessing authority, and on the applicant, not more than 21 days after service of the application.

(6) The assessing authority must—

(a) if it seems likely to help with the assessment, obtain any other information or document;

(b) resolve in favour of the respondent any doubt about what should be allowed; and

(c) serve the assessment on the parties.

(7) Where either party wants the amount allowed re-assessed—

(a) that party must—

(i) apply to the assessing authority, in writing and in any form required by that authority,

(ii) serve the application on the assessing authority, and on the other party, not more than 21 days after service of the assessment,

(iii) explain the objections to the assessment,

(iv) supply any additional supporting information or document, and

(v) ask for a hearing, if that party wants one; and

(b) a party who wants to make representations about an application for re-assessment must—

(i) do so in writing,

(ii) serve the representations on the assessing authority, and on the other party, not more than 21 days after service of the application, and

(iii) ask for a hearing, if that party wants one;

(c) the assessing authority—

(i) must arrange a hearing, in public or in private, if either party asks for one,

(ii) subject to that, may re-assess the amount allowed with or without a hearing,

(iii) must re-assess the amount allowed on the initial assessment, taking into account the reasons for disagreement with that amount and any other representations,

(iv) may maintain, increase or decrease the amount allowed on the assessment,

(v) must serve the re-assessment on the parties, and

(vi) must serve written reasons on the parties, if not more than 21 days later either party asks for such reasons.

(8) A time limit under this rule may be extended even after it has expired—

(a) by the assessing authority, or

(b) by the Senior Costs Judge, if the assessing authority declines to do so.

Appeal to a costs judge

45.12.—(1) This rule applies where—

(a) the assessing authority has re-assessed the amount allowed under rule 45.11; and

(b) either party wants to appeal against that amount.

(2) That party must—

(a) serve an appeal notice on—

(i) the Senior Costs Judge,

(ii) the other party, and

(iii) the assessing authority

not more than 21 days after service of the written reasons for the re-assessment;

(b) explain the objections to the re-assessment;

(c) serve on the Senior Costs Judge with the appeal notice—

(i) the applications for assessment and re-assessment,

(ii) any other information or document considered by the assessing authority,

(iii) the assessing authority’s written reasons for the re-assessment, and

(iv) any other information or document for which a costs judge asks, within such period as the judge may require; and

(d) ask for a hearing, if that party wants one.

(3) A party who wants to make representations about an appeal must—

(a) serve representations in writing on—

(i) the Senior Costs Judge, and

(ii) the applicant

not more than 21 days after service of the appeal notice; and

(b) ask for a hearing, if that party wants one.

(4) Unless a costs judge otherwise directs, the parties may rely only on—

(a) the objections to the amount allowed on the initial assessment; and

(b) any other representations and material considered by the assessing authority.

(5) A costs judge—

(a) must arrange a hearing, in public or in private, if either party asks for one;

(b) subject to that, may determine an appeal with or without a hearing;

(c) may—

(i) consult the assessing authority,

(ii) consult the court which made the costs order, and

(iii) obtain any other information or document;

(d) must reconsider the amount allowed by the assessing authority, taking into account the objections to the re-assessment and any other representations;

(e) may maintain, increase or decrease the amount allowed on the re-assessment;

(f) may provide for the costs incurred by either party to the appeal; and

(g) must serve reasons for the decision on—

(i) the parties, and

(ii) the assessing authority.

(6) A costs judge may extend a time limit under this rule, even after it has expired.

[Note. The Criminal Costs Practice Direction sets out a form for use in connection with this rule.]

Appeal to a High Court judge

45.13.—(1) This rule applies where—

(a) a costs judge has determined an appeal under rule 45.12; and

(b) either party wants to appeal against the amount allowed.

(2) A party who wants to appeal—

(a) may do so only if a costs judge certifies that a point of principle of general importance was involved in the decision on the review; and

(b) must apply in writing for such a certificate and serve the application on—

(i) the costs judge,

(ii) the other party

not more than 21 days after service of the decision on the review.

(3) That party must—

(a) appeal to a judge of the High Court attached to the Queen’s Bench Division as if it were an appeal from the decision of a master under Part 52 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998(1); and

(b) serve the appeal not more than 21 days after service of the costs judge’s certificate under paragraph (2).

(4) A High Court judge—

(a) may extend a time limit under this rule even after it has expired;

(b) has the same powers and duties as a costs judge under rule 45.12; and

(c) may hear the appeal with one or more assessors.

[Note. See also section 70 of the Senior Courts Act 1981(2).]

Application for an extension of time

45.14.  A party who wants an extension of time under rule 45.11, 45.12 or 45.13 must—

(a) apply in writing;

(b) explain the delay; and

(c) attach the application, representations or appeal for which the extension of time is needed.

(1)

S.I. 1998/3132.

(2)

1981 c. 54. The Act’s title was amended by section 59(5) of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 11 to, the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4).