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I can't say I am remotely surprised at this type of delay.

People here have been concentrating on costs management and I agree with much of what has been said. My own experience of it has been a disaster with some judges but not all, not having the first idea of how to handle form H. No surprise if they hadn't been trained.

I'm more concerned however with actual case management.

What advantage does it give the parties to have a judge who either hasn't got all your any of the papers in front of him, to tell the solicitors who know the case inside out what they can and cannot do. And by when.

Why can't we simply agree with the defendants what and when we going to do and then do it.

If there is evidence of agreement and it is breached we can go to the court and get an order forcing the other party to do what they agreed. Most such orders could be made on the papers, surely.

If the other party doesn't agree what steps should be taken then and only then should you apply to the court for an order sealing the progress of the case.

The idea that it is appropriate for judges to tell others what to do when half the time frankly they haven't got a clue, and that this lottery adds anything to the convenience of the litigants let alone the PBI is absolutely barking mad.