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Bailiff of Jersey: cessation of dual role (P.112/2008) – comments

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STATES OF JERSEY

BAILIFF OF JERSEY: CESSATION OF DUAL ROLE (P.112/2008) COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 8th September 2008 by the Council of Ministers

STATES GREFFE

COMMENTS

Background

Members have been requested by Deputy Pitman (P.112/2008)

(a ) to agree in principle that the current dual role of the Bailiff should cease;

(b ) to request the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) to advance appropriate proposals

on the establishment of a new post of Elected Speaker of the Assembly.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee presented its comments (P.112/2008  Com.) to the Proposition on 7th August 2008, which outlined its reasons for opposing P.112/2008. The Council of Ministers discussed this matter at its meeting of 21st August 2008 and was unanimous in its desire to fully endorse PPC's comments and to oppose this Proposition in its entirety.

Comment

The Council of Ministers believes that no change to the historic position of the Bailiff should be contemplated without a full, properly constituted and conducted review.

Such a review, which should preferably include the roles of other Crown Officers, should be a matter for the new Assembly.

Deputy Pitman is asking for change to one of Jersey's most historic and constitutionally important positions without sufficient consideration having been given to the proposal or to its constitutional consequences.