States Minutes 18th September 2008

THE STATES assembled on Thursday 18th September 2008, at 09.30  a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff ,

Mr.  Michael Cameron St.  John Birt Esquire.

All members were present at roll call with the exception of –

S e nator Stuart Syvret – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.38  a.m.)

S e nator Philip Francis Cyril Ozouf – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.44  a.m.)

S e nator Ben Edward Shenton – en défaut (défaut raised at 11.27  a.m.)

S e nator Frederick Ellyer Cohen – en défaut (défaut raised at 10.11 a.m.)

C o nnétable Alan Simon Crowcroft of St. Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 11.29 a.m.) C o nnétable John Le Sueur Gallichan of Trinity – en défaut (défaut raised at 12.08 p.m.) C o nnétable Daniel John Murphy of Grouville – excused

D e puty Jacqueline Jeanette Huet of St. Helier – excused

D e puty Patrick John Dennis Ryan of St.  Helier – ill

D e puty Shona Pitman of St.  Helier – en défaut (défaut raised at 9.48  a.m.)

Prayers read by the Deputy Greffier of the States

Withdrawal of lodged propositions

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 34(1), the proposer of the following proposition lodged "au Greffe" had informed the Greffier of the States that it had been withdrawn –

Annual Business Plan 2009 (P.113/2008): fifth amendment (P.113/2008 Amd.(5)) – P.113/2008. amendment. Amd.(5)Amd. Lodged: 12th September 2008.

Chief Minister.

Statements on a matter of official responsibility (see Official Report/Hansard)

The Chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel made a statement regarding the completion of a Youth Employment report.

Connétable s of St.  Ouen, Trinity , St.  John, St.  Martin and St.  Saviou–r re-election

The Deputy Bailiff , on behalf of States' members, congratulated Mr. Kenneth Priaulx Vibert on his re-election as the Connétable of St. Ouen, Mr. John Le Sueur Gallichan on his r-eelection as the Connétable of Trinity , Mr. Graeme Frank Butcher on his re-election as the Connétable of St. John, Mr. Silvanus Arthur Yates on his r-e election as the Connétable of St. Martin and Mr. Peter Frederick Maurice Hanning on his r-eelection as the Connétable of St. Saviour.

Draft Annual Business Plan 2009 P.113/2008

THE STATES resumed consideration of the Draft Annual Business Plan 2009 and, having agreed in accordance with Standing Order 26(8) that after funding options' the words brought forward' should be deleted, adopted an amendment of the Deputy of St. Ouen, that in paragraph (a)(ix) after the words"pages 31 to 32" the following

words  should be inserted –

"except that after success criterion  (ii) in Objective  2 on page  31 there shall be inserted the followin success criterion (with the subsequent success criteria renumbered) –

(iii) In conjunction with the Planning and Environment Department and other interested parties,

funding options to extend the mains drain network brought forward and considered by the States by end of 2009;' ".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 39 CONTRE: 0 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator F.H. Walker

Senator W. Kinnard

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le  Main Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy of St. Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy P.N. Troy (B) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H) Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L) Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy S. Pitman (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy of St.  John

Deputy of St.  Mary

THE STATES, adopting paragraph (a)(ix) as amended, approved the summary key objectives and success criteria for the Transport and Technical Services Department, as detailed in Part One of the report, pages 31 to 32, except that after success criterion (ii) in Objective 2 on page 31 there should be inserted the following success criterio

(with the subsequent success criteria renumbered) –

(i ii ) I n conjunction with the Planning and Environment Department and other interested parties, funding options to extend the mains drain network brought forward and considered by the States by end of 2009".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 32 CONTRE: 1 ABSTAIN: 0 Senator F.H. Walker Deputy J.A. Martin (H)

Senator W. Kinnard

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur

Senator T.J. Le  Main

Senator B.E. Shenton

Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard

Connétable of St. Ouen

Connétable of St. Mary

Connétable of St. Peter

Connétable of St. Lawrence

Connétable of St. Brelade

Connétable of St. Martin

Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S)

Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C)

Deputy P.N. Troy (B)

Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S)

Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S)

Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B)

Deputy of St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H)

Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H)

Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H)

Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L)

Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B)

Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H)

Deputy K.C. Lewis (S)

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Deputy of St.  Mary

THE STATES commenced consideration of the summary key objectives and success criteria of the Treasury and Resources Department and adopted an amendment of the Public Accounts Committee that in paragraph  (a)(x) after the words "pages 33 to 35" the following words should be inserted –

1. " except that for success criterion  (vi) in Objective  2 onpage 33 there shall be substituted th following success criterion –

(vi)  E  stablish and implement professionally accepted project appraisal, management and control procedures to enable the viability, funding, financial management and variance analysis of projects to be properly considered and evaluated".

THE STATES adopted an amendment of the Public Accounts Committee that in paragraph  (a)(x) after the words

"pages 33 to 35" the following words should be inserted –

2. " except that after Objective 3 thereshallbe inserted the following new ObjectiveandSuccess Criteria (withsubsequent Objectives renumberedaccordingly) –

Objective 4 – Improved efficiency and effectiveness of States expenditure and financial management.

Success Criteria:

1. In conjunction withthe Chief Minister'sDepartment, develop an action plan to deliver potential expenditure reductions and otherrelated issues highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report entitled "Emerging Issues" presented to the States 19th May2008,and present the action plan to the States with an implementation timetable prior to lodging ofthe2010 Business Plan;
2. E stablish, with appropriateamendments to the Public Finance (Jersey)Law 2005 if necessary, an internal reporting mechanismwhich facilitates monitoringof expenditure and identification ofvariancesin respect of the Service Analyses whichsupporttheNet RevenueExpenditure approved by the States in the Annual Business Plan;
3. L edger structures and definitionsofcosts standardized so that reliable States wide data on costsis available;
4. Financial directions revised and monitored to ensure a rigorously and consistently applied unified system of financial control to ensure compliance with fundamental financial disciplines throughoutall States departments;
5. C entral authority and responsibility of the Treasurerofthe States as corporate head of finance strengthened, with all finance officersand accounting staff recognizing their direct responsibility andaccountability to the Treasurer;
6. S ystem established to provide financial information for facilitation of the setting of priorities for expenditure between departments tobetter inform the debate onresource allocation.".

THE STATES, adopting paragraph (a)(x) as amended, approved the summary key objectives and success criteria for the Treasury and Resources Department, as detailed in Part One of the report, pages  33 to 35, except thatfor success criterion  (vi) in Objective  2 on page  33 there should be substituted the following success criterion–

"(vi) Establish and implement professionally accepted project appraisal, management and

control procedures to enable the viability, funding, financial management and variance analysis of projects to be properly considered and evaluated".

and after Objective  3 there should be inserted the following new Objective and Success Criteria (with subsequent Objectives renumbered accordingly) –

"Objective 4 – Improved efficiency and effectiveness of States expenditure and financial management.

Success Criteria:

1. In conjunction withthe Chief Minister'sDepartment, develop an action plan to deliver potential expenditure reductions and otherrelated issues highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report entitled "Emerging Issues" presented to the States 19th May2008,and present the action plan to the States with an implementation timetable prior to lodging ofthe2010 Business Plan;
2. E stablish, with appropriateamendments to the Public Finance (Jersey)Law 2005 if necessary, an internal reporting mechanismwhich facilitates monitoringof expenditure and identification ofvariancesin respect of the Service Analyses whichsupporttheNet RevenueExpenditure approved by the States in the Annual Business Plan;

3. L edger structures and definitionsofcosts standardized so that reliable States wide data on costsis available;
4. Financial directions revised and monitored to ensure a rigorously and consistently applied unified system of financial control to ensure compliance with fundamental financial disciplines throughoutall States departments;
5. C entral authority and responsibility of the Treasurerofthe States as corporate head of finance strengthened, with all finance officersand accounting staff recognizing their direct responsibility andaccountability to the Treasurer;
6. S ystem established to provide financial information for facilitation of the setting of priorities for expenditure between departments tobetter inform the debate onresource allocation.".

THE STATES, adopting paragraphs (a)(xi) and (a)(xii), approved the summary key objectives and success criteria for the Jersey Airport, as detailed in Part One of the report, pages 36 to 37 and Jersey Harbours, as detailed in Part One of the report, page  38.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 36 CONTRE: 0 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator S. Syvret

Senator F.H. Walker

Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier

Senator M.E. Vibert

Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. John Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy A. Breckon (S) Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy S. Pitman (H) Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy of St.  Mary

Roll call

Following the lunchtime adjournment the Presiding Officer, the Deputy Bailiff , in accordance with Standing Order 56(2), directed that elected members be summoned as the Assembly was inquorate. In accordance with Standing Order 56(2), having allowed such time as he considered reasonable for elected members to return to the Chamber, the Presiding Officer asked the Greffier to call the roll, as he believed that the States remained inquorate. The following members who had been marked as present during the morning were absent from the Chamber for this second roll call –

Senator Stuart Syvret

Senator Wendy Kinnard

Senator Terence John Le  Main

Senator Ben Edward Shenton

Senator Frederick Ellyer Cohen

Senator James Leslie Perchard

Connétable Thomas John du Feu of St.  Peter

Connétable Alan Simon Crowcroft of St.  Helier Connétable Graeme Frank Butcher of St. John

Deputy Alan Breckon of St.  Saviour

Deputy Gerard Clifford Lemmens Baudains of St.  Clement Deputy Peter Nicholas Troy of St.  Brelade

Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St.  Helier

Deputy Carolyn Fiona Labey of Grouville

Deputy Jacqueline Ann Hilton of St.  Helier

Deputy Guy William John de  Faye of St.  Helier

Deputy Paul Vincent Francis Le  Claire of St.  Helier Deputy Deirdre Wendy Mezbourian of St.  Lawrence Deputy Shona Pitman of St.  Helier

Deputy Alan John Henry Maclean of St.  Helier

Deputy Andrew David Lewis of St.  John

THE STATES, adopting paragraph  (a)(xiii), approved the summary key objectives and success criteria for the States Assembly and its services, as detailed in Part One of the report, pages 39 to 40.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 34 CONTRE: 0 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator F.H. Walker Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier Senator M.E. Vibert Senator P.F.C. Ozouf Senator T.J. Le  Main Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Lawrence

Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy A. Breckon (S) Deputy of St.  Martin

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy of St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L) Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy of St.  John

Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Deputy of St.  Mary

THE STATES commenced consideration of paragraph  (b) of the draft Business Plan 2009, and adopted an amendment of the Council of Ministers that in paragraph  (b) after the words"withdrawn from the consolidated fund in 2009", the following words should be inserted –

1. " except that the net revenue expenditure of the ChiefMinister'sDepartment shall be increased by £570,000 to ensure the rangeoffunctions within the Chief Minister'sDepartment required for a modern and responsiblegovernment are strengthenedand re organised;".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 33 CONTRE: 13 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator F.H. Walker Senator W. Kinnard Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier Senator M.E. Vibert Senator P.F.C. Ozouf Senator T.J. Le  Main

Senator B.E. Shenton Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Saviour

Senator S. Syvret

Senator L. Norman Connétable of St. Helier Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy of St.  Martin Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy S. Pitman (H) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

Deputy A. Breckon (S) Deputy P.N. Troy (B) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S)

Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of Grouville

Deputy of St.  Peter

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H) Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy A.J.D. Maclean (H) Deputy of St.  John

Deputy of St.  Mary

THE STATES, adopting an amendment of the Council of Ministers, agreed that in paragraph  (b) after the words "withdrawn from the consolidated fund in 2009", the following words  should be inserted –

2. " , except that the net revenue expenditure of the ChiefMinister'sDepartment shall be increased by £200,000 to enable a new post for a Tax Strategist to be created within the Chief Minister's Department to work closely with theDirectorof International Financeand International Relations officers;".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 33 CONTRE: 8 ABSTAIN: 0

Senator F.H. Walker Senator W. Kinnard Senator T.A. Le  Sueur Senator P.F. Routier Senator M.E. Vibert

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf

Senator T.J. Le  Main Senator B.E. Shenton Senator F.E. Cohen

Senator J.L. Perchard Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Lawrence Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Martin Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy P.N. Troy (B) Deputy C.J. Scott   Warr en (S) Deputy R.G. Le  Hérissier (S) Deputy J.B. Fox (H)

Deputy S.C. Ferguson (B) Deputy of St.  Ouen

Deputy of Grouville

Connétable of St. Helier Deputy R.C. Duhamel (S) Deputy A. Breckon (S) Deputy of St.  Martin Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (C)

Deputy J.A. Martin (H) Deputy G.P. Southern (H) Deputy S. Pitman (H)

Deputy J.A. Hilton (H) Deputy G.W.J. de  Faye (H) Deputy P.V.F. Le  Claire (H) Deputy J.A.N. Le  Fondré (L) Deputy of Trinity

Deputy S.S.P.A. Power (B) Deputy K.C. Lewis (S) Deputy I.J. Gorst (C)

THE STATES commenced consideration of an amendment of Senator Frederick Ellyer Cohen that in paragraph (b) of an amendment of the Council of Ministers concerning the introduction of a Vehicle Emissions Duty, the following words should be deleted –

", with the approval of this expenditure, in accordance with the provisions of Article 14(9) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, dependent upon the subsequent approval by the States of the introduction of a Vehicle Emissions Duty which will generate sufficient income to fund this expenditure".

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Friday 19th September 2008 to continue consideration of the Draft Annual Business Plan 2009 (P.113/2008) and the outstanding items of public business.

THE STATES rose at 5.35  p.m.

A.H. HARRIS Deputy Greffier of the States