PPC Minutes 5th June 2009

A-CH/SC/170  74

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (20th Meeting)

5th June 2009

PART A

All members were present.

Connétable J. Gallichan of St. Mary, Chairman Senator B.I. Le Marquand

(n o t p resent for Item Nos. A1 to A4) Deputy J.B. Fox

Deputy J.A. Martin

Deputy C.H. Egré

Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy M.R. Higgins

In attendance -

M.N. de la Haye, Greffier of the States

Mrs. A.H. Harris , Deputy Greffier of the States

Miss A-C. Heuston, Clerk to the Privileges and Procedures Committee

Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A and Part B.

States Members' A1.  The  Committee  noted  correspondence  from  the  Chairman  of  the  States' Remuneration Members' Remuneration Review Board, Mr. J. Rogers, dated 29th May 2009, and Review Board received the recommendations of the States Members' Remuneration Review Board recommenda- for 2009 to 2011.

tions for 2009 to

2011. The Committee noted that the report was presented in two parts. Part A related to the 1240/3(73) basic level of remuneration and expenses for States members for the period 2009 to

2011, and, in accordance with the States' decision of 25th November 2003, unless any member of the States pursued a debate on the recommendations set out within one  month  of  the  date  of  presentation  to  the  States  by  the  Committee,  the recommendations would be implemented as outlined by the Board. Part B dealt with other matters which arose from the consultations and subsequent deliberations of the Board, and included the recommendation that pension arrangements be introduced for States members. The Committee noted that, in accordance with the decision of the States on 22nd July 2005, these recommendations could not be implemented until they had been debated and agreed by the States.

It was agreed that Parts A and B of the report should be presented separately by the Committee and that each part should be preceded by a foreword from the Committee.

 The Greffier of the States was requested to take the necessary action.

Voting systems. A2.  The  Committee  noted  correspondence  dated  27th  May 2009 from Deputy 1240/22(8) P.V.F. Le Claire in connexion with voting systems.

The Deputy invited the Committee to examine the content of a report of the Electoral Reform Society of Great Britain and Ireland, entitled: "How to conduct an election by the single transferable vote," by Mr. R.A. Newland and Mr. F. S. Britton.

It was agreed that the Committee would consider the content of the report in full and would discuss the matter at a future meeting.

Public Elections A3.  The Committee, with reference to its  Minute No. A2 of 15th May 2009, (Jersey) Law received the Gazette notices placed by the Judicial Greffe in advance of the 2008 2002. elections.

424(8)

The Committee considered the format of the advertisement, which advised those entitled  to  vote  that  they  could  register  for  postal  voting,  and  which  had  been published by the Judicial Greffier on 2 different days in accordance with Article 39 (1) of the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002. It was noted that the advertisement was required to be published in the Gazette by law, however the Committee felt that the information could also be presented in a more succinct manner, with greater regard  to  layout  and  design.  It  was  noted  that  it  was  within  the  remit  of  the Committee to propose that the law be amended.

The Committee agreed that it wished to consider a number of matters arising in connexion with the Public Elections (Jersey) Law, and that advertising should be among the items considered. The Committee discussed the possibility of establishing a sub-panel on electoral reform.

The Committee recalled that the proposition lodged "au Greffe" by Deputy G.P. Southern entitled Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002: Rescindment of Article 39A (P.18/2009  refers)  would  be  debated  by  the  States  on  16th  June  2009  and  that discussions had been entered into by the Committee with Jurats J.L. Le Breton and J.M. Clapham, as well as the Deputy Judicial Greffier, Advocate P. Matthews, with regard to the possible extension of sick voting and postal voting. The view was expressed that one way forward would be to have a central electoral officer for the whole Island. It was agreed that any further discussion in this regard should await the outcome of the debate concerning Article 39A.

Draft Freedom of A4.  The Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A1 of 22nd May 2009, Information received an annotated draft of the Draft Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 200- (Jersey) Law following  the  visit  of  Mr.  G.  Smith,   Deputy  Information  Commissioner,  United 200-. Kingdom Information Commissioner's Office, on 21st and 22nd May 2009.

670(1)

Mrs. A.H. Harris , Deputy Greffier of the States, advised the Committee that the draft had been annotated with comments arising from the visit of the Deputy Information Commissioner.

It was noted that Mr. M. Frankel, Director, Campaign for Freedom of Information, would attend upon the Committee on the morning and afternoon of 12th June 2009 and that all States Members had been invited to attend a lunchtime meeting in the States Chamber with Mr. Frankel on that date. It was also noted that Mr. J. Harris , Director  General,  Jersey  Financial  Services  Commission,  would  attend  the Committee's meeting on Friday 19th June 2009 to discuss the draft legislation. It was agreed that the Financial Services Commission should be requested to provide some points in writing prior to the meeting.

The Committee Clerk was directed to take the necessary action.

Matters arising. A5. The Committee considered the following matters arising –

1. t h e behaviour of States members within the StatesChamber.Members agreed to monitor standardsofbehaviourduring States sittings and to advise membersof matters of protocol should any problems arise.
2. t h e order of businessfor future States' sittings, andthe possibility that the S ta t esmay need to sitonMonday 13th July 2009 in order to progress businesspriorto the summerrecess.