PPC Minutes 8th March 2010

PM/SC/102 191

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (54th Meeting)

8th March 2010

PART A

All members were present, with the exception of Deputy M. Tadier , from whom apologies had been received.

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

Deputy J.B. Fox

Deputy J.A. Martin

Deputy C.H. Egré

Deputy M.R. Higgins

In attendance -

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

P. Monamy, Acting Clerk to the Privileges and Procedures Committee

Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A only.

Draft Public A1.  The Committee, with reference to its Minute No.  A10 of 2nd March 2010, Elections considered a draft Public Elections (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (Amendment No. which would prescribe Saturday as the day for taking a poll where a casual vacancy 4) (Jersey) in the office of Senator, Deputy or Connétable was being filled in an election other Regulations 201-: than an ordinary election (with Wednesday to remain the day for taking a poll in an possible trial of a ordinary election). Saturday poll.

FILE The Committee noted that the draft Regulations had been prepared as a consequence 424/2(68) of the ongoing work of the Public Elections Working Party, which was presently

reviewing the provisions of the Public Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 with a view to increasing voter turnout at elections. It was recognised that, whilst the Working Party was likely to recommend a trial' holding of an election on a Saturday, it had not yet concluded its deliberations on this aspect of the matter, and had therefore not yet submitted a report to the Committee.

The Committee considered whether it would be desirable to attempt to put such provisions in place for any possible by-election in May or June 2010 in the event that a Member of the States were to be disqualified or otherwise leave the States in the near future. In order to achieve such a timescale it was noted that it would be necessary to lodge draft Regulations au Greffe' by 9th March 2010. It was agreed that appropriate provisions should be put in place in due course, once the Working Party had concluded its overall review of the Law. This would enable such provisions to be in place for the elections which could arise when expected vacancies occurred in the offices of the Connétable s of Grouville (July 2010) and St. Helier (January 2011).

It was recognised, however, that a trial of the sort envisaged would give rise to additional practical considerations for Parish authorities, including weekend staffing issues. The Deputy Greffier of the States confirmed that enquiries in this regard had been made of the Comité des Connétable s but that this consultation had not yet been completed.

The Chairman suggested that it was clear that any move to a Saturday polling day needed to be trialled prior to the next general election, and that such an opportunity could well arise in respect of the forthcoming end to the respective terms of office of the above-mentioned Connétable s. It was agreed that, whilst the process towards the introduction of such Regulations to achieve this aim should not be overly delayed, it would be preferable for the matter to be left for the Working Party to deliberate upon further,  with  a  view to  the  presentation of  a  report  and recommendation  to  the Committee shortly (i.e.  preferably within the next 3 or 4 weeks).

Contraventions of A2.  The Committee noted that the Chairman had received no comments from Human Rights: members of the Committee in relation to the draft answer which had been circulated Written Question to them in respect of the Written Question being asked of the Chairman by the asked by the Deputy of St. Martin regarding contraventions of Human Rights, and which would be Deputy of St. tabled in the States on 9th March 2010.

Martin.

465/1(145)