Privileges and Procedures Committee 3rd October 2017

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KS/SC/284

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (75th Meeting)

3rd October 2017

PART A (Non-exempt)

All members were present, with the exception of Deputy S.Y. Mézec of St. Helier , from whom apologies had been received.

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement , Chairman Connétable D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence Connétable C.H. Taylor of St. John

Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier

Deputy S.M. Brée of St. Clement

Deputy S.M. Wickenden of St. Helier

In attendance -

Dr. M. Egan, Greffier of the States

L.M. Hart , Deputy Greffier of the States W. Millow , Assistant Greffier of the States

K.L. Slack, Clerk to the Privileges and Procedures Committee

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

Minutes.  A1.  The Minutes of the meetings held on 5th September 2017 (Part A and Part B)

and 19th September 2017 (Part A only), having previously been circulated, were taken as read and were confirmed.

Forthcoming  A2.  The Committee received a list of forthcoming business for debate by the States business for  Assembly at its meetings to be held on 10th October 2017, 31st October 2017, 14th debate by the  November 2017 and 28th November 2017 and considered whether it wished to make States  a formal comment on any of the Propositions that had been lodged au Greffe'. Assembly.

465/1(210)  In respect of the Proposition of the Chief Minister, entitled Elected Speaker and

Deputy Speaker of the States Assembly: selection and appointment' (P.84/2017), the Committee decided that it wished to update and re-present the comments that it had prepared in respect of the Proposition of Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade , entitled Bailiff of Jersey: cessation of dual role and the appointment of an Elected Speaker of the States', (P.62/2017), which Proposition had been withdrawn. It further decided that it wished to lodge an amendment to P.84/2017.

The Committee noted that P.84/2017 tasked it,  with the support of the Chief Minister's Office, with bringing forward all necessary actions, including legislative amendments, to implement changes in time for the Assembly to select and appoint a Speaker and Deputy Speaker at its first meeting following the 2018 General Election. On the basis that changes would be required inter alia to the States of Jersey Law 2005, which would necessitate law drafting amendments and approval by both the States Assembly and the Privy Council, the Committee did not feel that the timeframes included within P.84/2017 were achievable. Accordingly, it agreed that an amendment should be lodged which extended the time frame to the end of 2018.

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75th Meeting 03.10.17

The  Committee  instructed  the  Greffier  of  the  States  to  prepare  the  relevant amendment for its consideration.

Connétable s  A3.  The Committee, with reference to its Minute No.B6 of 5th September 2017, (Amendment  received the draft Connétable s (Amendment No.2) (Jersey) Law 201- (the draft No.2) (Jersey)  Law'), the purpose of which was, in so far as possible, to bring all types of States Law 201-.  Member on an equal footing. It also received a draft report, prepared by the 738/99(1)  Assistant Greffier, to accompany the draft Law.

The Committee recalled that, at its meeting on 5th September 2017, it had indicated that it was content with the draft Law and had requested officers to send the same to the Comité des Connétable s in order to elicit the views of that body thereon. The Assistant Greffier informed the Committee that the Comité des Connétable s had considered the draft Law at its meeting on 18th September 2017 and had no comments.

The Committee accordingly approved the draft Law and requested officers to arrange for it to be lodged au Greffe' for debate by the States Assembly in due course once the necessary in house' checks had been undertaken by the Law Draftsman's Office.

Resignation of  A4.   Connétable C.H. Taylor of St. John notified the Committee that, following his Connétable  appointment as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, it was with great C.H. Taylor of  sadness that he had informed the Bailiff that he would be resigning from the St. John from  Privileges and Procedures Committee, in order to devote his time to the Public the Committee.  Accounts Committee.

465/1(4)

Connétable Taylor thanked the Chairman for his wisdom and expressed his gratitude both to the other members of the Committee, who had been a pleasure to work with and to officers of the States Greffe for their support.

The  Chairman  indicated  that  the  Committee  perfectly  understood   Connétable Taylor 's reasons for resigning and wished him well in the future. He highlighted that he was his own man but also a team player and thanked him for his considerable contribution to the Committee.