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Privileges and Procedures Committee Machinery of Government Sub-Committee (2nd Meeting )
20th September 2023
Part A (Non-Exempt)
All members were present with the exception of Deputy T.A. Coles of St Helier South and Connétable R. Vibert of St Peter from which apologies had been received.
Deputy L.V. Feltham of St Helier Central, Chair Deputy A. Howell of St John, St Lawrence and Trinity Deputy H.L. Jeune of St John, St Lawrence and Trinity
In attendance –
Miss. K. Boydens , Principal Committee and Panel Officer Mrs. J. Hales , Research and Project Officer
Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A
Minutes. A1. A1. The Sub-Committee approved the minutes of the meetings held on 26th July
2023.
Decision A2. The Sub-Committee discussed the recently circulated paper on decision making in making in the the States Assembly. The paper described the various types of decision making in the States States Assembly explaining the parliament in Jersey and its functions. The paper also Assembly. described how States Members could be held to account (by other States Members and
the public) and lastly, explained the specific decision-making processes of government including ministerial decisions and ministerial orders.
The Sub-Committee asked if briefing documents were circulated to States Members as a matter of course and were informed that this was not the case. It therefore requested that going forward, notification of any briefing papers be shared to the States Members TEAMS channel with a link to the actual document.
The Sub-Committee discussed the decisions tracker which was currently PPC led and asked if there was a States Greffe led tracker. The Sub-Committee was informed that this was a tracker in progress which was being worked on by the Members Resource team. It was agreed that the Principal Committee and Panel officer would liaise with the Members Resource team and provide an update to the Sub-Committee on TEAMS.
The Sub-Committee discussed Ministerial Decisions and the criteria surrounding the authority for these to be made. It noted that whilst States Members were given 14 days in which to challenge a Ministerial Decision, due to the volume of these coming through the Assembly, it was relatively easy for things to slip through the net with the Sub- Committee voicing its concern on the possible lack of Scrutiny to Ministerial Decisions. The Principal Committee and Panel officer explained that should there be a change in legislation following a Ministerial Decision, a Comments paper (or some form of Scrutiny output) would usually be drafted by the relevant Scrutiny Panel.
1st Meeting 26.07.2023
The Sub-Committee discussed the States Assembly order paper and certain sections where the paper appeared to be unclear. It was agreed that a briefing be arranged with the Principal Legislative Drafter to explain how the order paper is drafted and the meaning behind each of the various sections.
Paper on A3. The Sub-Committee had indicated that it wished to address a number of "quick Quick Wins. win" issues during its term of office. There were three outstanding matters which the
Sub-Committee agreed may be worth focussing on in the first instance including the introducing role descriptions for Assembly roles, the previous Democratic Accountability and Governance Sub-Committee recommendations and the timing of the appointment of Scrutiny Chairs/Ministers.
It was agreed that the quick wins as stipulated in the paper be presented in a tabular format at its next meeting with agree/disagree columns to enable them to be minimised. It was noted that Deputy T.A. Coles had provided some input separately and this would be incorporated into the new document.
Council of A4. The Sub-Committee noted the Council of Ministers Comments paper in relation to Ministers the Machinery of Government Sub-Committee.
Paper on
Machinery of
Government.
Future A5. The Sub-Committee noted that its next meeting would be on Thursday 19th October meetings and at 1pm.
frequency of
meetings.