Scrutiny Liaison Committee - Approved Minutes 2023

Present

Deputy Sam Mézec (President)

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham (Vice-President) Deputy Catherine Curtis

Deputy Rob Ward

Deputy Steve Luce

Deputy Moz Scott

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Tim Oldham , Assistant Greffier of the States Janice Hales , Research and Project Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Supply Chain Resilience

The Committee approved a Scoping Document and Terms of Reference on behalf of the Economic and International Affairs Panel for a review into Supply Chain Resilience.

Whilst the Committee recalled its agreement that approval would be taken within 48 hours of the documents being circulated unless concerns were raised otherwise, it was noted that individual approval was registered in writing within that timeframe by Deputy Luce , Deputy Scott and Deputy Ward .

Budget

Review Costs:

• Public Hearing x 4 - £600

• Digital and Public Engagement - £100

• Advisor - £15,000 (indicative of 15 days)

Total = £15,700

Present

Deputy Sam Mézec , President

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham , Vice President, Deputy Catherine Curtis

Deputy Steve Luce

Deputy Moz Scott

Deputy Rob Ward

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Deputy Carina Alves , Chair, PPC Diversity Sub Committee [item 2 only] Deputy Louise Doublet , PPC Diversity Sub Committee Member [item 2 only]

Tim Oldham , Assistant Greffier of the States (Committees and Panels) Kellie Boydens , Principal Committee and Panel Officer [item 2 only] Janice Hales , Research and Project Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of Meetings

The Committee approved the records of its meetings held on 9th and 20th June subject to one small amendment to the record of 20th June 2023.

2.  Meeting with PPC Diversity Sub Committee

The Committee welcomed the Chair of the PPC Diversity Sub Committee to discuss recent  correspondence  regarding  Gender  Balance  on  Scrutiny  Panels  and Committees.

It was noted that out of 23 female States Members, 10 presently served on Scrutiny Panels or Committees, which was broadly considered an appropriate representation in view of the various influences on that ratio.

The Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel wished it to be recorded that it was her view that diversity on Panels and Committees should be encouraged as it contributed to the different decisions and offered more insight.

The Chair of the Health and Social Security Panel wished it to be recorded that it was his view that whilst it was positive that Panels and Committees had a mix of genders, it  was  also  important that  stakeholders,  including  members  of  the  Public  who engaged with and were targeted by Scrutiny, were also balanced and the focus was not unduly weighted to one gender.

It was agreed that the President would correspond by way of follow up with the Sub Committee, confirming that the that the topic would be discussed in more detail by the Committee during this term with a view to gender balance on Panels and Committees being included as part of the new States Members induction.

JH

3.  Previously held Briefings and Meetings

The file note of the briefing on 9th June 2023 between the Committee and the Minister for Treasury and Resources on Government Bonds and Investments was approved.

4.  Work Programmes and Activity Reports

The Committee noted the work programme and activity reports from all Panels and Review Panels.

The Chair of the Corporate Services Panel informed the Committee that it would be undertaking a follow up review on People and Culture with Terms of Reference and Scoping Document to be circulated for approval imminently. It was also informed that Deputy Lyndsey Feltham would be co-opted for the purpose of that review.

The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) advised that public hearings were ongoing with Chief Officers regarding performance management.

The  Chair  of  the  Children,  Education  and  Home  Affairs  Panel  informed  the Committee that the recently published survey for its review on Secondary Education Funding had received positive feedback. It was also informed that the appointment of an expert adviser was still being explored.

The Chair of the Health and Social Security Panel informed the Committee that the review into overpayment of social security payments was ongoing. It was also informed that Q3 and Q4 of this year looked extremely busy in terms of upcoming legislation and it may be that a number of propositions would need to be ‘called in’ to be looked at in more detail, should the Panel workload be excessive.

The Work Permit Holder Welfare Review was discussed with the Chair of PAC (as a Review  Panel  Member)  informing  the  Committee  that  the  review  was  nearing completion. It was also informed that the review had highlighted that a lot of people were in critical need and the Review Panel was looking to expediate the report.

5.  Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC)

The Committee noted the work programme and activity report of PPC, including its Sub-Committees. It was informed that PPC was due to meet the following week and an update would be provided in due course.

6.  Government Plan 2024 – 2027

The Committee discussed the upcoming Government Plan and the effect it may have on Panel and Committee work. It also discussed the previous Government Plan where appendices and business plans were provided late impacting on deadlines and it was agreed that communication between the Committee and Government would continue regularly asking for updates to the timeline.

TO/JH

7.  Scrutiny Proceedings

The Committee noted the withdrawal of P.45/2023 ‘Appointment of non-elected Members on Scrutiny Panels’ which had been lodged by Deputy Moz Scott .

8.  Access to minutes of Government bodies

The Committee discussed recent requests for access to signed minutes of meetings of Government bodies, with the Chair of Corporate Services informing the Committee of difficulties that had recently been encountered by the Panel in obtaining minutes. The Chair went on to inform the Committee that the Panel had asked for the minutes at a public quarterly hearing and was informed that they would be forthcoming. The Committee was further informed that when the issue was raised with the Department

regarding the lateness of the minutes, the Chair was informed that the minutes were in fact file notes and there had been an error in the description of the records.

The  Chair  of  the  Environment,  Housing  and  Infrastructure  Panel  informed  the Committee that whilst his Panel had not had trouble with accessing minutes, it had encountered a delay in receiving the Liquid Waste Strategy which had delayed the launch  of  the  Panel’s review.  The  Chair  of  PAC  also  informed  that PAC  had encountered a delay in receiving the Health Strategy.

It was agreed that the President would monitor the situation and any issues would be reported back to the Committee.

9.  Meeting with SLC President, Vice President and Chief Minister

The President and Vice President gave a verbal update of their meeting with the Chief Minister held on 10th July 2023.

The Committee was informed of a number of amendments that were being discussed to recently lodged propositions namely:

• P.47-2023 (Whistleblowing Legislation lodged by Deputy Alves )

• P.52-2023.pdf (Financial Support for Parents of babies requiring neonatal care lodged by Deputy Kovacs )

• P.53-2023 (Negotiation on behalf of the States of Jersey, the purchase of the former Seaside Café and carpark site at Grève de Lecq - lodged by Deputy Farnham )

• P.48-2023.pdf (Mortgage repayment assistance lodged by Deputy Southern )

The Committee noted that the amendment to P.53/2023 had been lodged by Deputy Lucy Stephenson of St Peter, St Ouen and St Mary as opposed to the Council of Ministers (CoM). Discussion was had as to whether this was an amendment from Deputy Stephenson due to it being a Parish matter rather than a CoM issue.

The Committee was informed that a timeline of the Government Plan 2023 – 2027 was discussed with the proposed lodging date due on 19th September 2023. The Committee was further informed that the issue of the late appendices and the impact on Panel deadlines was raised with the Chief Minister informing the President and Vice President that their concerns had been noted.

The Committee was informed that neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister would be in attendance at the final States meeting prior to the recess due to the Chief Minister being off Island attending the ‘Women Deliver 2023 Conference’ taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, whilst the Deputy Chief Minister would be on annual leave. It was informed that the Minister for Treasury and Resources would be Acting Chief Minister, which would include responsibility for taking Questions without Notice on the Chief Minister’s behalf. The Committee expressed various concerns in relation to the absences, including in respect of the impact on due accountability and the provision of appropriately informed Ministerial responses during the Question periods at the States meeting. In view of the potential impact on the States meeting, it was agreed to contact the Greffier of the States to establish whether notice of the absences would be circulated to all States Members, by the States Greffe or the Government, without delay.

The Committee was informed that the topic of holding Committee hearings in public with the Chief Minister was raised. It was agreed that this would be discussed further between officers with an update provided after the summer recess.

The Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Panel discussed Ministerial Delivery Plans and asked if it could be raised with the Chief Minister, at the next liaison meeting, that the dates in the Ministerial Delivery Plan for the Minister for External Relations were not consistent with what was being presented and if these dates were due to be updated.

The Chair also raised the issue of medicinal cannabis which featured within the Minister  for  Economic  Development,  Tourism,  Sport  and  Culture’s  Ministerial Delivery Plan. The Chair highlighted that the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture seemed to be leading on the topic, however, she also raised from a health perspective that the number of prescriptions being issued for medicinal cannabis could be considered excessive and enquired if any work was being undertaken by the Health and Social Security Panel in this area. It was agreed that this would be taken offline and a conversation be undertaken between both Chairs.

10. Future Meetings

The  Committee  agreed  its  next  scheduled  meeting  would  take  place  on  19th September 2023 at 2.00pm in Le Capelain Room, States Building. It was also noted that this was the day that the Government Plan was due to be lodged.

Present

Deputy Sam Mézec (President)

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham (Vice-President) Deputy Catherine Curtis

Deputy Rob Ward

Deputy Steve Luce

Deputy Moz Scott

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Tim Oldham , Assistant Greffier of the States Janice Hales , Research and Project Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  People and Culture Follow-up Review

The Committee approved a Scoping Document and Terms of Reference on behalf of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel for a review into the People and Culture Follow-up Review.

Whilst the Committee recalled its agreement that approval would be taken within 48 hours of the documents being circulated unless concerns were raised otherwise, it was noted that individual approval was registered in writing within that timeframe by the Vice President, Deputy Curtis and Deputy Ward .

Budget

Review Costs:

• Transcription Costs for Public Hearings: (£150 x 3) £450

• Digital and Public Engagement: Press notices and social media (boosts): review launch and key findings from each public hearing: £100

If gaps are identified once the Panel has begun its comparative analysis of the Be heard and HR Lounge Surveys (or at any point in the evidence gathering stage of the review), an updated Digital and Public Engagement Strategy will be used to target the specific key stakeholders identified.

• Contingency budget for this (boosting on social media): £100 Transcription £450 Digital and Public Engagement £200  

• Total: £650

Present

Deputy Sam Mézec (President)

Deputy Lyndsay Feltham (Vice-President) Deputy Catherine Curtis

Deputy Rob Ward

Deputy Steve Luce

Deputy Moz Scott

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Tim Oldham , Assistant Greffier of the States Janice Hales , Research and Project Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  States Annual Report and Accounts 2022 Review

The Committee approved a Scoping Document and Terms of Reference on behalf of the Public Accounts Committee for a review into the States Annual Report and Accounts 2022.

Whilst the Committee recalled its agreement that approval would be taken within 48 hours of the documents being circulated unless concerns were raised otherwise, it was noted that individual approval was registered in writing within that timeframe by the Vice President and Deputy Curtis .

Budget

Review Costs:

• Transcription costs at £150 per hearing: 3 hearings. £450.00

• Digital and Public Engagement £85.00

TOTAL £535.00