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STATES OF JERSEY
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PRESIDENT OF CHAIRMEN'S COMMITTEE: VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
Lodged au Greffe on 12th March 2007 by Deputy S.C. Ferguson of St. Brelade
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
th a t t hey have no confidence in the President of the Chairmen's Committee.
DEPUTY S.C. FERGUSON OF ST. BRELADE
Note. In accordance with Standing Order 22(a) this proposition has been signed by the following members. 1 . D ep uty G.P. Southern of St. Helier
2 . D ep uty A. Breckon of St. Saviour
3 . D ep uty R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour
4 D ep uty of St. Ouen
T h e r easons for bringing this proposition are set out in the report below.
REPORT
Introduction
The Chairmen's Committee is established under Standing Order 142 and consists of the Chairman of the PAC, each Scrutiny Panel Chairman and two other elected members appointed by the States.
The President of the Chairmen's Committee is appointed by the States and is selected from those persons who are members of that Committee by virtue of their office.
The Terms of Reference of the Chairmen's Committee include –
Acting as a co-ordinating body for the work of the PAC and scrutiny panels.
Overseeing the prioritization and allocation of resources to the PAC and scrutiny panels
Maintaining close contact with the Council of Ministers to ensure that the work programmes of both the Executive and Scrutiny are clearly identified.
General development of Scrutiny and its working practices
If the Committee is to function to its full potential all members must be prepared to work as a team as, in effect, the Committee is regarded as the "face" of Scrutiny. It is therefore essential that the President of this Committee must not only be able to demonstrate strong leadership but also actively promote Scrutiny as a whole.
This is especially important as the new system of Government is in its infancy and needs to be developed and structured in a way that will provide the greatest benefit to the Island as a whole for generations to come.
It is with regret that this matter has come to the Assembly as efforts have been made to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, without the need for a potentially fractious debate. Unfortunately a situation has developed where the President, in his style and in respect of certain management issues, is seriously out of step with the majority of members.
The undersigned wish to see a change in management style that is much more consensual in approach and based on the assumption that the President, in normal circumstances, implements and promotes the agreed policies of the Committee.
Increasingly, conflict has arisen where members have felt that they were working to an agreed position whereas the President has been continually revisiting the decisions made.
Furthermore the signatories wish to see reforms in the whole area of administration support based on a much stronger liaison with Scrutiny management and the States Greffe.
Sadly, it has now become extremely difficult for all parties to work together constructively; hence the need for a change of leadership.
The signatories would like it be known that this proposition is not questioning the President's ability to chair his own Panel; it is simply seeking to change the leadership of the Chairmen's Committee.
Despite the problems that have arisen, the signatories would like to place on record their appreciation of the hard work undertaken by Deputy Duhamel in the establishment of scrutiny.
Standing Order 144 states that a member of the Chairmen's Committee appointed by the States shall hold office until the beginning of the first meeting following a general election unless he or she resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office.
As the President no longer enjoys the support of the majority of members, discussions have been held with him to see whether he would consider his position and tender his resignation; he has chosen not to pursue this option.
For this reason the undersigned have no option but to seek a vote of no confidence in the President. There are no financial or manpower implications arising from this proposition.