States of Jersey Complaints Panel: appointment of Deputy Chairman.

STATES OF JERSEY

STATES OF JERSEY COMPLAINTS PANEL: APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

Lodged au Greffe on 23rd October 2015 by the Privileges and Procedures Committee

STATES GREFFE

2015   Price code: A  P.133

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 5(2) of the Administrative Decisions (Review) (Jersey) Law 1982, to appoint Mr. Christopher Beirne as Deputy Chairman of the States of Jersey Complaints Panel for a period of 5 years.

PRIVILEGES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

REPORT

The Complaints Panel system

The Complaints Panel is established under the Administrative Decisions (Review) (Jersey) Law 1982, and it enables any person who is aggrieved by a decision made by a Minister  or  department,  or  any  person  acting  on  behalf  of  any  such  Minister  or department, to apply to the Greffier of the States to have the matter reviewed by a Complaints Board. Once a complaint is received, the Greffier seeks the response of the Minister or department concerned before referring the papers to the Chairman of the Complaints Panel, who decides whether or not the circumstances justify review by a Complaints  Board.  If  the  Chairman  is  conflicted,  then  the  matter  is  referred  for adjudication by one of the Deputy Chairmen. If the Chairman or Deputy Chairman considers that the circumstances justify a Board, before holding a hearing, they may first attempt informal resolution of the complaint, but if this is not appropriate or has failed, the matter is then referred to a Board and a hearing date is set. A Board of 3 members selected from the Complaints Panel is established to deal with the case. If the Board finds in favour of the complainant it can request the Minister or department concerned to reconsider the decision.

Article 5(2) of the Law requires the States to appoint the Chairman, 2 Deputy Chairmen and members of the Complaints Panel.

The Appointments Panel has assisted the Panel in establishing a succession plan during the course of recent membership changes to ensure continuity and that experience gained over time is acknowledged and utilised. The Assembly will recall that following the retirement of Miss Christine Vibert as Deputy Chairman in 2014, the Appointments Commission concluded that Mr. Geoffrey Crill should be appointed to fill the vacancy and  this  appointment  was  approved  by  the  Assembly  on  10th  September  2014 (P.142/2014  refers). The Appointments  Commission  further agreed that it  was in accordance with the Commission's procedures to allow Mr. Stuart Catchpole Q.C. to be appointed to fill the next vacancy for Deputy Chairman when it arose without the need for a further process (providing the vacancy occurred within a reasonable period of time).

Following the election to the States of Advocate Richard Renouf in October 2014, a vacancy arose for Chairman. The Appointments Commission further agreed that one of the Deputy Chairmen should be selected to serve as Chairman. As a consequence Mr. Nigel Le Gresley served as Chairman for the remainder of his term of office until July 2015 and was succeeded by Mr. Crill as Chairman. The Assembly approved this succession plan on 21st January 2015 (P.180/2015 refers).

Following Mr. Crill's appointment as Chairman, the Appointments Commission was consulted and agreed that his replacement could be appointed from within the existing longer-serving members of the Panel. The Committee is delighted that Mr. Chris Beirne, who has been an active member of the Panel since 2009, has accepted nomination as Deputy Chairman. Biographical details for Mr. Beirne are attached at the Appendix.

Financial and manpower implications

All members of the Complaints Panel serve in an honorary capacity and there are no financial or manpower implications arising from this proposition.

Page - 3

P.133/2015

APPENDIX

Mr. Christopher Beirne

Mr. Beirne is currently the Headmaster and Chief Executive of Beaulieu Convent School, a position he has held since September 2006. Mr. Beirne was educated at St. Mel's College, Longford, Ireland, the Gregorian University in Rome, the Institute of Education at the University of Hull and Oxford University Department for Educational Studies. He worked for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton between 1985 and 1993 before becoming Head of Religious Studies at Eggar's School Alton, Hampshire between 1994 and 1996, during which period he was also a part-time lecturer at Portsmouth Sixth Form College. He came to Jersey in 1996 and worked at Victoria College as Head of Religious Studies and then Director of Spiritual and Moral Development before being appointed as Vice-Principal of the Jersey College for Girls in September 1999, a position he held until he was appointed to his current post. Mr. Beirne is a member of the Management Board of the Jersey Teachers Superannuation Fund and Director of the Channel Islands Operations for Rainbows (Bereavement Support for young people). He is the holder of a private pilot's licence and a member of the Jersey Aero Club and he has been a member of the Complaints Panel since 2009.

Chairman Mr. G.G. Crill

Deputy Chairmen Mr. S. Catchpole Q.C.

Vacant

Members

Mr. R. Bonney

Mr. C. Beirne

Mr. D. McGrath

Mr. G. Marett

Professor E. Sallis, O.B.E. Mr. J. Moulin

Ms. J. Eden

Ms. C. Boscq- Scott

Joined Panel in 2013

Appointed as Deputy Chairman 2014

Appointed as Chairman in July 2015 (on a 5-year term)

Joined Panel in 2013

Appointed as Deputy Chairman in July 2015 (on a 5-year term)

–

Appointed 2009 (continuing until 2019) Appointed 2009 (continuing until 2019) Appointed 2012 (continuing until 2019) Appointed 2012 (continuing until 2019) Appointed October 2013 (on a 3-year term) Appointed October 2013 (on a 3-year term) Appointed October 2013 (on a 3-year term) Appointed October 2013 (on a 3-year term)