Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 23 December 2005

Item No

Agenda matter

Action

1

Welcome/Introduction

The Chairman welcomed the Panel to the first meeting.

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2

Appointment of Vice Chairman

The Panel, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 135(5), appointed Deputy G.C.L. Baudains as its Vice Chairman.

3

Methods of Working

Meeting dates - The Panel agreed that ordinarily it should meet on a fortnightly basis; however, it considered that a significant volume of  work  was  necessary  in  the  short  term  to  allow  for  the commencement of a new work programme. It agreed that meetings should be held on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons of alternate weeks with effect from Tuesday 10th January 2006 until

further notice.

Public access and engagement – Increasing the degree of public involvement in the scrutiny process was considered a priority. The Panel decided to hold one meeting per month in public. Although the format of public sessions was to be determined at a subsequent meeting, the Panel agreed that public involvement should not be limited to the observation of proceedings. Having noted that the Economic Affairs Panel had elected to hold public meetings in the 12 Parish Hall s on a rotating basis, the Panel agreed that it would wish to adopt a similar practice. The Panel also considered whether communication  between  individual  members  and  between  the Panel  and  the  public  could  be  improved  by  various  methods including  revisions  to  the  existing  Web  site,  development  of  a separate  website  and  the  production  and  distribution  of  a newsletter. With regard to modification of the existing gov.je website the Panel was advise to discuss this with the Greffier of the States. Individual Panel members agreed to review the existing Scrutiny Web  site,  to  consider  websites  of  other  jurisdictions  and  local United Kingdom County and Borough Councils. However, it was agreed that the Chairman would pursue the matter. The Panel also

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noted that the Chairman would raise the issue at the next meeting of the Chairmen's Committee.

Media contact - It was agreed that all media contact should be through the Chairman unless specific arrangements concerning a particular review were agreed at a future date.

Contact through office - The Panel acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all work undertaken be audited effectively. It was agreed that the Scrutiny Office was to be advised of all actions carried out in connection with a review and that all communications with States departments should be directed through the Scrutiny Office.

Rôle  of  Scrutiny  Officers - It  was  clarified  that  two  Scrutiny Officers had been assigned to each of the four Scrutiny Panels until further notice. The rôle of the Scrutiny Officers was to provide a comprehensive research and administrative support service to the Panel and to assist with the general management of reviews.

4

Panel's remit and invitation to Ministers to Panel meeting.

The  Panel  determined  that  its  areas  of  responsibility  could  be summarized under four headings as follows –

1. Planning,
2. Environment,
3. Transport, and
4. Infrastructure.

Resources  were  considered  insufficient to  allow  for  major  topic reviews in each of the four areas during the course of 2006. It would therefore be necessary to prioritize potential topics for review. In order to facilitate the prioritization process the Panel concluded that it would invite the Planning and Environment and Transport and Technical Services Ministers to a Panel meeting early in 2006 to discuss the priorities of each Ministry for the coming year. The Minister  could  be  accompanied  by  the  Chief  Executive  Officer, Environment and Public Services.

The Panel, having reviewed Section 11 of the States Business Plan 2006 – 2010,  recalled  that  the  former  Environment  and  Public Services Committee had secured law drafting time for a number of items  of  draft  legislation.  This  would  also  be  discussed  at  the meeting with the respective Ministers.

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6

Indications of areas of interest from Panel members.

The  Panel  discussed  possible  topic  areas  for  review  in  2006. Potential subject areas included -

1. the existing Planning process,
2. Heritage planning,
3. the Building Bye-Laws (Jersey) 2004,
4. the ongoing effectiveness of the Agri-environment scheme,
5. agriculture related restrictions on property use,
6. the Strategic Travel and Transport Plan (P.174/2005),
7. car parks and effect of proposed price rises,
8. the promotion of energy efficiency in vehicles,
9. infrastructure quality and maintenance,
10. waste strategy,