Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 3 February 2006

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1

Item 5 26.01.06

Age of Consent review - draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law The Panel noted

1. the Scoping Document and terms of reference which had been  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Chairmen's  Committee meeting on 27th January 2006. The Panel was conscious of the fact that this review might divert its attention and resources from other necessary projects within its remit and agreed that it was important to stay within its terms of reference; and

2. the project plan outline for the review to be completed on 28th March 2006 with the presentation of a report to the States

The  Panel  agreed  to  hold  public  hearings  on  9th  and  16th February with a reserve date on 2nd March for any additional witnesses.

The Panel agreed to the following witnesses -

9th February - Advocate Christopher Lakeman, Mr. Luke Small (Jersey Youth Reform Team) and Deputy James Reed;

16th February - Law Officers (Solicitor General or substitute) Chief Minister, Minister of Home Affairs.

The Panel noted that the majority of witnesses were weighted on the  side  of  an  obligation  to  equalise  the  age  of  consent  and considered  whether  there  were  any  additional  witnesses  who might provide an alternative viewpoint. The Panel agreed to invite the  Dean  and  the  head  of  Christians  Together  in  Jersey  to comment if they felt that they had any relevant contribution to make under the review's terms of reference. Constable Murphy said that he would approach an advocate who might be able to provide the balance the Panel was seeking.

The Panel requested officers to prepare outline questions for each of the witnesses and to circulate these to members in advance of the public hearings.

The  Panel  asked  officers  to  establish  whether  Portugal  were equalising their ages of consent, as the current ages of consent were 16 for homosexuals and 14 for heterosexuals.

Officers

Constable Murphy

Officers Officers

2

Item 6 26.01.06

Treasury & Resources Department - Fiscal Strategy

The Panel noted that the Treasury and Resources Minister had agreed to meet the Panel on 2nd March to provide an update briefing on the Fiscal Strategy developments since the approval of the approval of the Strategy (P.44/2005) by the States in May

2005.

The Panel noted that Senator Perchard had approached in the finance  industry  for  advice  on  local  source  of  independent expertise to advise the Panel on taxation matters. His view was that it would be difficult for anyone involved in the major firms in the  Island  to  be  appointed  formally  as  adviser  to  the  Panel, although  it  was  likely  that  they  would  be  willing  to  give  their independent  views  on  specific  issues.  Mr.  Paul  Frith  was mentioned as a feasible option.

The Chairman reported that he had approached the JCRA for advice on this matter.

Chairman

3.

Item 4 16.01.06

(Meeting with Ministers)

Annual Business Plan and Budget Scrutiny

The Panel received the Treasury's proposals for the scrutiny of the States Annual Business Plan and Budget processes.

4.

Item 3 26.01.06

Public hearing with Chief Minister

The Panel agreed to invite the Chief Minister to appear before the Panel on 16th March 2006 for the first of the agreed quarterly public hearings. The principal theme of this meeting would be on the new role of the Council of Ministers and the States Strategic Plan in the development of policy and the implications of this for the traditional involvement of the States Assembly in approving new  policies.  Related  to  this  was  the  issue  of  recording  and promulgating ministerial decisions.

The Panel agreed that, in preparation for the above meeting, it would request the Greffier of the States to give a briefing on 15th February 2006 on the States of Jersey Law and Standing Orders as they related to the above.