Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 5 May 2006

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Notes from meeting with Chief Minister – The Panel approved the notes of the meeting held on 30th March 2006.

2.

Minutes – The Panel approved the Minutes of the meeting held on 13th April 2006.

3.

Chairman's report –

1. The Panel received notes of the weekly briefing meeting with the Chairman, dated 12th and 19th April 2006.
2. The Panel received the briefing sheet from the Chairmen's Committee meeting, dated 20th April 2006.

4.

Scrutiny Topic proposal –

1. The Panel noted a lost of topics considered for review, and requested for the following topics to be added:

• Migration Policy
• 20% means 20% Proposals

2. The Panel received and noted a letter from Mr A Walton and a response from Ms P Staley concerning the addition of a commentary  on  Jersey  Customary  Law  on  Jersey's  legal website.

SP

5.

Item 8 e iii

13.04.06

Fiscal Strategy Reviews –

1. 20% means 20% - The Panel noted the intended lodging dates agreed by the Council of Ministers, and agreed that as a result of the Panel's workload and the timescale proposed for this legislation, it would not be possible to review this topic.

2. Goods and Services Tax – draft Law

The Panel received an update report on this review. The Chairman informed the Panel that he would contact other members with regard to them joining the Sub Panel as a matter of urgency.

3. Zero/ten Tax Model

1. The  Panel  received  the  Zero/ten  Design  Proposal consultation document.

2. The  Panel  agreed  the  Sub  Panel  would  consist  of  the following members:

Chairman

Senator J Perchard (Chairman)

Senator B Shenton

Deputy G Southern (subject to confirmation) Deputy P Ryan

It was agreed that Mr B Curtis would assist the Panel in the capacity of an adviser (unpaid).

It was noted that Deputy Gallichan would not assist the Sub Panel with this review, as she was keen to pursue work on additional issues within the Panel's remit.

The Panel noted the Chairmen's Committee paper on working practices for Sub-Panels.

6

States Strategic Plan and States Business Plan 2007

1. The Panel noted the Council of Ministers' paper dated 6th April and relevant Minutes.
2. The Panel noted the confidential appendices containing information  on  the  provisional  cash  limits  to departments.

3. The Panel noted the scoping document for the Panel's review  into  the  Financial  Framework  of  the  draft Strategic Plan.
4. The Panel noted that the papers requested from the Treasury on the Dwelling House Loan Fund and the Stabilisation Fund had not yet been received; due to the Treasury's workload as a result of the release of the Zero/ten Design Proposal.

5. The Panel agreed that, prior to the public hearing with

the Minister on the 18th May 2006, it would be beneficial for  an  informal  meeting  to  be  arranged  between

Deputies Ryan and Gallichan, and Mr C Haws from the Treasury, in order to aid the Panel's understanding of the  background  and  rationale  to the  figures  in  the proposed financial framework,.

The Panel requested for the Treasury to be informed that an additional area for the Minister to be questioned on  at  the  public  hearing  would  be  the  anti  inflation strategy.

The Panel agreed to provide officers with draft questions for the public hearing by the 10th May 2006.

6. The  Panel  agreed  that  a  Sub  Panel,  to  include Senators Norman and Shenton, should be formed for this review. The Panel noted that the Senators were both able to attend the public hearing on the 18th May

2006. vii. The Panel agreed that as a result of time constraints it would not be feasible to invite a group of local advisers to assist the Panel with this review.

SP

MH

Panel members

7.

Item 11 a 13.04.06

AOB

1. Questions from the public to Ministers

The Panel agreed that in future all press releases should be prepared by its own officers rather than the Communications Unit.

2. Centre for Public Scrutiny Conference

The Chairman agreed to attend this conference on 28th June