Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 22 February 2006

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes of the Meetings of 8th February 2006

The minutes would be signed at a subsequent meeting following a minor amendment.

2.

Fulfilment

The Chairman provided the Panel with an oral report, following a meeting with an operator of a fulfilment company. The key issues of concern raised in that meeting were discussed and noted to be -

1. The  differences  in structure  of  the  various

companies  as outlined  in  the  current  policy  (date  of approval or otherwise to be confirmed by the officer);

2. The operation of VAT collection and a pre paid

scheme operated on the Island to expedite the postal system and

avoid Customs hub centre delays in the UK;

3. The Oxera report and its consultation process;
4. Staff employed - skills base and diversity;
5. Postal operator and fulfilment company issues;
6. Role of the Regulator

The Panel discussed the potential issues relating to the forthcoming incorporation of Jersey Post and the role of the Jersey Competition Regulatory  Authority  within  than  context.  It  was  noted  that  the Chairman had a forthcoming meeting with the JCRA to discuss competition and regulatory matters.

Clarification  on  the  statutory  ability  of  JCRA  to  intervene  was requested for the next meeting.

It  was  agreed  that  the  view  of  Guernsey  Post  relating  to  the fulfilment business should be sought, together with an outline of its charging structure for volume fulfilment post. It was also requested that the views of French Authorities to the business be sought along with EU guidelines and VAT Agreements if any.

CLQ

CLQ

Details of meeting with HM Treasury Officials should be requested together  with  any  notes  of  such  meetings. Details  of  RUDL licences  issued  to  fulfilment  companies  and  a  list  of  operating companies should be pursued.

The Panel discussed issues relating to the introduction of 0/10 and the  changing  face  of  the  Royal  Mail  and  the  opening  up  of competition in the United Kingdom Postal industry.

The Panel agreed that it would benefit from visiting a fulfilment company operation and that it would be useful to see the Jersey Post Offshore Solutions Operations - the Officer was directed to take the necessary action.

CLQ

3.

Scrutiny Event

The Panel received an oral report from the Chairman following the recent Chairmen's Committee meeting on the principle of running a forum or workshop to promote scrutiny to the wider public. The Chairman was tasked by his Panel to progress this issue with the Scrutiny Manager with a view to an event being arranged in May or June of 2006.

The  Panel  also  briefly  discussed  the  role  of  Scrutiny  and  the differences  in  other  jurisdictions  where  the  process  included recourse for members of the public through a petitions Committee. The Officer was requested to provide some outline information to the Panel on the Scott ish Petitions Committee at its next meeting.

The Panel agreed that if and when the Chairman was unavailable to attend a Chairmen's Committee meeting a member of the Panel would be delegated to attend in his place.

Chairman

CLQ

4.

Scrutiny Powers draft Projet

The Panel examined the Draft States of Jersey (Powers, Privileges and  Immunities)  (Scrutiny  panels,  PAC  and  PPC)  (Jersey) Regulations 200-.and expressed some concern over the articles relating to the matter of challenge and the breadth and scope that such a challenge might bring. The Panel noted that any challenge would  be  referred  back  to  the  Privileges  and  Procedures Committee  for  a  ruling  and  that  no  definitive  time  scale  was included  within  the  regulation.  The  Panel  agreed  that  it  would examine the draft more closely at its next meeting and report back to  the  Chairmen's  Committee,  with  a  view  to  proposing amendments to ensure that the Scrutiny function was not delayed or obstructed from undertaking its remit effectively.

Chairman CLEQ

5.

Internal Audit Report Agriculture

The Panel noted the receipt of the internal audit report relating to The Agricultural Direct Financial Support Scheme and was content that, subject to confirmation that all actions had been completed, it would not wish to pursue any further investigation into the issue.

The officer was requested to advise the Chairman of the Public Accounts  Committee  accordingly  of  the  Panels  decision subsequent to that confirmation being received.

CLQ Chairman

In  addition  it  was  noted  that  the  Chairman  would  meet  with Professor  Donald  McQueen  on  the  6th  or  7th  March  2006  to discuss the Dairy Industry in Jersey. Times and venue would be confirmed in due course.

6.

Correspondence from Scott Le Cornu

Luminar - the Panel considered email correspondence dated the 22nd February in connexion with introduction of a smoking ban in public eating areas and no apparent action on behalf of the Health and  Social  Services  Department  to  respond  to  an  appeal application. The Panel decided that it would not be appropriate to undertake a review into the matter however it would write to the Health Minister to ascertain how the appeal was dealt with and what action has been taken in the interim.

GS and CLQ

7.

Jersey Financial Services Commission

The Panel requested that it be provided with copies of both the consultation papers issued in respect of fund investments.

CLQ

8.

School Milk

The Panel considered the following papers in connexion with the possible review into School Milk Provision or the Dairy Industry -

Summary of background information for school milk provision;

Ministerial decision, correspondence and supporting act Exert from London Economics' report to DEFRA December 2005;

UK News on school milk;

Medical articles on school milk;

Dr. S. New's report of the benefits of school milk;

Memo to the Select Committee on Work and Pensions by the Milk for Schools' group;

DEFRA response to Milk Development Committee' report 2002 ;

Minutes of the former Economic Development Committee re school milk.

The Panel agreed that it would be in a better position to consider the  focus  of  any  dairy  review  it  might  undertake  following  its meetings with Professor McQueen and Kevin Keen, Jersey Dairy. The Panel did suggest that it would be more likely that any review that it did undertake would be more holistic in approach than just examining the impact of the cessation of school milk provision and funding. The Officer was directed to make the necessary meeting arrangements.

CLQ

9.

Taxi Drivers Association