Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 3 May 2006

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes  of  the  Meetings  of 22nd  March,  22nd  March Confidential, 29th March, 6th April and 28th April 2006.

These minutes were approved and signed.

2.

Matters arising

Legal  Advice - the  situation  relating  to  Scrutiny  access  to  legal information had been discussed by the Chairmen's Committee and approaches had been made to the Chief Minister to seek a resolution to the ongoing situation.

Strategic Plan - the Panel view on the Strategic Plan was complete and ready for submission to the Chairmen's Committee. The Panel was concerned that the process for amending the plan did not allow for any significant impact as no real detail would be available until the departmental business plans were issued at which point no further amendments could be made. It was agreed that the Chairman should pursue this issue with the Greffier of the States

Visit to Condor Logistics - it was agreed that a visit should be undertaken to the pick and pack operation at the Harbour. The officer was directed to make the necessary arrangements.

Comptroller  and  Auditor  General -  the  Panel  requested  that  a meeting  be  arranged  with  the  CAG  to  discuss  financial  matters relating to its review.

3.

Postal Incorporation Review

The Panel received a full list of all fulfilment companies belonging to the pre-paid VAT Scheme operated by a locally based H.M. Customs Officer retained under agreement at Jersey Post.

CLQ NJF

It discussed the number of companies affected by the change in the fulfilment policy and agreed that the Department should be requested to provide information on any further companies that had been issued with a time limited licence to trade.

The level of reduction of outgoing postal packages as a result of the new policy was noted and it was agreed that the impact of the change did  not  currently  appear  as  significant  as  initially anticipated. However, it was accepted that the companies affected had not yet reached the end of the time limited licences so the full effect could not be precisely forecast.

The Panel discussed issues relating to the forthcoming hearing and lines of questioning that it would pursue with its witnesses. It was agreed that the following areas would be discussed at the hearing - Guernsey practice and service level targets, the robustness of the scenario  planning  developed  by  Jersey  Post,  the  viability  of  the company, advantages of incorporation or otherwise, business growth in other areas, the UK stance, the impact of the new policy, the role of JCRA,  the  impact  on  the  work  force  and  new  agreements, the pension deficit  the  change  in  capital  required  and  the  current proposed assets for the company.

The Panel noted that its witnesses for the Hearing would be -

JCRA - Mr B. Brown, Mr. C. Webb and Mr. P. Hamilton;

Jersey Post - Connétable G. Fisher, Mr. J. Pinel and Mr. I. Ridgeway; Union Representatives - Mr. M. Hamon and Mr. L. Sampson;

Former President of the Committee for Postal Administration - Deputy

P. Ryan.

The officers were requested to finalise the drafting of the questions for the Panel.