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CHAIRMEN'S COMMITTEE
Meeting of Chairmen held on 7th September 2007 Meeting Number 59
Present Deputy S C Ferguson, President
Deputy R.G. Le Herissier, Vice President Deputy R C Duhamel
Deputy G P Southern
Deputy A Breckon
Deputy J G Reed
Deputy D.W. Mezbourian
Apologies
Absent Deputy P J D Ryan
In attendance M. De La Haye, Greffier of the States
M.P. Haden, Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
1 | Minutes The Minutes of meetings held on 26th & 29th June, 6th, 10th, 11th & 29th June 2007 were approved and signed. |
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2 | Action update Standing Order 121 amendment - appointment of President of Chairmen's Committee The draft amendment empowering the Chairmen's Committee, rather than the States, to appoint its own President, was noted. It was agreed that this should be passed to the Privileges and Procedures Committee for comment. |
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3. | Financial report The 2nd Quarter was noted. The Committee was informed that on current spending there was likely to be an underspend at the end of the year. |
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4. | Panel reports The Committee received and noted Panel Activity Reports |
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5. | Environment Panel
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6. | Overview of Scrutiny activity A report on the extent to which Panels had covered the terms of reference for Scrutiny to date was noted. |
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7. | Scrutiny of the States Business Plan a) Report on Business Planning process - The Committee agreed to prepare a report on the opportunities for Scrutiny involvement in the Business Planning process. This would be used to provide feedback to the Executive on how the Panels could more actively engage in the business planning process. All Panels were requested to submit a report by mid | All Panels |
| October. b) PAC amendment to the Business Plan 2008 - The Chairman of the PAC outlined the Committee's concerns with the Executive's lack of financial discipline as evidenced in the rise of planned expenditure in the Business Plan. She explained that the purpose of the amendment was to constrain States spending to limits previously agreed in Business Plan debates. In addition, it was felt that the Business Plan failed to give a clear picture of planned changes in expenditure and the manpower implications. This was exacerbated by the delay in introducing GAAP accounting methods. It was agreed to invite all Scrutiny Panel members to attend a meeting on Friday 14th September (subject to the continuation of the States sitting) to consider the rationale and implications of the proposed amendment. | KTF |
8. | Citizenship programme The Committee was informed that this project had received the support of the Council of Ministers. | JR |
9 | Scrutiny Newsletter It was agreed to progress the production of the second newsletter with Deputy D. Mezbourian and Deputy K. Lewis assuming responsibility for oversight of content [front and back pages only] , printing, circulation and costs. | DM |
10 | Protocol on Executive Responses to Scrutiny Reports The Committee was advised that agreement had now been reached with the Council of Ministers on this protocol. The revised protocol was agreed accordingly. |
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11. | Visit to Guernsey Scrutiny The President reported on a recent visit to meet Guernsey Scrutiny members and their officers. It was noted that the Guernsey States Business plan focussed on strategy and separated this from approval of States finances. It was requested that copies of the scrutiny comments on the Guernsey States Business plan be sent to all Panel Chairman for information. | KTF |
12 | Access to Legal Advice The Committee was of the view that, prior to any further meeting with the Attorney General, better information should be given to Scrutiny Panel members regarding the background to this issue. It was agreed accordingly to defer the planned meeting with the Attorney General on 14th September and Deputies Duhamel and Southern were requested to prepare a paper with the Scrutiny Manager outlining the key issues and the argument in favour of Scrutiny being able to access legal advice given to the Ministers. | RD/GS/KTF |
13 | Internal review of Working Practices The Committee was informed that a report would be ready for circulation to Scrutiny Panel members in the week beginning 10th September. | KTF |
14 | Quorum at Panel Hearings It was agreed that the current quorum for Panel hearings (50% of |
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| membership) was unnecessarily restrictive. The Scrutiny Manager was requested to prepare a paper considering the implications of reducing the current quorum for Scrutiny hearings to two members. | KTF |
15 | Word processing Given the difficulties recently experienced in preparing the Design of Homes report due to the shortcomings of Word in dealing with photos it was agreed that an alternative word processing package should be investigated | KTF |
16 | Date of next meeting - 5th October 2007 |
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Signed Date:
.. President, Chairmen's Committee