Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 17 May 2007

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes –

The Panel approved the minutes of the meetings held on the 15th March; 21st March; 30th March and 1st May 2007.

2.

Ministerial Decisions –

The Panel noted Ministerial Decisions within its remit for the period from 15th April up to 10th May 2007, especially

with  regard  to  the  Framework  for  developing  the international identity in Jersey. The Panel agreed that this was an area it wished to monitor, and requested for the Scrutiny Officer to provide the following information:

The letter from Advocate Lakeman published in the Jersey Evening Post earlier in the week;

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2. The Bailiff 's Liberation Day speech;
3. To  establish  progress  made  by  the  Constitutional Review  Group  since  the  confidential  Council  of

Ministers paper dated 29th January 2007.

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3.

Scrutiny Topic Proposals –

The Panel considered the following correspondence from members of the public and requested for the following actions to be taken:

1. Tax allowances for unmarried couples: a response to be drafted advising that the issue was on the agenda  for  the  Legislation  Advisory  Committee, however it is unlikely to be addressed within the next two years.

2. Timescales  and  budgets  for  States  projects:  a response to be drafted explaining the since the Public Accounts Committee had been introduced

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to the States, the issue of timescales and budgets for States projects have been rigorously examined.

c) Declaration of welfare payments on Income Tax returns:  Social  Security  Department  to  be contacted to request for clarification on this issue.

d) The Island's ageing population & pensions: It was agreed  that  the  issue  of  an  ageing  population would  be  partially  covered  by  the  Sub  Panel's Review into the Migration Policy Proposals. The Panel  agreed  to  give  further  consideration  to  a review  of  pension  provision  later  in  the  year. Meanwhile an update was requested from to the Minister on negotiations to fill the gap left by the departure of Norwich Union.

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4.

Panel expenditure –

1. The Panel noted a summary financial report as at 10th May 2007.
2. The Panel approved an extension of the contract for the Panel's tax adviser, for a combined overall total of £10,410.00 for the GST and Zero/Ten Reviews.

5.

Overseas Aid Review –

The Panel noted that the Overseas Aid Sub-Panel was nearing completion of its Report. It was agreed that the final draft would be approved by the Panel by way of a telephone meeting.

6.

GST Review –

The Panel noted that the next stage of the GST Sub- Panel's  Review  would  involve  consideration  of  the treatment of the financial services industry; the treatment of  imports  at  customs;  and  the  forthcoming  GST Regulations.

It was noted that the next stages of this Review would be progressed once the JCG Sub Panel had completed its Review, as the necessary Officer resources would then be available.

7.

Zero/Ten Review –

The Panel noted that the Zero/Ten Sub-Panel had now received a confidential copy of the draft legislation from the Treasury and Resources Department, and the Panel's adviser was currently considering the document with the view to providing the Sub-Panel with his comments within the next three weeks.

8.

Migration Policy Review –

The Panel welcomed Deputies Southern and Martin to the meeting to discuss the next stage of the Migration Policy Review.

The  Panel  agreed  that  the  data  protection  issues concerning the Migration Policy proposals should form the basis of an interim report, which the Panel would aim to present to the States in advance of the summer recess.

The Panel requested confirmation of the timescale for the public  consultation  on  the  Population  Register  and  the Population Study.

It was noted that given the Panel's current workload the Officer resources would only be available for this stage of the  Review  once  the  Overseas  Aid  Report  had  been presented to the States.

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9.

Former JCG Site Review –

The Panel was informed that the JCG Sub Panel's Review was now nearing completion, and the Report would be presented to the States on the 22nd May 2007. It was

noted that the Sub-Panel had held a confidential meeting with the Minister for Treasury and Resources to discuss the content of the draft Report in advance of publication, and had been pleased to note that the Report had been well received by the Minister.

The  Panel  discussed  the  possibility  of  the  Sub-Panel making a statement to the States Assembly; however it was agreed to wait for the response from the Minister for Treasury and Resources before taking this route.

10.

States Annual Business Plan –

1. Scrutiny of the Departmental Cash Limits

The  Panel  deferred  discussion  on  this  issue  until  its update meeting during the States lunch break on the 5th

June 2007.

The Panel noted that it would receive a briefing from the Treasury and Resources Department on the next stage of the Annual Business Planning process at its next meeting on the 21st June 2007.

2. Scrutiny of the Financial Forecasting

It was noted that an officer briefing had been arranged in advance of the involvement of the panel's lead members.

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11.

The Island's International Tax Agreements –

The Panel noted that with its current heavy workload it would not be possible to begin this Review within the next few months as a result of a lack of resources. It was therefore agreed to postpone this issue until the Panel was able to dedicate the necessary time to the Review.

12.

Forward Work Planning –

The Panel requested for the Scrutiny Officer to produce a paper  highlighting  the  reporting  timeline  for  all  current Reviews, in addition to officer time commitments for the next  15  weeks,  to  ensure  the  Panel  could  plan  its workload accordingly.

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13.

Future Meetings:

Panel update meeting – 5th June 2007 at 1 pm Full Panel meeting – 21st June 2007 at 9.30 am