Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 21 June 2007

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes –

The Panel approved the minutes of the meetings held on the 17th May; 24th May; 7th June and 12th June 2007.

2.

Item 3d 17.05.07

Item 3 07.06.07

Matters Arising –

1. The Island's ageing population & pensions – The Panel  received  an  update  from  the  Minister  for Treasury and Resources on negotiations to fill the pension gap left by Norwich Union.
2. Budget  Scrutiny – The  Panel  noted  that  the Scrutiny  Officer  had  recently  attended  a  Scrutiny Conference  in  the  UK  that  had  included  a  brief session  on  Budget  Scrutiny. The  Officer  had subsequently been in contact with Francis Taylor who had provided training to Scrutiny members in January  2006,  and  would  be  willing  to  provide Scrutiny Members with training on Budget Scrutiny, and the Panel agreed that this would be of great benefit. It was requested for the matter to be raised with the Chairmen's Committee accordingly.

3. Jersey  Finance  Fiscal  Strategy  Group – The Panel noted clarification from the Chairman of the Fiscal Strategy Group that the invitation for a Panel member to attend meetings of this group was for any meetings the group held with the Minister for Treasury  and  Resources. It  was  agreed  that  it would still be helpful for a Panel member to attend these meetings.

MH

3.

Forthcoming Legislation – The Panel noted items of

draft legislation within its remit to be lodged for debate by the States within the next month.

4.

Ministerial Decisions –

The Panel noted Ministerial Decisions within its remit for the period from 11th May 2007 to 11th June 2007, and

requested for clarification of the Ministerial Decision in respect of the review of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005.

MH

5.

Scrutiny Topic Proposal –

The Panel received a topic proposal from a member of the public on the issue of Jersey's independence. The Panel requested for a response to be drafted from the Chairman explaining that regrettably as a result of the Panel's  heavy  workload  it  would  not  be  possible  to conduct a Scrutiny Review into the issues raised in the topic proposal.

SP

6.

Officer Time Commitments –

The Panel noted an updated paper outlining officer time commitments from the 21st June – 30th September 2007.

7.

Orchid Communications –

The  Panel  noted  that  Orchid  Communications  had terminated its contract with Scrutiny with effect from the 15th July 2007.

8.

Item 11 17.05.07

Level Playing Field –

The Panel revisited the decision made at its meeting on

the 17th May 2007, and agreed that it wished to progress this Review as soon as possible, as there were currently

the  Officer  Resources  available  to  do  so. The  Panel requested for the Officer to liaise with the Chairman, and to begin putting together a draft Report, which would then be sent to the Panel's expert adviser for consideration. The Panel requested for a budget to be put together for an estimate of the adviser's time for this Review, to be approved as soon as possible.

SP

SP

9

Economic Affairs Panel review of money laundering

The Panel noted a letter from Deputy Southern , Chairman of  the  Economic  Affairs  Scrutiny  Panel,  explaining  the Panel's  intention  to  conduct  a  review  into  the  draft regulations for the prevention of money laundering and funding of terrorism. The Panel agreed that despite the fact that this review would involve looking at TIEA's, it would not duplicate the Panel's work in terms of the Level Playing Field review. The Panel noted Deputy Southern 's invitation for a member of the Corporate Services Panel to join a Sub-Panel to conduct the money laundering review, however it was agreed that as a result of the Panel's heavy workload this would not be feasible.

10.

Item 1 12.06.07

Revised Waterfront Development Proposals –

a. Terms of Reference -

The  Panel  approved  the  draft  terms  of  reference  and scoping  document  for  this  Review,  to  include  an estimated budget of £10,000 for the engagement of an expert adviser. The Panel requested for the Chairmen's Committee  to  be  advised  of  the  Panel's  Review accordingly.

2. Sub-Panel Membership -

The Panel noted that Deputy Ryan and Senator Perchard had  declared  an  interest  in  this  Review,  and  would therefore  not  be  on  the  Sub-Panel,  which  would  be constituted as follows:

Deputy C. Egre, Sub-Panel Chairman Connétable D. Murphy.

It was agreed that Deputy Egré should contact Senator Norman to establish whether he would be interested in being a member of the Sub-Panel.

3. Relevant Paperwork -

The Panel noted that the requested paperwork had not yet  been  provided,  and  agreed  that  this  should  be followed up as a matter of priority.

MH

CE MH

11.

Item 6 07.06.07

Overseas Aid Review –

The Panel noted that the Chairman of the Overseas Aid Sub-Panel wished to hold a Public Meeting on the 30th or

the 31st July to provide the opportunity to highlight the Panel's  conclusions  and  recommendations  from  its

Report. It was noted that the Chairman of the Jersey Overseas  Aid  Commission  had  been  contacted,  to establish whether the Commission wished to join the Sub- Panel in holding this meeting, and that the Chairman was currently awaiting a response.

The  Panel  noted  that  it  would  cost £100  to  hire  the Assembly  Room  at  the  Town   Hall  for  this  event,  and approved  the  cost  accordingly. The  Panel  further requested for the Scrutiny Officer to establish how much it would cost to hire St Paul's Centre.

SP

12.

Item 6 17.05.07

GST Review –

The Panel noted that to date the Sub-Panel had received one response to its call for evidence regarding the revised proposals  for  the  treatment  of  the  Financial  Services Industry. It was further noted that the Sub-Panel would be examining the procedures regarding the taxation of imported  goods,  and  the  draft  GST  Regulations  once issued for public consultation.

13.

Item 7 17.05.07

Zero/Ten Review –

The Panel noted that the Sub-Panel had been provided with a confidential copy of the paper prepared for the Minister  for  Treasury and  Resources  on  the economic impact  of  the  Deemed  Rent  Proposals,  and  that  the Panel's adviser was currently preparing comments on this