Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 25 October 2007

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Agenda matter

Action

1.

Minutes -

The Panel approved the minutes of the 17th, 20th and the 25th September and the 8th October 2007.

2.

Item 1 25.09.07

Item 14 17.09.07

Matters arising –

1. Panel  Membership – The  Panel  welcomed   Deputy  Le Hérissier to its meeting. It was noted that at the States sitting on

the 6th November, Deputy Le Hérissier would be nominated as the fifth member of the Panel. The Panel further appointed Deputy

Egré as its Vice-Chairman.

2. Chamber of Commerce Luncheon – It was noted that it would be beneficial for representatives from the Panel to attend the Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on the 21st November, as the

topic area under discussion was "Tax and spending: is the balance right?" It  was  agreed  that  Deputies  Ryan  and  Egré  should represent the Panel, and requested for the Scrutiny Officer to make the necessary arrangements.

3. Private Pension Provision – The Panel noted that the 2008 Budget included provisions for private pensions on the Island. The Panel  delegated  responsibility  to   Connétable  Murphy  to  look  at these provisions in more detail, and report back to the Panel at the next meeting.

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3.

Item 4 25.09.07

States Annual Business Plan and Budget 2008 –

1. The Panel approved the final draft of its report on the States Business  Plan  process,  to  be  considered  by  the  Chairmen's

Committee at its meeting on the 2nd November.

2. The Panel noted the draft Budget proposals that had been lodged by the Minister for Treasury and Resources on the 23rd

October. It was further noted that Deputy Reed wished to discuss the Panel's response to the draft Budget proposals, and the Panel requested for a meeting to be arranged with Deputy Reed as soon as possible.

3. The Panel agreed to defer arranging a meeting with the

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Minister for Treasury and Resources to discuss the States financial forecasts until the meeting had been held with Deputy Reed.

4.

Item 6 17.09.07

Property Holdings Department –

It was noted that a meeting had been arranged between the new Director of the Property Holdings Department, and representatives of the Panel. However, as a result of confusion surrounding the arrangements for this meeting, it had not taken place. The Panel requested for the Scrutiny Officer to contact the Property Holdings Department and rearrange this meeting as soon as possible.

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5.

Meeting with the Chief Minister –

The Panel welcomed Senator F.H. Walker , Chief Minister; Mr W. Ogley,  Chief  Executive;  and  Mrs  J.  Marshall,  Scrutiny  Liaison Officer, to its meeting to discuss the following issues from the six monthly progress report on Strategic Initiatives:

Customer Services Centre

Migration Policy

Study to identify public services that might be provided by the private sector

The following issues that did not feature in the six monthly progress report were also discussed:

The role of the Corporate Management Board

Jersey Enterprise Board

Jersey's Overseas Aid

6.

Confidential papers to be considered at future meetings –

The Panel requested for the following papers to be placed on the agenda at its next meeting:

Share Transfer Property Transactions Tax Environmental Taxes

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7.

Forthcoming Legislation –

The  Panel  noted  the  items  of  draft  legislation  within  its  remit scheduled  for  debate  by  the  States  within  the  next  month. Connétable  Murphy  informed  the  Panel  that  he  wished  to independently discuss P.128/2007 (Draft Drug Trafficking Offences (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 200- ) with the Comptroller and Auditor General.

8.

International Conventions –

The Panel noted the International Conventions and Agreements progress  report  from  1st  October  2005  to  31st  March  2006

(R.C.95/2007).

9.

Current reviews –

The Panel noted an update summary for its current reviews.

On  a  separate  matter,  the  Chairman  informed  the  Panel  that following his attendance at an Economic Development event, where the  guest  speaker  had  been  Ms  K.  Barker,  Monetary  Police Committee Member of the Bank of England, he wished to conduct some work into the possible use of GST to control the Island's inflation,  and  would  be  preparing  a  paper  on  this  issue independently.

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10.

Future Meetings –

Panel Meeting to approve the Zero/Ten Report - 31st October at

3.30 pm (First Floor Meeting Room, Morier House).