Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 8 October 2007

Present

Deputy P J D Ryan, Chairman Connétable J L S Gallichan Deputy C Egré

Apologies

Connétable D Murphy

In attendance

Mr M Haden, Scrutiny Officer Miss S Power, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.

GST Statement –

The Panel noted the Chairman's statement to be made to the House on the 9th October, with regard to the proposed temporary zero-rating of

hotel accommodation contained in the draft GST Regulations.

2.

Item 4 25.09.07

Scrutiny of the Business Plan –

The Panel considered the draft report for the Chairmen's Committee on Scrutiny  of  the  States Business  Plan,  and  highlighted the following conclusions it wished to be included in the report:

• The issue of confidentiality surrounding the Panel's briefings on the Business Plan was prohibitive in terms of the involvement of all Scrutiny Panels in reviewing the business planning process. In future  it  would  be  of  greater  benefit  for  all  Chairmen,  or representatives of the Panel, to be invited to the briefings received by the Panel, and then feedback the information to their respective Panels. This would help to accelerate Scrutiny's involvement and focus on the business planning process.

• The  timing  of  Scrutiny's  involvement  in  the  business  planning process was a further issue, as the publication of the Draft States Business Plan came at a busy time for States members with a great deal of Public Business on the Order Paper just before the summer recess. Earlier  involvement  would  help  to  increase  Scrutiny's involvement and contribution to this process.

• The  boundary  between  the  Public  Accounts  Committee  and Scrutiny's involvement in reviewing the business planning process would benefit from further clarification.

• The  use  of  an  independent  adviser  in  reviewing  the  business planning process should be pursued and funded from within existing budgets. The potential to combine this independent expert adviser with  the  training  of  Scrutiny  members  should  be  given  further consideration.

• Effective Scrutiny of the business planning process would help to

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highlight the main issues that Panels should subsequently consider reviewing and incorporating into their annual work programmes.

3.

Item 9 26.07.07

Jersey's Overseas Aid –

The  Panel  noted  the  response  from  the  Jersey  Overseas  Aid Commission to the Panel's report, presented to the States on the 18th

September 2007. It was agreed that this response should be discussed with the Chief Minister at the public meeting scheduled for the 25th

October 2007, and requested for the Scrutiny Officer to incorporate this issue into the question plan accordingly.

SP

4.

Item 8 17.09.07

Zero/Ten Review –

The Panel agreed that as Senator Perchard, previous chairman of the Zero/Ten Review, was no longer a member of the Panel, the remainder of this review should be undertaken by the full Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel.

The Panel noted that depending on the date for the States Debate on the draft Shareholder Legislation, the Chairman may be attending a Scrutiny Conference. It was therefore requested for the Scrutiny Officer to establish the date of the States Debate, and if necessary to contact the Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee to request for this item to be taken as the first item of business, to ensure the Chairman would be present.

SP

5.

Scrutiny Newsletter –

The Panel received its draft contribution for the second issue of the Scrutiny Newsletter, and agreed that any comments should be sent to the Scrutiny Officer by the 12th October 2007.

Panel Membe rs

6.

Ministerial Decisions –

The  Panel  noted  that  in  future  all  Ministerial  Decisions  would  be distributed to Members weekly by the Panel's administrator.

7.

Council of Ministers' papers –

The Panel received confidential copies of the following documents:

1. Share Transfer Property Transactions Tax
2. Environmental Taxes

The Panel requested for the documents to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting, to provide Members with the opportunity to consider the content.

SP

8.

Item 2c 17.09.07

Corporate Management Board –

The Panel discussed the concerns highlighted at its meeting on the 26th July with regard to the role of the Corporate Management Board, and particularly in terms of the political influence of this body of officers. The  Panel  reiterated  its  view  that  an  objective  assessment  of  the Corporate Management Board was necessary.