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Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel Meeting No. 36
7th March 2007 Blampied Room, States Building
Present Deputy G. P. Southern , Chairman
Deputy J. A. Martin
Connétable M. K. Jackson Deputy K. C. Lewis
Apologies
In attendance Nathan Fox, Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
1. | Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2006 were considered and approved with one amendment. | NJF |
2. | Finance Briefing The Panel noted that it had contacted the Economic Development Department on a number of occasions in 2007 in respect of arranging a previously discussed briefing for the Panel by officers of the Department concerning the current issues in the finance industry. As the Panel had received no response to its requests since 2006, the Chairman directed officers to draft a letter to the Economic Development Minister expressing disappointment in this regard and requesting again that a time be finalised. | NJF |
3. Item 3 7th Feb 2007 | Retail Strategy Review Possible conflict The Panel recalled that Deputy Lewis had noted concerns that the proposed increase in retail space might affect his business, and that this might preclude him from taking part in a review on the subject. in particular he was concerned that the proposed construction of department store adjacent to his place of business, which, although it was considered highly unlikely, could constitute a financial interest. The Chairman had advised that Deputy Lewis ask the Bailiff for a ruling on the matter, although the Panel considered his interests to be marginal. The Panel considered the Bailiff 's response, which indicated that Deputy Lewis was not conflicted from discussing, as a general matter of principle, the establishment of another supermarket in the Island, so long as that discussion is not at the same time going to |
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| focus on the site of such a supermarket. Documents received The Panel received additional information for its review files, and forty-six new submissions from the public. The officer had made form replies to the majority of these and responded to some particular submissions at his discretion, in accordance with the Chairman's previous directions. The Panel also received amended transcripts of the Public Hearings held on 21st and 22nd February 2007. it noted that officers of the Economic Development Department made reference to documents regarding the terms of reference of the Experian report and updated economic activity on the Island, which the officers was directed to obtain. The Panel noted a response from Mr. D. Millar d of the Statistics Unit to queries from the Chairman in respect of the Experian report. Public hearings The Panel recalled that it had cancelled the hearing planned for 28th February 2007 due to the Economic Development Minister's absence. The Panel was informed that the Minister had been contacted to discuss his schedule, and that a hearing had provisionally been set for Thursday 15th March. The Committee decided that this hearing should begin at 7.00pm with Mrs J. Tompson of the Women's Institute, and that the Minister should attend at 7.45pm. The officer was directed to make the necessary arrangements for the hearing and to draft questions for the attendees for the Panel's consideration. | NJF NJF NJF |
4. | Department's progress against initiatives The Panel considered an officer report concerning a previous discussion on the Economic Development Department elements of R.4/2007 – Strategic Plan – Progress Against Initiatives'. The Panel recalled that the document was intended to show the progress of various initiatives within the Department and that it appeared to show numerous matters as on target' for time scale, while the relevant text stated that these items had been delayed from 2006 to 2007. The Panel had intended to pass this matter to officers to begin a short investigation, but the extension of the review into the privatisation of Jersey Telecom had resulted in no officer time being available prior to the departure of Ian Clarkson, Scrutiny Officer. The Panel therefore decided that in order to avoid delaying this |
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| matter too greatly, or jeopardising the timing of the Retail Strategy Review, it would itemise the discrepancies in a letter to the Economic Development Minister, and await his response. Officers were directed to draft this latter for the approval of the Panel. | NJF |
5. | Institute of Directors meeting attendance The Panel noted that a meeting of the Institute of Directors was to take place at the Hotel de France on 24th May 2007 to discuss the future plans fro the waterfront development. The Panel had been offered one free place. It was decided that Deputy Southern should attend, with one other Panel member to be decided at a later date. The Panel noted that this would incur a cost of £48. Officers were directed to take the appropriate action. | NJF |
6. | Meeting with the Jersey Farmer's Union The Panel noted that it had been contacted by the Jersey Farmer's Union who wished to make a submission in respect of the Retail Strategy Review. The Panel informed the officer of the dates on which it would be available and directed him to take the appropriate action. | NJF |
7. | Date of next meeting The Panel agreed to hold its next meeting on 7th March 2007. The officer was directed to make the appropriate arrangements. | NJF |
Signed
. Chairman Deputy G. P. Southern Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Date .