Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 23 May 2008

Present

Deputy S C Ferguson, President

Deputy R G Le Hérissier, Vice-President Deputy R C Duhamel

Deputy G P Southern [end item 8 to end] Deputy D.W. Mezbourian

Deputy J G Reed

Apologies

Deputy A. Breckon Deputy P J D Ryan

Absent

In attendance

Mrs K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager

Mr. M. De La Haye, Greffier of the States [Items 6 and 7 only]

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Minutes

The Minutes of the 25th and 29th April and 12th May 2008, having been approved were signed accordingly.

2.  Action update

The legal advice received by the Public Accounts Committee from a third party which it had been agreed to circulate to all Chairmen's Committee Members would be circulated forthwith

SF

3.  Internal Review into Working Practices/successes paper The  Committee  noted  that,  in  respect  of  the  paper  on  scrutiny

successes  that  this  had  been  progressed  by  the  President,  Vice- President and Scrutiny Manager as tasked at Committee meeting of 25th April 2008. That report had been finalised and forwarded to the media with the press release in respect of the Newsletter.

With regard to the internal review into working practices report, this had been circulated to all Members with the intention of offering the opportunity to all scrutiny members to discuss this at an away-day. The Committee further considered the possibility of an away-day and it was agreed that individual Panels should consider whether an away- day was required and advise the Chairmen's Committee at its next meeting.

Panels/ KTF

4.  Staffing

The Committee received an update on staffing levels and noted that the latest recruit to the post of Scrutiny Officer had now been allocated to the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel providing that Panel with its full allocation of officers. Long-term sickness remained an issue and a temporary worker had been employed to assist the remaining officer allocated to the Environment Panel. The Committee also noted that half  a  post  had  been  provided  to  support  the  Public  Accounts Committee.

5.  Panel reports

Health, Social Security and Housing

New  Directions:  the  Committee  noted  that  a  delegation  from  the Health  Department  was  attending  on  the  Panel  that  afternoon  to discuss the status of this initiative.

Public Accounts Committee

In June the PAC would start to look at financial controls and States insurance. In July there would hearings with the Treasurer of the States and appropriate Chief Executive Officers.

The Committee gave consideration to a request being made to all Departments  for  information  pertaining  to  all  financial  transactions

under consideration which would require a policy change to identify whether Property Holdings had been involved.

The Committee also considered the perceived costs of the enquiry into Haut de la Garenne and recommended that the Public Accounts Committee  look  at  the  expenditure  over  the  first  quarter.   Deputy Ferguson  agreed  to  discuss  the  matter  with  the  Comptroller  and Auditor General

PAC

6.  Spending Review [Comptroller and Auditor General]

The Committee noted receipt of the above report and the summary papers provided by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. It considered the preferred methodology for progressing scrutiny of the  various  areas  and  agreed  that  Panels  should  consider  areas relevant to their respective remits and prepare a summary paper to be submitted  to  the  Chairmen's  Committee,  preferably  for  the  next scheduled meeting. It was agreed that such a paper would be useful for future scrutiny panels.

With  regard  to  the recommended  cut  of  £100,000 from the  2009 scrutiny  budget,  the  Committee  recalled  that both  the  Chairmen's Committee and the Privileges and Procedures Committee had agreed to retain the budget at the 2008 level. However, this was prior to the release of the Spending Review report. The Committee noted that the Privileges and Procedures Committee would be revisiting the matter at  its forthcoming  meeting  and,  although  some  consideration  was given to the fact that if other Departments were to have budget cuts, scrutiny should also, decided that it would request the Privileges and Procedures Committee to maintain its original decision.

The  Committee  also  agreed  to  request  information  from  the Comptroller and Auditor General as to how he had arrived at the sum of £100,000.

Consideration was given to the original proposed budget allocation and to the fact that the majority of money was spent on research. The Committee  considered  whether,  in  the  first  instance,  it  would  be advantageous to review the calculation of the original scrutiny budget and its original allocation. The Committee considered whether the budget could have been better allocated on qualified staff competent of  undertaking  research.  Communication  facilities  were  also considered in that there was an obligation to rely on existing media which was not obliged to broadcast the scrutiny message as scrutiny might so wish. It was agreed that Deputy Duhamel would look into these matters.

Panels/ KTF

SF/KTF SF/KTF

KTF/SF

RD

7.  Travel/accommodation/subsistence policy

The Committee considered a draft policy for scrutiny in respect of off- Island  visits  and  hosting  on-Island  as  appropriate. This  had  been based on the policy for public employees. Whilst it was recognised that off-Island visits and hosting consultants and similar whilst on- Island was recognised and accepted practice, the Committee was mindful of the fact that the funds were from the "public purse". In view of this, the Committee approved the policy and agreed that it should be forwarded to the Council of Ministers so that Ministers and Scrutiny

KTF

could both subscribe to the same policy.

The Committee also requested that it should be forwarded to the Law Officers' Department.

KTF

8.  Crown Officers -- [Gibraltar]

The Committee noted that the Crown Officers in Gibraltar were no longer part of the government. The Committee also noted that Deputy Duhamel had requested relevant documentation and the Committee agreed that this would be beneficial for the Privileges and Procedures Committee.