States Assembly | Chairmen's Committee - Approved Panel Minutes

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CHAIRMEN'S COMMITTEE

Meeting of Chairmen held on 28th November 2008 Meeting Number 90

Present	Deputy S. C. Ferguson, President Deputy R. C. Duhamel Deputy D. W. Mezbourian (Items 4-7inc ) and ratified items 1 - 3inc)
Apologies
Absent	Deputy A. Breckon Deputy P. J. D. Ryan Deputy G. Southern
In attendance	Mrs K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager

Ref Back	Agenda matter	Action
	1. Minutes The Committee approved the minutes of the meetings of the 22nd October 2008.
	2. Financial Report - end of year.. The Committee noted the large ends of year underspend. It noted that some work had not been able to occur which had been included in Panel's work programmes such as New Directions and Travel and Transport Strategy which had not been forthcoming. It was also noted that the budget for 2009 had been maintained as the same as for 2008. The Committee considered the spend on advisers to Panels for specific reviews and noted that there had been a budget allocation specifically for this purpose.
	3. Panel Reports The Committee noted the Panel reports and also noted the following:- The reluctance of the Transport and Technical Services Department to provide figures as requested by the Environment Scrutiny Panel in respect of Tipping Charges which had formed a part of the Annual Business Plan. The Committee was advised that the Panel had been informed that it did not understand the accounts and had been requested to justify what it was attempting to achieve and how it was analysing them; The next Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would be advised to request a full-time officer to support the work of the Committee. Although the PAC followed up work of the Comptroller and Auditor General, it did so under an independent capacity and required officer support. Furthermore an officer was required to perform the co- ordinating function for the Committee with matters such as monthly activity reports, newsletter submissions, annual reports and such like; Consideration was given to a possible PAC review into the expenditure on the Haut de la Garenne inquiry but it was noted that this would not be immediate.
22.10.08 Item 5	4. Panel legacy reports The Panel noted the Panel legacy reports and also noted that two Panels' legacy reports remained outstanding due to work commitments on report writing to meet the end of the term of office deadlines.
22.10.08 Item 6	5. Home and Lifestyle Exhibition - Evaluation The Members of the Committee who attended the event believed that it had been successful from the point of view of raising scrutiny's public profile. The Committee noted the large amount of officer time which had been required in preparation of the event and of the time spent attending the event. It was advised that the event was two-yearly, and that, with the second term of office being the busiest, if Panels wished to take part in this event, they would need to be prepared to release officers for a substantial amount of time from review work. The Committee also noted the poor attendance of States Members and recognised that this was possibly due to the timing of the event which clashed with the electioneering time for the Deputies elections. The Committee agreed in principle, that scrutiny should be represented at this event in 2010, it would need to be more review focussed and fronted by Scrutiny Members.
	6. 2009 preparation The Committee noted that substantial work had been undertaken by the scrutiny office in reviewing its operational working practices and procedures and the use of these in supporting the scrutiny function. The latter had involved media relations, training for new Members and the production of a member handbook (a slimmed down version of the induction folder of 2005). This approach was welcomed by the Members present.	KTF
	7. Annual Report and final minutes The Committee agreed to delegate the signing off of the Annual Report and these Minutes to the President.
	8. Vote of thanks On noting that this was the last meeting of the Committee, the President thanked Members for their support since her appointment to the post. The Members in attendance all thanked the scrutiny manager and staff for the service they had provided over the last three years.

Chairmen's Committee - Approved Panel Minutes - 28 November 2008