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Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 14 November 2008

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 14th November 2008 Meeting Number: 73

 

Present

Deputy P J D Ryan, Chairman

Connétable J L S Gallichan

Connétable D Murphy

Deputy R Le Hérissier (Item 7 onwards) Deputy C Egré, Vice-Chairman (Item 1 only)

Apologies

 

In attendance

M. Haden and S Power, Scrutiny Officers

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1

Minutes of meeting held on 3rd October 2008 were approved and signed.

 

2

Matters arising

The Panel noted an action update from the meeting held on 3rd October 2008.

 

3

Review  into  the  Proposed  Establishment  of  the  Jersey Enterprise Board

The Panel noted a letter from Mr R Law, the Panel's adviser for this review, thanking the Panel for the prompt payment of his firm's fees for the work that had been carried out during the review.

The Panel noted that it had originally intended to review the revised proposals for the  Jersey  Enterprise  Board,  once  they  had  been released by the Chief Minister's Department. However, as these proposals had not yet been produced, it was noted that this matter had been included in the Panel's legacy report, as a potential review topic for the new Corporate Services Panel.

It was further noted that as a result of concerns that had arisen regarding the Waterfront development, and the deal that had been secured with Harcourt as the preferred developers, the implications of this deal should also be included in the Panel's legacy report as a topic  that  the  new  Corporate  Services  Panel  should  consider reviewing.

MH

4

Level Playing Field

The Panel noted the correspondence from Mr Lock regarding this review. It was agreed that this was still an issue that would benefit from being reviewed by Scrutiny, and the Panel noted that it was included in the Panel's legacy report for consideration by the new Corporate Services Panel.

 

5

Panel expenditure

The Panel noted its outstanding balance at the end of the 3rd quarter stood at £10,732.33. It was noted that the total remaining budget at the  end  of  the  year  would  be  increased  considerably  from  this amount, as the Panel had made several commitments for reviews that had remained unspent.

 

6

Item 7 03.10.08

Zero/Ten Review - Deemed Rental Charge Draft Legislation

  1. The Panel approved a budget of £3,000 for its adviser to assist with the Panel's consideration of the draft legislation.
  1. The Panel noted that the Chairman would be attending a meeting with the Minister for Treasury and Resources on the 20th November

to discuss the removal of the tax exemption for UK pension funds (Section 115). It was agreed that the Panel's adviser should also be asked to attend this meeting.

  1. The Panel noted a briefing paper from its adviser highlighting some possible issues with the draft legislation. It was agreed that this paper could form the basis of the Panel's comments that would be presented to the States on the draft legislation, and requested for the Panel's adviser to be asked to amend the document accordingly. It was then agreed that a meeting with the Panel's adviser should be arranged for the 20th November to discuss this document in more detail. Meanwhile the Minister for Treasury and Resources would be approached with regard to a possible deferral of the debate on the draft legislation.

SP

SP

7

Financial forecasting

The Panel welcomed Connétable P. Hanning of the Finance Sub Panel and received a briefing from Professor M. Oliver on his draft report on the financial forecasting process in advance of the public hearing with the Treasury and Resources Minister.

Following the hearing the Panel discussed the evidence given by the Minister and his officers. The Panel endorsed the recommendations contained in the adviser's report and requested that his report be finalised  in  the  light  of  the  evidence  given  in  the  hearing.  The Scrutiny officer was requested to prepare a report summarising the Panel's review.

The Panel noted the comments on the control of expenditure and agreed to suggest that an examination of these issues should be added to the legacy report.

MH

8

Corporate Services Panel Legacy Report

The Panel approved the legacy report subject to minor revisions and the insertion of an introduction by the Chairman

 

9

Finance Sub Panel Legacy report The Panel approved this report

 

Signed  Date:

5th December 2008

Chairman

Corporate Services Panel