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Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 2 February 2009

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Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 2nd February 2009 Meeting 2

 

Present

Deputy M.R. Higgins, Chairman Deputy C.F. Labey , Vice-Chairman Deputy J.M. Maçon

Deputy S. Pitman

Apologies

 

Absent

Deputy S. Pitman (Item 1) Deputy D.J.A. Wimberley

In attendance

T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer

S. Le Quesne, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Record of Previous Meeting

The Panel approved the record of its meeting on 16th January 2009.

 

 

2. Action Updates

The Panel noted the Action Updates from its previous meeting. The Chairman reported back to the Panel on the Chairmen's Committee meeting of 22nd January 2009. He advised that the Chairman of the Corporate  Services  Panel  would  be  inviting  one  Member  of  the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel to sit on a Migration Sub-Panel that had  been  formed  by  that  Panel.  The  Panel  agreed  that  those Members  interested  in  joining  the  Sub-Panel  should  determine between themselves which Member would take up the invitation.

The Chairman further reported that he had established with the Chairman of the Corporate Services Panel and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee the possibility of forming a Sub-Panel or Joint  Panel'  to  look  at  issues  related  to  the  forthcoming  HM Treasury:  British  offshore  financial  centres  review.  Similarly,  he advised that he had discussed with the Chairman of the Health, Social Security and Housing Panel the possibility of establishing a Joint Panel' to look at issues related to housing.

Deputy Labey updated the Panel about the Council of Ministers' meeting  of  29th  January  2009  and  the  Chairmen's  Committee meeting of the same date, both of which she attended in place of the Chairman, who was out of the island.

The  Panel  received  an  oral  update  from  the  Scrutiny  Officers

 

 

regarding  arrangements  for  Panel  visits  to  the  Jersey  Financial Services  Commission  and  to  the  Economic  Development Department, and confirmed that it would like to proceed with those visits.

SLQ/TO

 

3. 2009 Work Programme

The Panel noted receipt of the Council of Ministers Initial Outline Timetable for Propositions to be Lodged in 2009. The Panel was advised that this could be used, primarily with the Business Plan and Forthcoming  Legislation  Programme,  to  help  inform  the  Panel's selection of topics for review and inclusion on the Panel's Work Programme, which the Panel was reminded should be completed by the end of February.

The  Panel  considered  the  Topic  Assessment  of  the  proposed Tourism PPP and requested that a Scoping Document be drafted. The  Panel  agreed  that  Members  would  consider  the  Economic Development Department's Discussion Paper on the Tourism PPP by the next meeting.

The  Panel  was  apprised  of  the  fact  that  only  one  Ministerial Response had been issued to the previous Panel's work. It was decided  that  a  letter  should  be  sent  to  the  current  Minister  for Economic Development requesting retrospective responses to the previous Panel's work. It was agreed that the Ministerial Response to the Role and Funding of Jersey Finance Ltd review would be circulated to the Panel.

The  Panel  noted  that  the  previous  Panel's  planned  review  on Employment  and  Training  had  not  reached  completion.   Deputy Higgins and Deputy Maçon agreed to visit the Scrutiny Office to look at background material that was assembled for the review.

The Panel was advised that at the Chairmen's Committee meeting of  22nd  January  2009  it  had  been  agreed  that  any  reviews conducted  into  the  forthcoming  HM  Treasury:  British  offshore financial  centres  review  and  the  recession  would  be  led  by  the Corporate Services Panel.

The  following  topics  were  identified  by  the  Panel  for  further consideration as possible areas for review:

  • Role of Jersey Finance Ltd;
  • Regulation of Undertakings/High-value residency;
  • Airline route development
  • Intellectual Property;
  • Rural Economy Strategy;
  • Depositor Compensation;
  • Impact of GST on the Retail Industry.

The Panel requested that a Topic Assessment document should be drafted  for  a  possible  review  of  Airline  route  development.  All potential review topics would also be raised for discussion with the Minister at the Hearing that was to be held on 9th February 2009.

The  Panel  requested  that  for  every  draft  legislative  amendment lodged  by  the  Minister  for  Economic  Development,  the  Panel's officers should request from the Department a document showing

SLQ/TO Panel

SLQ/TO SLQ/TO

MH/JM

SLQ/TO SLQ/TO

 

the  updated  Law  in  question  complete  with  its  proposed amendments highlighted and inserted into the relevant clauses. The Panel was advised that undertaking this task for every proposed amendment  could  constitute  a  large  volume  of  work  for  the Department. It would further require identification of the intended objectives and output from the Panel in relation to each request. It could also be difficult to reconcile with the Panel's ongoing Work Programme.

The Panel requested the officers to confirm which Scrutiny Panel was responsible for work relating to the JCRA.

SLQ/TO

 

4. Communication

The Panel noted again that good communication was essential for it to work effectively following recent communication problems during the Chairman's absence from the Island. The Panel agreed that should  there  be  undue  delay  in  receiving  approval  of correspondence from the Chairman, the officers should contact the Vice-Chairman for approval.

The Chairman advised again that it was his intention to activate his States email address shortly and again that he would supply the Scrutiny Office with his electronic signature.

MH

 

5. Conflicts of Interest

The Panel noted again the possible conflicts of interest regarding some of the positions held by the Chairman, in particular on issues relating to tourism. The Chairman advised that he would seek the advice of the Greffier of the States on the issue.

MH

 

6. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 9th February 2009, during which it would meet the Minister for Economic Development. The Vice-Chairman gave apologies for her likely absence from the first part of the meeting.

 

Signed  Date: ..  

Chairman

"[insert panel name]"