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Public Accounts Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 7 April 2009

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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (3rd Meeting)

7th April 2009

(Business conducted by electronic mail) PART A

All members were present.

Senator B.E. Shenton, Chairman Senator A. Breckon

Connétable J.M. Refault of St. Peter Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier Deputy T.A. Vallois

Mr. A.C. Fearn

Mr. P. Ryan

Mr. K. Keen

Mr. M. Magee

In attendance -

Mr. C. Swinson, O.B.E., Comptroller and Auditor General

Miss A-C. Heuston, Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A only.

Expansion of the A1. The Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A6(d) of 16th February remit of the 2009,  considered  the  report  of  the  Corporate  Services  Scrutiny  Panel  entitled: Comptroller and Waterfront Enterprise Board (P.12/2009)', presented to the States on 18th March Auditor General. 2009 (SR1/2009 refers).

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The Committee noted that the report contained a recommendation under paragraph 4.27 that the  remit  of  the Comptroller &  Auditor  General (C&AG)  should  be expanded in relation to the Waterfront Enterprise Board (WEB).

The Committee considered whether to lodge a draft report and proposition asking the States to decide whether they were of the opinion: To request the Minister for Treasury and Resources to bring forward for approval amendments to the Public Finances  (Jersey)  Law  2005  to  expand  the  remit  of  the  C&AG  in  relation  to companies that are wholly or majority-owned by the States of Jersey to enable him to exercise similar functions in relation to these entities as those he exercises in relation to States funded bodies'.

Mr. M. Magee and Mr. K. Keen notified the Committee of a conflict of interest and declined to vote on the matter.

The Committee noted that the proposition as drafted would expand the C&AG's remit in relation to publicly quoted companies. The Committee considered that an alternative solution would be to distinguish States owned companies whose shares were publicly listed and to apply the extension of powers to all others.

The Committee agreed that the proposition should be amended so that the C&AG's powers would not be extended in relation to listed companies.

The Committee received a revised draft report and proposition asking the States to request the Minister for Treasury and Resources to bring forward for approval amendments to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, as set out in the previous draft proposition, but with the exception of publicly quoted companies.

The Committee approved the revised report and proposition, and requested that it be lodged au Greffe' at the earliest opportunity.

The Committee Clerk was requested to take the necessary action.