Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 16 October 2012

Present

Deputy T.A. Vallois, President Deputy S.G. Luce , Vice-President Senator S.C. Ferguson

Deputy J.H. Young

Deputy K.L. Moore

Apologies

Deputy J.M. Maçon

Absent

In attendance

Mr. T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meetings of 18th September and 8th October 2012, having been approved, were accordingly signed.

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2.  Health  Social  Security  and  Housing  Scrutiny  Sub-Panel  - Housing Transformation Programme

The Committee noted the revised Terms of Reference for the Sub- Panel's  Review  of  the  Housing  Transformation  Programme,  to incorporate examination of the forthcoming Report and Proposition.

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3. Health Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel Health White Paper Review

The Committee was informed that following presentation of its report on 15th October, the Panel would be scoping follow up work in relation  to  the  business  cases  associated  with  the  Report  and Proposition Health and Social Services: A New Way Forward'. This would be a significant piece of work, requiring the full attention of the Panel between this point and the New Year.

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4. Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel [HSSH]: remit

The  Committee  discussed  the  large  remit  of  the  Health  Social Security and Housing Panel, and its suggestion that consideration should  be  given  to  relocating  responsibility  for  the  scrutiny  of Housing. The Environment Panel would be discussing this as part of its work programme consideration at its forthcoming meeting.

Consideration was given to a proposal to establish a Social Policy Sub-Panel, with the Committee acknowledging the importance and scale of potential work in this area. The proposal would be raised for discussion by the Chairman of the Corporate Services Panel at a forthcoming  meeting  of  that  Panel.  It  was  thought  that  with  its proposed remit, the Sub-Panel could potentially alleviate some of the workload on the Health Social Security and Housing Panel in relation to Housing, although it was acknowledged that that Panel

would formally remain responsible for the scrutiny of Housing under Standing Orders.

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5. Chairmen's Committee Expenditure

The Committee was informed about correspondence from the Chief Minister  advising  the  President  of  an  upcoming  Jersey  and Guernsey Law Review Conference Confederation of the Channel Islands?  Next  Steps'.  It  agreed that  there  was  merit  in  sending representation on behalf of the Committee, and that one Member should attend and report back. As the conference appeared to be of particular relevance to the Corporate Services Panel, its Chairman agreed to confirm her availability after checking a possible clash with a pre-arranged commitment. The Committee also considered more generally its ability to use the Scrutiny budget to attend conferences and  other  similar  events,  noting  the  role  of  the  Greffier  as Accounting Officer in relation to all Scrutiny expenditure.

Discussion was also held with regard to which expenses incurred by voluntary advisers to Panels during Reviews might appropriately be recompensed  by  Panels,  and  how  this  might  be  achieved.  The Committee  also  considered  its  ability  to  purchase  small  gifts  in recognition of the work of unpaid advisers at the end of a Review. The  Committee  was  advised  that  this  expenditure  would  most appropriately be made by the Panel in question, using the relevant Review budget.

The Committee agreed that clarification should be sought from the Greffier  regarding  the  above  matters,  and  the  ability  of  the Chairmen's  Committee  to  agree  discretionary  expenditure. Accordingly, the President and Vice-President would seek a meeting with the Greffier.

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6. Media Ombudsman

The Committee considered the suggestion by Deputy T.M. Pitman for scrutiny of the provision of a media ombudsman. It agreed that it would be premature to take a decision on the matter before the UK Leveson  Inquiry  had  reported,  which  it  was  scheduled  to  do  in November 2012. The Committee would write to Deputy T.M. Pitman to advise him of this decision.

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7. Troy Rule

The  Committee  noted  ongoing  political  discussion  regarding  the future of the Troy Rule. The Committee agreed that no decisions relating to an amendment of the Troy Rule should be made until the Privileges and Procedures Committee's Machinery of Government Review Sub-Committee had reported. It further agreed that this point should be relayed by the President to the Chief Minister at their next scheduled meeting.

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8. Electronic Devices: use in Scrutiny Hearings

The appropriate use by Panel members and witnesses of electronic devices during Public Hearings was discussed by the Committee. It was agreed that their use would be permitted as it was a matter of individual  preference  between  paper  and  an  electronic  device. However, the impact of this decision would be monitored through the Committee,  and  any  use  should  be  directly  related  to  the

proceedings, with devices being set to silent mode. It was agreed that  the  relevant  protocols  for  witnesses  should  be  amended  to reflect  this  decision.  The  protocol  for  members  of  the  public observing  would  remain  the  same,  this  being  that  all  electronic devices must be turned off.

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9. Panel Activity Reports

The Committee noted the Panel Activity Reports.

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10. Public Accounts Committee: Officer resources

Consideration was given to the Officer resources available to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). It was noted that the role of the PAC differed from that of the Scrutiny Panels, and consequently the requirements placed on its Officer in providing support were not identical to those of the other Officers within the Scrutiny Office in their roles supporting the Scrutiny Panels. The Committee agreed that continuity of Officer support was vital, and whilst there was clear flexibility to maintain this in regard to Scrutiny Panels, there was concern raised regarding cover in the absence of the single PAC Officer. The Committee agreed that the Scrutiny Manager would be requested to consider the merits of providing specific PAC training for one or more Scrutiny Officers to address concerns regarding PAC cover.

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11. President's meeting with the Chief Minister

The next meeting between the President of Chairmen's Committee and the Chief Minister was scheduled to take place on 19th October 2012. The Committee agreed that in addition to the Troy Rule, the President should raise the issues of the proposed Social Policy Sub- Panel and the use of electronic devices at Scrutiny Hearings for discussion.

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12. Citizenship Programme

The  Committee  recalled  previous  discussions  about  Scrutiny's involvement in the Citizenship Programme, and that the project had not  continued  in  2012.  It  was  agreed  that  the  Department  of Education,  Sport  and  Culture  would  be  contacted  to  establish whether there were plans to re-establish this project in 2013.

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13. Future meetings

The Committee noted that its next meeting was scheduled to take place on 13th November 2012, 9.30am-11.30am, Le Capelain Room States Building. The Chairman of the Health, Social Security and Housing  Scrutiny  Panel  gave  her  apologies  and  informed  the Committee that she would request the Panel's Vice-Chairman to attend in her place.