This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 11th January 2012 Meeting No: 3
Present | Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Connétable D.J. Murphy Deputy S. Power Deputy R.J. Rondel |
Apologies |
|
Absent |
|
In attendance | Mr W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The record of the meeting held on 14th December 2011 was approved and signed. The Panel recalled that part of its meeting on 14th December 2011 had been held in private session under Paragraph 3.2.1(a)(xiv) of the Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information. Nevertheless, the Panel considered that the record of that part of the meeting did not include confidential material and it was therefore agreed that it should be published alongside the remainder of the record. |
|
14/12/11 Item 5 | 2. Matters Arising The Panel noted the update on actions requested at previous meetings. Further to the update, the Panel noted that information on the Medium Term Financial Plan had been received from the Department of Treasury and Resources and had been circulated. Furthermore, the Scrutiny Office had been advised that an organisation chart of the Department, as well as its work programme for 2012, would be available in the Department's 2012 business plan. The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to confirm when the departmental business plan would be published. The Panel recalled its agreement that the work programmes it received from the Executive should include detailed timetables for the proposed work of the relevant Ministers. Noting that the work programme it had received from the Chief Minister's Department did not contain the requisite detail, the Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to correspond with that Department and the Department of Treasury and Resources about the matter. It was further agreed that the Chairman should raise the matter with the Chairmen's Committee. | WM / SM WM / SM SF |
| 3. Lime Grove House The Panel noted receipt of the Ministerial Response to Lime Grove House: Failure to Complete Transaction (SR12/2011). Noting that the |
|
| Minister for Treasury and Resources had accepted the previous Panel's recommendation and that the Ministerial Response had already been reported in the media, it was agreed that no further action was required. |
|
| 4. Comprehensive Spending Review The Panel noted receipt of the Ministerial Response to Comprehensive Spending Review: 2012 – 2013 and Delivery (SR14/2011). It was noted that Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, and Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources, had accepted several of the recommendations made within SR14/2011 but that no timescales had been provided for the implementation of those recommendations; the Scrutiny Officers were therefore requested to follow up the matter. Noting that the Ministerial Response had yet to receive any media coverage, the Panel also agreed that a media release should be dispatched. | WM / SM WM / SM |
14/12/11 Item 4 | 5. Topic Proposal The Panel noted receipt of a topic proposal from a member of the public regarding international conventions and their application to Jersey; and the dissemination of Human Rights information in the Island. The Panel agreed that, whilst there might be scope in reviewing some of the matters raised, the proposal would not constitute one of its initial reviews. The Panel recalled that this was the second topic proposal from the same individual. The Scrutiny Officers were therefore requested to apprise that individual that neither of the topic proposals would form part of the Panel's initial work programme. | WM / SM |
| 6. Allocation to Contingency The Panel noted receipt of correspondence from the Treasurer of the States regarding the Allocation to Contingency Policy which would operate under the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The Panel considered the request that it take part in the process by which requests for use of contingency funds would be made and assessed. It was agreed that the Panel would be unable to meet the timescales involved in the process and that the task would be inappropriate for a Scrutiny Panel to undertake. The Panel considered that it would potentially be more appropriate for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to undertake that task and, in that regard, it was noted that the Treasurer had also written to the PAC. Nevertheless, the Panel agreed that consideration of the overall policy fell within its remit and that a review of that policy could feasibly be included within a review of the MTFP but that clarification would be required on a number of points. Noting that the Treasurer had offered to brief the Panel on the matter, it was therefore agreed that this subject should be raised at the Panel's first meeting with the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to draft a response to the Treasurer to indicate the Panel's conclusions. | WM / SM |
14/12/11 Item 6 | 7. Population and Migration The Panel considered a draft Scoping Document in relation to a potential review of population matters. The Panel agreed that the subject was significant and merited review. Consideration was therefore given to a variety of issues that related to both population and |
|
| migration and the Panel agreed that its work could feasibly begin with an examination of the recently published 2011 Census results; the implications of those results for the Population Policy; and how those implications would be addressed during the development of the new Strategic Plan. It was noted that, in addition to the Chief Minister, the Panel might also need to hear from the Ministers for Economic Development and Housing during the review. The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to research and to correspond with the Chief Minister's Department on the matter in order that Terms of Reference for the review could be drafted. Noting that there would be a need to undertake its work within a short timeframe, the Panel requested that draft Terms of Reference be circulated by 20th January 2012. | WM / SM WM / SM |
14/12/11 Item 6 | 8. Scrutiny Reviews Noting that its review of population was its first priority, the Panel agreed that a review of the MTFP should be its second review. It was further agreed that briefings on Information Services; International Relations; and Human Resources should be arranged in due course as these represented topics which the Panel would most likely review later in 2012. | WM / SM |
14/12/11 Item 3 | 9. Visit to the House of Commons The Panel received an update on the organisation of its visit to the House of Commons, noting that it was proposed that the visit be undertaken on 14th March 2012. It was agreed that the Panel should endeavour to make the most of the visit and the Scrutiny Officers were therefore requested to investigate the feasibility of extending it to a second day. | WM / SM |
14/12/11 Item 5 | 10. Future Meetings The Panel noted and confirmed the arrangements for its quarterly hearings with the Chief Minister and Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Panel noted that the first meeting with the Chief Minister would take place on 20th January 2012 when the Chairman would attend with those Panel Members who could accompany her. Apologies were received from the Vice-Chairman and Deputy S. Power. In order to facilitate the subsequent arrangement of meetings and hearings, it was agreed that Panel Members should block out the entire day of each scheduled Panel Meeting. The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place at 9:30am on 25th January 2012. | Panel |