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Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 29 February 2012

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date:   29th February 2012 Meeting No:  10

 

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

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources [Item 1] Deputy E.J. Noel, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources [Item 1] Ms. L. Rowley, Treasurer of the States [Item 1]

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

22/02/12 Item 1

513/1(40)

1. Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources

The Panel received Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources, accompanied by Deputy E.J. Noel, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, and Ms. L. Rowley, Treasurer of the States, for a quarterly public hearing. The hearing was recorded in order that a transcript could be made.

 

 

2. Records of Meetings

The Panel approved the records of its meetings held on 8th, 14th and 16th February 2012. The records were signed accordingly.

 

22/02/12 Item 3

513/32

3. Population and Migration

The Panel noted progress on the review to date and considered the work it would request of the expert advisor. It was agreed that a written report by 9th March 2012 should be requested of the advisor.

The Panel noted that it would hold public hearings with Senator A.J.H. Maclean, Minister for Economic Development, and Mr. D. Gibaut, Chief Statistician – Statistics Unit, in the morning of 16th March 2012. It was further noted that the Panel would receive Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister,  and  Senator  P.F.  Routier,  Assistant  Chief  Minister  and Chairman of the Migration Advisory Group, for a public hearing in the afternoon  of  23rd  March  2012. Consideration  was  given  to arrangements for  a  public  hearing  with   Deputy  A.K.F.  Green  MBE, Minister  for  Housing.   Noting  that  the  Minister  had  indicated  his availability after 5:00pm on 16th March 2012, the Scrutiny Officer was requested to investigate the feasibility of holding the hearing with him at that time. The Panel further agreed that it would be beneficial for the expert advisor to be present at all the hearings.

The Panel recalled that an initial budget of £5,000 had been agreed for

WM

 

the  engagement  of  an  expert  advisor. It  was  advised  that  Panel agreement would be required before any expenditure beyond that limit could be incurred and that the expert advisor would need to inform the Scrutiny Office in advance if the advisor believed that the limit was likely to be breached. Recalling its agreement that the advisor should be present at the public hearings, the Panel noted that it was likely that an increase to the initial budget would be required.

The Panel considered and approved an amended project plan for the review and noted that Part 1 of the review, relating to the 2011 Census and Population Policy, would need to be undertaken within a short timescale and that work on that Part would need to be focused.

The  Panel  noted  receipt  of  correspondence from  a member  of the public  who  had  expressed  concerns  regarding  Jersey's  migration controls. It was agreed to advise the correspondent of the Panel's review  and  to  inform  the  individual  that  the  Panel  would  take  the concerns expressed into account during its review, notwithstanding that they appeared to relate more directly to Part 2 of the review.

WM

22/02/12 Item 2

513/1(45)

4. Medium Term Financial Plan

The Panel, recalling that it had identified the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) as its second priority, noted that scrutiny of the MTFP had been considered by the Chairmen's Committee. It was noted that the Committee had recommended that each Scrutiny Panel consider the MTFP in relation to the Ministers and Departments within its remit. It was  further  noted  that  the  Committee  had  recommended  that  a Corporate  Services  Sub-Panel  be  established  to  consider  process, financial and socio-economic issues as they related to the MTFP and to receive the briefing papers from each Panel on the work they had undertaken. Consideration  was  given  to  the  Committee's recommendation that a Sub-Panel be established, including the impact that such a Sub-Panel might have on the work the Panel itself might undertake on the MTFP. It was ultimately agreed that the Panel was not averse to the establishment of the Sub-Panel or the involvement of other Panels' Members in its work, but that further clarification was required regarding the Committee's intentions for scrutiny of the MTFP. It was noted that, in line with the Committee's other recommendation, briefings from the Chief Minister's Department and the Department of Treasury and Resources would be arranged.

The Panel noted receipt of an indicative timetable for development of the MTFP that had been received from the Department of Treasury and Resources. The Panel was advised that arrangements had been made for a briefing on the MTFP to be provided by the Treasurer of the States at 1:00pm on 8th March 2012. It was agreed that the Panel's review of the MTFP would be scoped once the briefing had been received.

WM

08/02/12 Item 9

5. Executive Information

The Panel noted receipt of a briefing paper on the 2012 Business Plan of the Chief Minister's Department.

 

11/01/12 Item 6

513/1(41)

6. Work Programme

Consideration was given to the Panel's work programme for 2012 and, in particular, the work that the Panel would undertake from September 2012 onwards. A number of topic areas were suggested, including tax and spend; property and long-term capital expenditure; and Human

 

 

Resources (in particular the policies of the States Employment Board and the Terms and Conditions Review). It was noted that, in selecting topics for review, a number of matters would need to be taken into account, including the Panel's Terms of Reference and whether the topic  under  consideration  was  of  public  importance. The  Panel ultimately agreed to defer consideration of its work programme and possible work topics to its next meeting.

 

08/02/12 Item 6

7. Visit to the House of Commons

The  Panel  noted  the  arrangements  for  its  visit  to  the  House  of Commons on 14th March 2012

 

 

8. Questioning Training

The Panel noted the arrangements for the provision of questioning training to Scrutiny Members on 15th and 16th March 2012.

 

 

9. Future Meetings

The Panel noted the meetings scheduled to take place before the end of March 2012.