Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 5 September 2012

Present

Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Connétable D.J. Murphy

Deputy R.J. Rondel

Apologies

Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy S. Power

Absent

In attendance

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

Mrs. J. Hales , Scrutiny Officer [Item 4]

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Date Item

1. Records of Meetings

The Panel approved the records of its meetings held on 27th June, 29th June [Public and Private], 3rd July, 4th July [Public and Private]. 9th July and 17th July [Public and Private] 2012. The records were signed accordingly.

The Panel deferred consideration of the public and private records of the  meeting  held  on  20th  June  2012  pending  correction  of  a typographical error in the private record and clarification of one matter in the public record.

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513/1(40)

2. Executive Information

The Panel recalled its agreement that any documents relating to a briefing or hearing provided by the Executive should be received at least two days in advance of the briefing or hearing in questions. It was further recalled that, at the Panel's request, the Chairmen's Committee had considered the matter and had agreed that documents should be provided at least twenty-four hours in advance. Further consideration was given to the matter and it was agreed that it would be preferable for the Panel's initial timescale to be applied and the Panel consequently agreed that the Chairmen's Committee would be asked to reconsider the issue.

The Panel was advised that, as far as the Scrutiny Office was aware, there were currently no unanswered requests to the Chief Minister's Department  and  the  Department  of  Treasury  and  Resources  which were outstanding. The Panel considered whether circumstances might ever arise where it should formally thank Ministers and Departments for the advice which they had provided. It was agreed that the Panel would discuss the matter at a later time.

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Panel

20/06/12 Item 5

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3. Conflicts of Interest

The Panel recalled its agreement that advice  should be sought on whether a conflict of interest arose in circumstances in relation to a Member's family and whether their employment by a utility might lead to

a conflict of interest on that Member's part. It was noted that advice had not yet been sought.

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21/08/12 Item 1

513/35

4. Medium Term Financial Plan

Consideration  was  given  to  the  information  which  the  Panel  had received  during  its  work  on  the  draft  Medium  Term  Financial  Plan (MTFP). The Panel discussed whether any flexibility would exist during the lifetime of the MTFP for policy development, particularly in respect of appropriations from growth expenditure. It was agreed to request clarification  on  the  matter  from  the  Department  of  Treasury  and Resources.

The Panel recalled advice it had received in respect of the capital funding allocated in the draft MTFP to the Department of Treasury and Resources for the demolition of Fort Regent pool. It was agreed to request an update on the work being undertaken on that project.

The  Panel  recalled  advice  it  had  received  in  respect  of  the consideration the Council of Ministers would give to work undertaken on the Public Employees Contributory Retirement Scheme (PECRS). It was agreed to request an update on the Council's deliberations.

The Panel received an update on the work of the Corporate Services (MTFP) Sub-Panel. It was noted that the Sub-Panel had agreed to amend the proposed presentation date of the report and that it was now intended for presentation to occur on 19th October 2012 (on which day a briefing to States Members would be provided). It was noted that some Panels might encounter difficulties in producing their reports for the Sub-Panel by the previously indicated deadline of 14th September 2012 and that, as a consequence, the Sub-Panel had agreed that the written  responses  provided  by  Departments  to  the  list  of  general questions which had been circulated would be provided to the Sub- Panel.

The Panel was advised of the work of the Sub-Panel's advisors and it was noted that arrangements would need to be made for sufficient information  on  the  advisors'  work  to  be  fed  back  to  all  Scrutiny Members.

The Panel agreed a request from the Sub-Panel that the budget for the engagement of MJO Consulting be increased from £7,000 to £10,500.

Consideration was given to a draft report on the draft MTFP as it related to the Chief Minister and his Department. Amendments to the draft report were identified which the Scrutiny Officers were requested to enact.

Consideration  was  given  to  whether  the  Panel  would  lodge  any amendments to the draft MTFP. It was agreed to consider the matter at the next meeting.

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29/06/12 Item 1

513/1(40)

5. Tax Policy

The Panel recalled the briefing it had received on 29th June 2012 from Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources, on matters relating to tax policy. It was noted that a number of actions had been agreed or requested at the briefing and that the Panel would need to follow up the actions in due course.

513/1(41)

6. Annual Budget

The Panel agreed that a review of the 2013 Budget would be required and that the work would most likely be undertaken by the Panel itself, rather than a Sub-Panel.

18/07/12 Item 2

513/1(40)

7. Fiscal Policy Panel

The Panel noted that it had received the programme of the last visit of the Fiscal Policy Panel (FPP).

07/08/12 Item 1

513/32

8. Population and Migration

The Panel recalled its agreement to establish a Sub-Panel to continue work  on  the  Population  and  Migration  Review.   It  was  noted  that membership  of  the  Sub-Panel  currently  comprised  the  Chairman, Deputy S. Power and Deputy R.J. Rondel although it was anticipated that Deputy Power would chair the Sub-Panel. The Panel was advised that the Sub-Panel had yet to meet.

Consideration was given to a media release which had been circulated on  30th  July  2012  by  the  Population  Office  with  regard  to implementation of the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law. It was noted that the media release highlighted matters which the Sub- Panel could potentially incorporate in its work.

04/07/12 Item 4

513/1(40)

9. International Relations

The Panel noted that a briefing on International Relations would be provided on 19th September 2012. It was agreed to advise the Chief Minister's Department that any documentation pertaining to the briefing should be provided in advance. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to confirm the time of the briefing and the anticipated attendees.

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513/1(40)

10. Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources

The Panel noted that a Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources was scheduled to occur on 3rd October 2012. Noting that the 2013 Budget would be lodged on 17th October 2012 and debated on 4th December 2012, it was agreed to request that the hearing be moved to 14th November 2012.

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513/1(40)

11. Quarterly Public Hearing with the Chief Minister

The Panel was advised that Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, would be unable  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Public  Hearing  scheduled  for  14th November 2011 and that it was unclear whether he would be able to attend during any of the Panel's other meetings around that time. The Panel affirmed its dissatisfaction at the circumstances and agreed that the Chief Minister would be asked to identify a time on either 17th or 31st October 2012 when he could attend a Quarterly Public Hearing.

The Panel agreed that it should be reminded of upcoming Quarterly Public Hearings one month before their occurrence in order that the Panel could prepare sufficiently.

WM

12. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that it would next meet on 19th September 2012. In view of the fact that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would be away during production of the agenda for the meeting, it was agreed that on

this occasion the draft agenda would be circulated to all Panel Members in order that the content could be confirmed.