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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel Sub-Panel
Medium Term Financial Plan Record of Meeting
Date: 30th August 2012 Meeting No: 7
Present | Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed Deputy J.H. Young Deputy S.G. Luce |
Apologies | Deputy J.M. Maçon, Vice-Chairman |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer Mrs. J. Hales , Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
513/35 | 1. Records of Meetings The Sub-Panel approved the records of meetings held on 26th and 29th June and 3rd and 9th [Public and Private] July 2012. The records were signed accordingly. |
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513/35 | 2. Panel Reports The Sub-Panel recalled that each Scrutiny Panel was due to complete and forward a report on its work on the draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) by 14th September 2012. Consideration was given to whether all Panels would be able to meet that deadline and it was therefore agreed that, to assist the Sub-Panel, each Panel should be asked to share with the Sub-Panel the responses it had received from the relevant Departments to the generic list of questions which had been circulated. The Sub-Panel recalled that Panel reports should be expected to consider user pays' charges levied by Departments and any changes to staff numbers which would occur. | WM |
513/35 | 3. Lines of Enquiry The Sub-Panel discussed progress on the review to date and the lines of enquiry which it would pursue. It was noted that the Sub-Panel would need to be mindful of the requirements of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 in relation to the MTFP and the Scrutiny Officer was requested to ensure that the expert advisors would consider the implications of the Law. Consideration was given to the policies which applied to appropriations of growth and contingency funding. The Sub-Panel was advised that the | WM |
| Public Finances Law made provision in relation to both matters. It was noted that the Public Finances Law allowed for decisions on growth appropriations at the time of the Annual Budget but that States decisions were not required for appropriations from contingency, as the Minister for Treasury and Resources was responsible for approving such appropriations (in line with the policy which had previously been presented to the States, Contingency Policy: Allocation (R.10/2012)). |
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513/35 | 4. Annual Budget The Sub-Panel was advised that the 2013 Annual Budget was due to be lodged on 17th October 2012 for debate by the States on 4th December 2012. |
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513/35 | 5. Expert Advisors The Sub-Panel considered matters relating to the work of the expert advisors in private session under Paragraphs 3.2.1(a)(i) and 3.2.1(b) of the Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information. A private record was therefore taken. The Sub-Panel subsequently noted an update on the work of Professor M. Oliver of MJO Consulting and Mr. S. Fair of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The Sub-Panel considered whether to request an increase to the budget for the engagement of MJO Consulting. It was noted that MJO Consulting had estimated that ten further days of work would be necessary. The Sub-Panel agreed to request the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel to increase the budget to allow for five additional days of work, in order to match the provision for CIPFA and until further details of the work required became available. The Sub-Panel noted that Professor Oliver had initially requested meetings with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Jersey Financial Services Commission but that no meetings had been arranged as he had not pursued that request. It was agreed that the Sub-Panel would itself write to the IoD in order that the IoD might submit its views on the draft MTFP. | WM WM |
513/35 | 6. Public Hearings The Sub-Panel prepared for its public hearing with Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, on 3rd September 2012 and identified questions which it would address. Consideration was also given to areas of questioning for the subsequent hearing with Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources, on 17th September 2012. The Sub-Panel was advised that, in relation to the question of expert advisors asking questions at public hearings, Paragraph 5.4 of the Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee stated that advisors could ask questions regarding technical matters of witnesses who were not States Members. |
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513/35 | 7. Review Timetable Consideration was given to the proposed timetable for the review and, in particular, the proposal to present the report on 16th October 2012. The Sub-Panel was advised that a slight delay to the proposed presentation date would be beneficial, partly in light of the fact that the 2013 Annual Budget would be presented on 17th October 2012. It was therefore agreed to amend the proposed presentation date for the report to 19th |
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| October 2012. |
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513/35 | 8. Future Meetings The Sub-Panel noted that the following meeting dates had been agreed:
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