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Public Accounts Committee
Record of Meeting
Date: 16th April 2012 Meeting No: 4
Present | Deputy T. Vallois, Chairman Senator S. C. Ferguson, Deputy R. Rondel Mr A. Fearn Mr C. Evans |
Apologies | Deputy S. Pitman Mr S. Haigh |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mr. C. Swinson O.B.E. – Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Mr M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The Committee noted that a section of the minutes of 19th March 2012 had been omitted which related to the process that the Comptroller and Auditor General applied during the publishing of his reports. This was to be added and the minutes returned to the Committee. | MR |
| 2. Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest was declared relating to any matter on the agenda. |
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Item 7 19.03.12 512/1(40) | 3. Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 The Committee recalled that, following the letter from the Treasurer of the States dated 8th March 2012, it had decided to request a copy of the brief to the Law Draftsman in relation to the amendments to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005. The officer advised the Committee that this had not been done firstly due to pressure of the work and secondly the letter related to proposed amendments to the Law, scrutiny of which was outside the remit of the Public Accounts Committee. The Committee questioned the officer on the content of the letter and advised that this was within the remit of the Committee as it stemmed from recommendations within a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 – A review in the light of experience). Further, it had been agreed at the meeting of 19th March 2012 that the information would be requested as it was essential because the letter did not outline the detail of the proposals and the Committee was unable to examine the matter with incomplete information. The Committee made a direct instruction that the letter would be drafted and sent straight away. | MR |
Item 7 19.03.12 512/1(40) | 4 Work Programme The Committee approved the work programme in principle but agreed that the work on the Public Finance (Jersey) Law 2005 should be included. It was agreed that this would replace the suggested |
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| procurement review expected to start in June 2012. The Procurement review would form part of the review into the report and accounts. Income Support had now been in place for sufficient time that the Committee could look at it to establish if it were value for money. It was considered that the large expenditure which it incurred was of interest to the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General agreed to include this in his work programme. It was further agreed that this would have a higher priority than a review into the Town Park. Dependant on the timing of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Income Support review may be undertaken prior to the Town Park. That would be decided closer to the launch of the review. |
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Item 8 19.03.12 512/1(1) | 5. Recruitment of non-elected members The recruitment of Committee members had not been pursued due to the priority of the preparation for the hearings relating to the Compromise Agreements Review. The matter was to be discussed with the Chairman of the Jersey Appointments Commission. | MR |
Item 5 19.05.12 512/14 | 6. Review into the Bus Contract. A letter has been sent to the Transport and Technical Services Department to establish what has been done in response to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Management of the Bus Contracts'. It was expected that the response would show that the recommendations had been actioned. If that were the case, a brief report or comment' would be produced to reflect that the Committee had examined the matter and may include recommendations that a Scrutiny Panel examined current contract negotiations. The response was to be circulated when received. | MR |
Item 4 19.03.12 512/15 | 7. Compromise Agreements: Review of the C&AG Reports The Committee had held two public hearings on 16th April 2012. One with Mr M. Dubras, former Chairman of the Finance and Economic Committee in 2005 when the former Chief Executive contract was reviewed and amended. The second was with Mr F. Walker O.B.E. who was the first Chief Minister. Further public hearings were to follow the same day with the current Chief Minister and the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Committee prepared for those hearings. Transcripts were to be circulated as soon as possible with the Chairman to liaise with the officer to progress the review. | TV / MR |
| 8. Future Meetings The Committee agreed that the next meeting was to be at 12.30 pm on Monday 14th May 2012 in the Blampied Room of the States Buildings. | MR |