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Public Accounts Committee
Record of Meeting
Date: 19th March 2012 Meeting No: 3
Present | Deputy T. Vallois, Chairman Senator S. C. Ferguson, Deputy R. Rondel Mr S. Haigh Mr A. Fearn (Item 3 only) Mr C. Evans |
Apologies |
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Absent | Deputy S. Pitman |
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 approved the record of its meeting of 20th February 2012, which was signed by the Chairman. |
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| 2. Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest was declared relating to any matter on the agenda. |
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| 3. Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Committee noted the previous circulation of the following reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General: States of Jersey – Charitable funds accounts of the larger funds for the year ended 31 December 2010 December 2011 Annual performance report of the States of Jersey for the year ended 31 December 2010 December 2011 Annual performance report of the States of Jersey Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General December 2011 Asset disposals by the States of Jersey during 2010 Report by the Comptroller & Auditor General December 2011 Charitable funds managed by the States Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General December 2011 |
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| Charitable funds managed by the States Accounts of the larger charitable funds for the year ended 31 December 2010 December 2011 The Comptroller and Auditor General referred to an issue that had arisen over the process to be followed during the LGH enquiry. He explained that it was the established practice to circulate a draft to witnesses for confirmation of the factual content of the report and described how witnesses' comments were the considered. One witness had declined to comment on the draft saying that he would await circulation of a second draft. The C&AG explained that it was not the established practice to circulate a second draft as requested. The Committee supported the Comptroller and Auditor General in following the established practice. | C&AG |
Item 5 20.02.12 512/15 | 4. Compromise Agreements: Review of the C&AG Reports The Committee then received a briefing from the Comptroller and Auditor General which was private under 3.2 (xiii) of the Code of Practice on Public Access to Official Information relating to reports he presented to the Committee entitled:
Both of these reports were dated March 2012 and were to be published immediately following the briefing. The Committee agreed that this matter was of such public importance that it was to launch a review into the subject. The offer by the Comptroller and Auditor General to draft some draft terms of reference was accepted by the Committee. The Chairman and Vice Chairman would progress this matter with the officer. A press release was required to advise the public that the PAC was examining this area in relation to value for money. |
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Item 9 20.02.12 512/14 | 5. Review into the Bus Contract. The Committee agreed the draft terms of reference, namely:
The Committee recognized that launching a second review would increase the workload but considered that this work needed to be undertaken immediately due to the current work by the Transport and Technical Services Department on a new contract. In recognizing that the Comptroller and Auditor General was required by the Public Finances Law to attend PAC meetings which could place undue pressure on his diary, it was agreed that a group from the Panel | TV / SF / MR |
| could examine this matter to establish the most appropriate way forward with the review. The Chairman was to liaise with the officer to ensure progress. The Vice Chairman offered her services in that process. |
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| 6. Newsletter The Committee considered the list of subjects that could be drafted into the newsletter sheet. The draft presented was agreed. The officer was to forward the work. | MR |
Item 7 20.02.12 512/1(40) | 7. Work Programme The list of subjects remained as had been previously minuted. However, the Chairman had received a letter from the States Treasurer relating to proposed changes to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005. A copy of which was to be circulated to the Committee. A response to the letter was to be drafted following examination of the draft legislation or notes to the Law Draughtsmen. The Chairman was to consider the work programme and formulate a draft with the officer. It was noted that Members of the Committee were in agreement that additional meetings to those scheduled may be necessary to fulfill the expectations of the work programme. Again, the pressure on the diary of the Comptroller and Auditor General was recognized and no dates were confirmed. | TV / MR |
Item 8 20.02.12 512/1(1) | 8. Recruitment of non-elected members The Committee approved the message contained within the draft of the recruitment advertisement for publication in the Jersey Evening Post. It was accepted that the wording may be amended slightly for journalistic purposes but that the information and content would be the same. It was understood that HR had been approached in relation to assistance but no response had been obtained. This was to be chased up as the advertisement would need to be in the paper around the end of the month. | MR |
| 9. Future Meetings The Committee agreed that the next meeting was to be at 12.30 pm on Monday 16th April 2012 in the Blampied Room of the States Buildings. However it was recognized that requirements could alter as the workload became more structured. | MR |