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Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 12 November 2013

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Chairmen's Committee

Record of Meeting

Date: 12th November 2013

 

Present

Deputy T.A. Vallois, President

Deputy S.G. Luce , Vice-President

Senator S.C. Ferguson

Deputy J.A. Hilton, Acting Chairman, HSSH Deputy J.H. Young (Item 4 only)

Apologies

Deputy J.M. Maçon, , Deputy K.L. Moore

Absent

 

In attendance

Mrs. K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager

Mrs. A. Goodyear, Clerk to Privileges and Procedures Committee (items 1-4 only)

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Minutes of previous meetings

The records of the meetings held on 15th and 16th October and 5th November 2013 were approved and signed accordingly.

 

15.10.13 Item 11

510/1(61)

2. Ministerial Responses prior to debates in States Assembly

The Committee, recalling that it had previously considered this matter and that it had been discussed between the President and the Chief Minister at their last meeting, agreed that it would await the outcome of actions taken as a result of that meeting.

 

510/1(85)

3. Propositions to Scrutiny prior to lodging

The Committee considered a suggestion made by the Corporate Services Scrutiny  Panel  that  it  would  be  beneficial  for  Panels  to  receive  draft propositions five working days prior to lodging. It was understood that in some cases they would need to be under embargo due to the confidential nature of the draft proposition. The Committee noted that this had come to light in particular during that Panel's consideration of its budget review. Although consideration was given to the success of departmental briefings in  alerting  Panels  to  forthcoming  propositions,  it  was  agreed  that  the President would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister at their next meeting.  

 

465/1(182)

4. Machinery of Government Review: PPC Steering group

The  Committee  gave  consideration  to  the  report  of  the  Machinery  of Government Steering Group which had been produced following the in- Committee debate of 9th October 2013. Members' views varied across a range of matters and it was agreed that it was inappropriate for Chairmen to be making decisions on such an important matter without consulting their Panel Members. In consequence, it was agreed that all Panels would consider the report of the Steering Group and that the Scrutiny Officers would  report  back  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Privileges  and  Procedures Committee.

 

 

The Committee did, however, agree that there was support for retention of the  formal  Panel  structure,  albeit  with  some  tweaking  to  alleviate  the pressure  on  the  heavy  workload  of  the  Health,  Social  Security  and Housing Scrutiny Panel. It also agreed that the Codes and Protocols put in place at the start of this term of office had worked well and should be formalised for future Scrutiny Panels and that the Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee should be rewritten. Consideration was given as to whether the Code should be debated by the States Assembly or whether it should mirror the Code of Conduct for Ministers which was presented to the States.

 

21.05.13 Item 7

510/1 (70)

5. Scrutiny Members' meeting

Given that the next meeting fell on the same time as some major States debates and given that holding all Scrutiny Member meetings over a lunch recess of the States Assembly had not been successful, it was agreed that this meeting would be cancelled.

 

 

6. Panel Activity Reports

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Panels' Activity Reports.

 

515/28

7. Digital Skills: Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

The Committee noted a scoping document and related terms of reference for a review into the above matter.

 

 

8. Future meetings

The Committee noted the following meeting:-

Chairmen's Committee meeting – 17th December 2013 - 9:30am -

11.30am