Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 17 September 2013

Present

Deputy T.A Vallois, President Deputy S.G. Luce , Vice-President Senator S.C. Ferguson

Deputy J.M. Maçon [item 2 onwards] Deputy K.L. Moore

Deputy J.H. Young [item 2 onwards]

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Mrs K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Minutes of previous meetings

The record of the meeting held on 30th July 2013, having been approved was signed accordingly.

516/1(1)

2. Chairmanship of Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Given that the current Chairman of the above Panel had announced to the States that he would be standing down as Chairman of the Panel in September 2013, having been appointed as Chairman of the Privileges and  Procedures  Committee,  the  Committee  sought  clarification  on the matter. It was noted that the Chairman had decided to remain in post until the  review  into  CCTV  had  been  completed.  This  was  targeted  for completion  by  end  October/early  November.   Deputy  Maçon  agreed  to contact all Members by email to advise of this decision.

Consideration was given as to a possible future Chairman.

JM

28.05.13 Item 1 465/1(4)

3. Privileges and Procedures Committee [PPC]: Chairmen's Committee representative

Deputy   Moore ,  the  current  representative  of  the  Committee  on  PPC advised that she wished to step down from that role. It was agreed that, in the short term, Senator Ferguson was willing to take on the role. The process for achieving this was noted and it should be able to occur at the next States sitting.

KM/JM

514/20

4. Resignation of the Connétable of St. Lawrence from the Radon review being undertaken by the Environment Scrutiny Panel.

It was noted that the Connétable of St. Lawrence had decided to stand down as a co-opted member on the Radon review.

5. Panel Activity Reports

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Panels' Activity Reports. The following additional items were considered:-

HSSH briefing on Path Lab situation;

HSSH process in respect of Mental Health review;

Thanks from Chairman, PAC for the meeting with HSSH in respect

of Integrated Care Records;

C&AG's website is now live;

Energy Efficiency Scheme and grants

513/40

6. Budget 2014

The  Committee  considered  whether  to  take  a  similar  approach  to reviewing the 2014 Budget as it had with the Medium Term Financial Plan. It  was  agreed  that  each  Panel  needed  to  consider  its  own  areas  of responsibility  to  assess  whether  reviews  were  necessary.  It  was  also agreed that each Panel should request a briefing from the Treasurer of the States on their relevant areas of responsibility, as appropriate.

21.05.13 Item 9

510/3(5)

7. Newsletter

The  autumn  edition  would  be  circulated  the  week  beginning  25th November so Panel pages would be drafted prior to 28th October when the first draft was required.

KTF

21.05.13 Item 7

510/1(70)

8. Scrutiny Members meeting

It was agreed that there should be one item for discussion: Scrutiny under the proposed revised MoGR system. It was intended that the President would outline the proposed Scrutiny model which would lead to questions and an open discussion.

510/1(48)

9. Evidence

The Committee noted a paper on evidence prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General to be circulated to all Panel Members.

511/1(55)

10. Whistleblowing

The President advised the Committee that she had met with the Director of Human Resources to discuss the way forward for whistleblowers as there was now no official route, given that the current Comptroller and Auditor General had decided that it was an inappropriate function for her office to fulfil.

23.04.13 Item 9

515/26

11. Innovation Fund

The Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel advised the Committee that he might have to withdraw from a review into the Innovation Fund if it were  to  go  ahead  due  to  his  personal  contacts  with  a  senior  person involved in the matter.

1240/2(83)

12. States Meetings 2014

The Committee considered some concerns that there would be a number of important issues which would need to come to the States by July 2014 given the few States meetings between then and the elections. Holding States  sitting  throughout  the  summer  was  considered  as  was  the possibility of taking only essential legislation and the matter was referred to the Privileges and Procedures Committee for further consideration.

13. Chairmen's Committee meeting dates 2014 These were agreed as follows:-

14th Jan  6th May

11th Feb  10th June

11th Mar  16th September (possibly) 8th April (recess)

14. Future meetings

All Scrutiny  Member meeting: 25th September 2013, 1pm-2pm,

Blampied Room

Chairmen's Committee meeting – 15th October 2013, 9.30am -

11.30am, Le Capelain Room