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Chairmen's Committee
Record of Meeting
Date: 23rd April 2013
Present | Deputy S.G. Luce , Vice-President Senator S.C. Ferguson Deputy J.H. Young Deputy J.A, Hilton, representing Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel |
Apologies | Deputy T.A Vallois, President (ill) Deputy J.M. Maçon Deputy K.L. Moore , (off-Island) |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mrs K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Minutes of previous meetings The records of the meetings held on 22nd January, 15th and 20th February, 8th and 15th March and 4th and 16th April were approved and signed. In respect of the record of the meeting of 22nd January 2013, the Committee recalled its previous queries over the accuracy of the item relating to a potential conflict of interest on the part of the Chairman, Environment Scrutiny Panel. It was noted that it was in fact the Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel who had raised these concerns. After consideration, the Committee agreed to sign these, however, it also reflected on some of the advice given to the Chairman at the meeting of 22nd January. Concern was expressed that the Chairman, Environment Panel should be expected not to communicate with officers with whom he had previously worked, particularly in the Planning Department. Firstly, it was noted that this had referred only to when the Chairman was undertaking Scrutiny work and did not refer to occasions when he was undertaking work as a private States Member. Secondly, it was agreed that this was impractical, overly restrictive and would prevent the Panel from undertaking essential work. This especially as a Scrutiny Officer would be present at all meetings relating to Scrutiny to provide impartial and independent notes. On a related matter the Vice-President raised concern that the meeting of the 26th February 2013 had been approved by electronic meeting. The rationale for this was that with no Chairmen's Committee meetings between 26th February and 23rd April, the minutes needed to be approved for uploading to the website and putting into the public domain. |
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510/1(67) | 2. Cross-cutting matters for review The Committee considered a list of major policies/strategies which were planned to be brought forward for debate by the States 2013-2015. It was noted that they might be subject to change/addition depending on priority |
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| changes. It was also agreed to seek confirmation of when the paper had been produced and if there was an updated version. The following were noted:-
The Committee considered a raft of topic areas. One of these included the location of the new hospital. It was noted that Scrutiny needed to be ready to start a review as soon as was appropriate. It was agreed that the Health Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel was the "parent" Panel as it was being brought forward by the Minister for Health and Social Services, but that it would require Members from both Corporate Services and Environment Scrutiny Panels. It was generally recognised that working more in Sub-Panels would be required. On a related matter, it was agreed that following the outcome of the referendum there was a need for the Committee to consider how Scrutiny could operate in the future. | KTF | |
510/1(81) | 3. Consultants contracted by the Executive appearing before Scrutiny Panels The question was raised that, in the event that a Panel wanted to ask the Executive's consultants to appear before it, and the consultants requested payment how Scrutiny would afford this. It was noted that in the Code of Practice, Panels did not in principle remunerate witnesses for travel expenses or loss of earnings but may consider a reasonable claim for expenses. It was agreed to approach the Chief Minister to discuss whether a clause could be included in the contractual agreement with consultants that they should be prepared to attend on Scrutiny Panels with a contingency being made available to permit this. | TV | |
| 4. Panel Activity Reports The Committee noted the Scrutiny Panels' Activity Reports. The Committee considered that the Activity Reports indicated that an encouraging amount of work had been, and was currently being undertaken. |
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510/1(38) | 5. Membership of Scrutiny Panels/PAC The Committee considered a suggestion to approach all non-Executive, non-Scrutiny Members to ask if they would be interested in sitting on Sub- Panels and if so where their interests lay. It was noted that there were very few Members who were not involved in Scrutiny in some way, be that on Sub-Panels or co-opted. A further suggestion was made that the President should write to all non- Executive, non-Scrutiny Members to encourage them to serve on Panels. The Committee considered the possible future situation in terms of a reduced number of Members and the need for Members to sit on Scrutiny. |
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| There were mixed views about whether it should be compulsory for every Member to have an active role. It was agreed, however, that this was a matter for the future. |
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15.02.13 Item 1 513/38 | 6. Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme: Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel The Committee noted the disappointment of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel that the Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme had not been referred back to the Minister for further work. |
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| 7. Bonuses for officers of States-related bodies The above matter was considered. |
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| 8. Enterprise Strategy: Economic Development Department It was noted that the above strategy had been withdrawn so work on this from a Scrutiny perspective would be delayed. |
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22.01.13 Item 17 515/26 | 9. Innovation Fund: Economic Development Department It was noted that there would now be a Phase 2 to the first report in order to address the comments and recommendations made by the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel. |
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| 10. Environmental aspect of Economic Development Department The Committee noted that the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel had considered reviewing the environmental aspect of the Economic Development Department and was hoping to discuss Locate Jersey with the Minister. |
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08.03.13 Item 2 514/22 | 11. Energy Policy: Environment Scrutiny Panel The Committee noted that the Environment Scrutiny Panel would be undertaking a review into a small part of the Energy Policy. An adviser had been employed to look at the overarching areas of the Policy and to advise the Panel if there were any specific areas on which the Panel should focus. It was noted, however, that the Strategy had not yet been presented to the Council of Ministers and it was early days. Senator S. Ferguson expressed an interest in joining the Panel for the purposes of this review and it was agreed that the Chairman would forward her the Terms of Reference and the modus operandi. A reminder was given that during email correspondence the Chairman, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel had agreed that she would be happy to provide a submission and leave the Environment Scrutiny Panel to undertake the review. |
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512/18 | 12. Canbedone: Public Accounts Committee It was noted that the report on the above review by the Public Accounts Committee would be published later that week. |
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868(37) | 13. Island Plan Review It was noted that the Minister for Planning and Environment was the only person who had the statutory right to undertake a review of the Island Plan. This was due to be completed by year end. |
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22.01.13 Item 6 510/3(2) | 14. Citizenship Programme The Committee was advised that the date for the Citizenship Programme with Le Rocquier was fixed for 26th June 2013 with sufficient Scrutiny | KTF | |
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| Members to attend. This would be progressed. The programme at Les Quennevais was unlikely to proceed given that time was now very tight to achieve this for the selected date of 22nd May. It was agreed that it was best to forgo Les Quennevais this year but was agreed that work for the programme to operate next year should be starting shortly. |
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26.02.13 Item 9 510/3(9) |
| 15. Social Networking The Committee noted that a Twitter account had now been launched and was working well. The Committee noted that the tweets from the office would be in relation to factual matters only such as calls for evidence, forthcoming hearings, report publication etc. It was agreed that it was appropriate for Panel Chairmen to tweet immediately after hearings but that it would be inappropriate for the office to tweet anything which could be interpreted as being "political" or possibly factually incorrect. |
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26.02.13 Item 10 510/3(5) |
| 16. Newsletter – Edition 11 The Committee noted that the Newsletter was being circulated to every household during the week of this meeting. The Committee recalled that, in view of a possible price increase after May 2013,it had agreed to review whether to circulate a further autumn edition at a later date. It was agreed to clarify whether the newsletter was printed locally. | KTF |
510/1(15) |
| 17. Financial Report 1st quarter The Committee noted the above. |
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25.01.13 Item 1 513/37(3) |
| 18. Minister for External Affairs: increase in budget It was noted that there had been a small increase in the estimated budget to cover slightly higher than anticipated costs of advertising. |
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26.02.13 Item 6 510/1(45) |
| 19. Quarterly hearings: Efficiency This is being trialled in-house. The Committee agreed that a reminder note of managing hearings in terms of moving clearly from one topic to another would be useful. The Committee was advised that this could link in well with the forthcoming training. | KTF |
510/1(45) |
| 20. Images of Panel/Committee meetings It was noted that should Panels/PAC wish images to be taken of Hearings that the individual Panels should communicate this to the relevant Scrutiny Officers. |
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| 21. Future Meetings The Committee noted that its next meeting was 21st May 2013 at 9.30- 11.30 in Blampied Room The Committee also noted that it would hold its June scheduled meeting from 9.30-10.30am on 11th June as it would be receiving a delegation from the States of Guernsey between 10.30am and noon. |
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