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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 10th July 2013 Meeting No: 94
Present | Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Deputy R.J. Rondel |
Apologies | Connétable D.J. Murphy Deputy S. Power |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
12/06/13 Item 7 510/1(84) | 1. Panel Reports and Recommendations The Panel recalled its agreement that the Chairmen's Committee should be requested to consider whether any improvements could be made to ensure that States Members received information arising from Scrutiny Reviews (including Ministerial Responses) sufficiently far ahead of debates. The Panel was advised that the Committee had discussed the matter at its most recent meeting, at which meeting the Vice-Chairman had been present, and that it was likely that Deputy T.A. Vallois, President of the Chairmen's Committee, would raise the matter with Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, at their next meeting. The Panel subsequently considered how it could best follow up recommendations. The Panel recalled its agreement that, in future, it would potentially be beneficial to hold a meeting with the relevant Minister(s) once the Ministerial Response to a report had been presented. It was also noted that decisions regarding how to follow up recommendations could be made on a review-by-review basis. |
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| 2. Records of Meetings The public record of the meeting held on 26th June 2013 was approved and signed accordingly. |
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12/06/13 Item 3 513/37(4) | 3. Public Finances Law The Panel recalled that the Chief Minister had withdrawn his response to the Panel's written questions with the assurance that alternative comments would be provided to the Panel as soon as possible. The Panel was advised that the Chief Minister's revised response had yet to be received. It was noted that, in response to requests to the Department of Treasury and Resources, a copy of the job description for the Treasurer of the States and the law-drafting brief for Draft Public Finances (Amendment No.4) (Jersey) Law 201- (P.73/2013) had been received but that other information was still awaited. Consideration was given to the impact that not receiving information would have on the Panel's ability to complete its report and it was noted that the Panel could potentially request that the debate on |
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| P.73/2013 be deferred from its current listing of 10th September 2013. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to collate a list of the Panel's requests for information since the public hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources which would show when information had been requested and when it had subsequently been received. The Panel was advised that the expert advisor had drafted a report and that, subsequent to confirmation from his colleagues at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the draft report would be dispatched for the Panel's attention in due course. It was noted that either amendments or an addendum to the expert advisor's report would be required once information which was currently outstanding had been received. | SM |
26/06/13 Item 4 513/1(41) | 4. Modernisation Programme The Panel recalled its agreement for further work to be undertaken on the structure of responsibility for the work-streams of Phase 1 of the Modernisation Programme. The Panel was advised that research was being undertaken by the Scrutiny Office and that a report would be presented for the Panel's consideration at its next meeting. |
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26/06/13 Item 9 513/35 | 5. Medium Term Financial Plan The Panel recalled its agreement to inquire with the Department of Treasury and Resources as to why Quarterly Finance Reports had not yet been made available to the Panel in line with assurances made by the Minister for Treasury and Resources in 2012. The Panel was advised that a request had been made for the most recent Quarterly Finance Report but that it had yet to be received. The Panel noted that it could potentially raise this matter at the next Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister. The Panel was advised that an update on follow-up work to the MTFP review would be provided at its next scheduled meeting. |
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26/06/13 Item 11 513/1(41) | 6. Work Programme The Panel recalled its agreement that requests would be made to the Chief Minister's Department and the Department of Treasury and Resources for updates on the delivery of their 2013 Business Plans and on their work programmes. The Panel was advised that requests had been made to both Departments but that information had yet to be received. It was noted that the requests would be followed up ahead of the Panel's next meeting. |
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26/06/13 Item 8 513/38 | 7. Deposit Loan Scheme The Panel was advised that an update had been received from the Chief Minister's Department in respect of the Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme which indicated that the Scheme would potentially be implemented during the week beginning 15th July 2013. It was noted that a copy of a guide on the scheme which was being developed by the Executive would be forwarded in due course for the Panel's information. The Panel considered how it could follow up the recommendations it had made in Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme (SR5/2013). It was noted that questions on the matter would be included at the next Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources |
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| and that receipt of the guide on the scheme might also potentially address follow-up questions which the Panel might have. It was noted that a decision regarding further follow-up work could be undertaken once the guide had been received and the public hearing had been held. |
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26/06/13 Item 6 513/1(40) | 8. Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources The Panel considered a draft question plan for its Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Panel prioritised the areas it would seek to cover, amended the questions on the plan and identified additional questions which it would put to the Minister. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to amend the question plan accordingly. During the course of its consideration, it was agreed that the following information was relevant to the questions being put by the Panel and the Scrutiny Officer was therefore requested to circulate copies:
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26/06/13 Item 7 513/36 | 9. Population and Migration The Panel noted that the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 had been implemented and that, as a result, registration cards could now be obtained by the public. It was also noted that a hotline would be established through which members of the public could report people living and working illegally in Jersey. Consideration was given to recent media coverage of population and migration matters. It was noted that Panel Members had to be mindful when speaking to the media of whether they were speaking in an individual capacity or whether they spoke as a Panel Member. It was further noted that provisions in respect of media dealings were included in the Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee. It was agreed that this matter would be placed on the agenda for the Panel's next scheduled meeting in order that the provisions could be formally noted. The Panel considered whether it had received an up-to-date timetable for development of the Long-Term Plan and the Population Policy. It was noted that correspondence had been received from the Chief Minister with advice regarding the Executive's intentions. It was further noted that the Panel was due to meet the Chief Minister on 25th July 2013 in order to discuss these matters. The Panel agreed to request an update regarding the Executive's timetable ahead of the meeting. The Panel discussed whether the recommendations made in its earlier reports on population and migration matters should be followed up. It was noted that the recommendations of Population and Migration Part 2 (SR2/2013) could not feasibly be followed up until the Control of | WM SM |
| Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 had been in place for six months and it was therefore too early to consider following up those recommendations. It was therefore agreed to consider the recommendations made in Population and Migration (SR1/2012) and whether any follow-up work would be beneficial. The Panel questioned whether information had previously been received in respect of licences and it was noted that such information had indeed been received. | SM |
| 10. Future Meetings The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place at 9:30am on 24th July 2013. |
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