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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 18th December 2013 Meeting No: 127
Present | Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Connétable D.W. Mezbourian [Absent for Items 1 and 2] Deputy R.J. Rondel |
Apologies | Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The records of the meetings held on 21st, 22nd, 27th and 28th November and 10th December 2013 were approved. The records were signed accordingly. |
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17/12/13 Item 1 513/1(41) | 2. Modernisation Programme The Panel recalled the briefing it had received on 17th December 2013 in respect of the Modernisation Programme. It was noted that a number of actions had been agreed at the briefing which the Scrutiny Officers would follow up with the Chief Minister's Department. The Panel recalled that it would visit the Department of Social Security on 15th January 2014 to learn more about the Lean system of working. Consideration was given to the areas which the Panel could feasibly cover during a review of the Modernisation Programme and it was noted that the work-stream of e-government could potentially provide an initial focus for the Panel's work. It was noted that there might potentially be some overlap with work currently being undertaken by the Economic Affairs (Digital Skills) Sub-Panel. The Panel, noting that it was due to receive further information from the Executive on the timetable for the Modernisation Programme, agreed that a subsequent meeting with the Chief Executive in respect of the Programme would be beneficial in due course. During its deliberations, it was noted that consideration would need to be given to the information provided in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and, previously to that, in Annual Business Plans regarding the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees in the public sector. | SM |
10/12/13 Item 1 513/36 | 3. Population and Migration / Long-Term Plan The Panel recalled the briefing it had received on 10th December 2013 and the advice it had received regarding the timetable for development of the Interim Population Policy. Further advice on this matter had been received by the Scrutiny Office from the Chief Minister's Department and it was noted that the Council of Ministers |
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| was due to consider the Interim Population Policy again that day. A copy of the presentation which would be provided to the Council had been requested for the Panel's attention. It was noted that the Panel would itself receive the presentation at 9:30am on 7th January 2013. It was currently anticipated that the Council would sign off the Interim Policy at its meeting on 15th January 2014, after which it would be made available to the Panel. Consideration was given to whether the Executive's timetable would allow sufficient time for Scrutiny to take place. It was noted that the Executive had been clearly advised of the Panel's intention to review the Interim Population Policy and that time would be required for the review to take place. Consideration was given to whether background documentation in respect of the Interim Policy could be requested. It was noted that such documentation had already been requested and that the request would be followed up. The Panel agreed that it would be beneficial to meet the Chief Statistician and the Scrutiny Officer was therefore requested to make the necessary arrangements. The Panel was advised that the Vice-Chairman had spoken with Deputy S. Power about the Panel's anticipated review and it was noted that Deputy Power had expressed an initial interest in being involved. | SM SM |
27/11/13 Item 7 513/1(41) | 4. States of Jersey Development Company The Panel recalled its request for research to be undertaken in respect of the States of Jersey Development Company (SoJDC). The Panel was advised that the Scrutiny Officers had requested an officer meeting with the Managing Director of SoJDC but that the meeting had not yet taken place. It was noted that it would be necessary to determine whether the timing for a review in respect of SoJDC would be appropriate. The Panel noted that questions had arisen in respect of loans to the SoJDC which had been approved by the Minister for Treasury and Resources and in relation to how the proposed Jersey International Finance Centre fitted with the Masterplan which the States Assembly had previously agreed for the Esplanade Quarter. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to investigate these matters at their meeting with the Managing Director. | SM |
27/11/13 Item 7 513/1(41) | 5. Independent Taxation The Panel recalled its request for research to be undertaken in respect of Independent Taxation. The Panel, noting the provisions of a paper prepared by the Scrutiny Office, further recalled that Feasibility Report into the Introduction of Independent Taxation in Jersey: October 2013 (R.127/2013) had been presented alongside the Draft 2014 Budget Statement. It was noted that R.127/2013 had provided an indicative timetable for the development of Independent Taxation which suggested that there might be limited scope for work on the subject in 2014. The Panel was advised, however, that some work might be feasible as part of the Panel's anticipated review of the Draft 2015 Budget or that a one-off public hearing on the subject could feasibly be held with the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Panel was informed that an officer meeting on the subject had been requested by the Scrutiny Office and it was therefore agreed to return to the matter at a subsequent meeting. | WM |
27/11/13 Item 7 513/1(41) | 6. States Employment Board The Panel recalled its request for research to be undertaken in respect of the States Employment Board (SEB) and noted the contents of a paper prepared on this subject by the Scrutiny Office. It was noted that it was not yet clear what matters the Panel could feasibly cover in a Scrutiny Review of the subject and that direction from the Chairman on this matter would be beneficial, albeit that the roles and responsibilities of SEB and its governance structure could feasibly provide focus for work. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to investigate the matter further and, in that regard, to meet the Chief Executive. | SM |
27/11/13 Item 7 513/1(41) | 7. Legislative Process The Panel recalled its request for research to be undertaken on the legislative process and the contents of a paper prepared on the subject by the Scrutiny Office were noted. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to meet the Law Draftsman in order to assist with determining what work, if any, the Panel could feasibly cover in a review of this subject. | WM |
27/11/13 Item 7 513/1(41) | 8. Work Programme The Panel, having noted the work undertaken on the four matters of interest which it had identified at a previous meeting, considered its work programme for 2014. It was noted that reviews in respect of the Modernisation Programme; the Interim Population Policy and Long- Term Plan; and the Draft 2015 Budget were anticipated, as well as an end of term' review in relation to the MTFP. Consideration was given to whether the Panel would therefore have capacity to undertake work on the four other matters of interest it had identified. It was agreed, however, to discuss this matter further at the next meeting as part of a discussion on the work programme overall. The Panel was advised that only one review (the review of P.133/2013) was currently active and was due to have been completed by 21st January 2014. The Panel, noting its intention to review the Draft 2015 Budget, agreed that clarification would be sought as to when the Minister for Treasury and Resources intended for the Budget to be lodged and debated. | WM WM |
12/12/13 Item 1 513/40 | 9. 2014 Budget The Panel undertook an evaluation of its review of Draft Budget Statement 2014 (P.122/2013). The Panel noted that expenditure on the review had amounted to £16,630.89 which was within the overall budget agreed for the review of £24,800; this included the full anticipated cost of engaging the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) although it was noted that the invoice from CIPFA had yet to be received and paid. The Panel also noted that it had reported one week ahead of the debate on P.122/2013, in line with the timetable it had agreed at the beginning of the review and notwithstanding that the review had been undertaken within a tight timescale. The Panel thanked the Scrutiny Officers for their work on the review. Consideration was given to whether the Panel's report had made any impact. It was noted that an assessment of this matter could not simply be made on the basis of the Assembly's debate of P.122/2013 but would need to take into account the Panel's follow-up work to its recommendations, for instance those recommendations made by the Panel on the subject of Impôts – some of which had been |
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| accepted by the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Panel recalled its agreement to lodge a proposition which would, if adopted, see the additional income generated from increases in Impôts on alcohol and tobacco placed in the Health Insurance Fund for subsequent use towards the alcohol and tobacco strategies. The Panel considered a paper prepared on this subject by the Scrutiny Office and noted the provisions of Hypothecated Taxation, a paper published in 2011 by the House of Commons Library. It was noted that a number of questions required consideration in relation to the hypothecation of taxes and, consequently, to the Panel's proposed proposition. The Panel also noted that consultation on the new Alcohol and Licensing Strategy was due to be undertaken in 2014. It was therefore agreed that, rather than lodge a proposition at this time, the Panel would correspond with the relevant Minister to advise of the work it had undertaken on this subject and to highlight the Panel's view that consideration should be given to the hypothecation of income raised through Impôts on alcohol and tobacco. The Panel recalled that Draft Public Finances (Amendment of Law No.1) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.133/2013) had been referred to it under Standing Order 72. The Panel was advised that, procedurally speaking, work on P.133/2013 could be taken as an extension of the Panel's Budget Review. Consideration was given to an amended Scoping Document and Terms of Reference which were approved, subject to one further, minor amendment to the Scoping Document. It was noted that the Panel intended to complete its work in order for the debate on P.133/2013 to continue on 21st January 2014. This would most likely necessitate the presentation of comments on the proposition rather than of a Scrutiny Report. The Panel recalled that correspondence had occurred between the Chairman and Deputy E.J. Noel, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, in which the Panel had requested clarification regarding the timetable for borrowing for the Housing Project and whether the Council of Ministers intended to request a special sitting of the States Assembly to complete the debate on P.133/2013. It was noted that no direct response to those questions had yet been received and the Scrutiny Officers were therefore requested to pursue these matters with the Department of Treasury and Resources. The Panel noted that draft written questions on P.133/2013 had previously been circulated. The Panel requested that the Scrutiny Officers forward these questions to the Department, in addition to questions about whether the Council of Ministers had considered P.133/2013 and about why the subject of P.133/2013 had been overlooked and it had therefore been lodged later than other Budget propositions. The Panel also agreed that provisional arrangements for a public hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources should be made. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to correspond with the Department about the necessary arrangements, with the Panel's preferred option to hold the public hearing in the afternoon of 13th January 2014. | WM WM WM WM |
| 10. Future Meetings The Panel considered arrangements for Quarterly Public Hearings with the relevant Ministers. It was noted that, following the States |
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| Assembly's decision to create a Minister for External Relations, arrangements would need to be made for hearings with three Ministers. The Panel agreed that arrangements should be made for the hearings to take place on Thursday afternoons, if possible, and a list of possible dates in that regard was noted. The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place at 9:30am on 15th January 2014, with the meeting to begin with the visit to the Department of Social Security which had been arranged in respect of the Modernisation Programme. | WM |