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Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 22 May 2013

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date:   22nd May 2013 Meeting No:  89

 

Present

Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman

Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman

Deputy T. Vallois [Co-opted for Item 1 under Standing Order 138(5A))

Apologies

Connétable D.J. Murphy Deputy S. Power Deputy R.J. Rondel

Absent

 

In attendance

Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

02/05/13 Item 1

513/1(43)

1. Public Finances (Jersey) Law

The Panel recalled that a request had been made to the Department of Treasury and Resources for information following a briefing from the Treasurer of the States on 24th April 2013. It was noted that the requested information had not yet been received from the Department and that no indication had been given as to when it would be available. Subsequently, the Officer was asked to draft a letter to the Treasurer requesting further clarification regarding this matter.

The  Vice-Chairman  advised  the  Panel  that,  due  to  other  work commitments, his time was currently limited and as a result he would not be participating fully in this particular review.

The Panel considered a draft question plan for its Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources that was due to take place on 28th May 2013. The questions had been prepared by Mr. S. Fair, expert advisor, and circulated to the Panel prior to the meeting. During the discussion it was agreed by the Panel that, due to the highly technical nature of this subject, it would be more appropriate to send a number of the questions to the Minister in written form rather than posing  them  at  the  Public  Hearing.  The  Officer  was  therefore requested to send selected written questions to the Department and amend the draft question plan accordingly.

The Panel noted that the Council of Ministers (COM) was due to meet that day to discuss the amendments to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005. The Officer was requested to solicit the minutes taken during the COM meeting.

The Panel agreed that, in order to gain a better understanding of the role of the Accounting Officer and Treasurer, that it would be beneficial to compare the Employment of States of Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005 against the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 and the proposed amendments. The Officer was asked to take the necessary

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action.

The Panel considered other potential witnesses who could provide evidence for its review. During this discussion, the Panel agreed that it would  be  beneficial  to  request  a  written  submission  from  the Comptroller and Auditor General on her views regarding the proposed amendments. Subsequently the Officer was requested to draft a letter to the Comptroller and Auditor General in this regard. It was further agreed that Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, would be invited to attend  a  Public  Hearing  to  give  evidence  for  this  review  and  the Scrutiny Officer was requested to make the necessary arrangements.

The Panel recalled its agreement to invite Mr. S. Fair, expert advisor, to attend the Public Hearing with the Panel on the 29th May 2013. It was further agreed, however, that it would be useful for the Panel to meet  with  Mr  S.  Fair  on  the  28th  May  in  advance  of  the  Public Hearing. The Officer was therefore requested to make the necessary travel arrangements.

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