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Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 3 October 2013

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date:   3rd October 2013 Meeting No:  108

 

Present

Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Connetable D.W. Mezbourian Deputy R.J. Rondel

Apologies

Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Deputy S. Power

Absent

 

In attendance

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources [Item 1] Deputy E.J. Noel, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources [Item 1] Ms. L. Rowley, Treasurer of the States [Item 1]

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

24/07/13 Item 8

513/1(40)

1. Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources

The Panel received Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources,  for  a  Quarterly  Public  Hearing. The  Minister  was accompanied by Deputy E.J. Noel, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, and Ms. L. Rowley, Treasurer of the States. The hearing was recorded in order that a transcript could be made.

 

25/09/13 Item 1

513/1(40)

2. Fiscal Policy Panel

The Panel recalled that, on 25th September 2013, it had met the Fiscal Policy Panel (FPP). Consideration was given to the purpose of such meetings with the FPP and it was recalled that a list of topics had been identified by the Panel prior to the meeting. It was agreed that, in future, any such list of topics identified for discussion by the Panel would be shared with the FPP in advance of the meeting.

WM

 

3. Records of Meetings

The Panel approved the records of its meetings held on 22nd August and 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th September 2013. The Panel also approved the private record of the meeting held on 9th September 2013. The records were signed accordingly.

 

04/09/13 Item 3

513/36

4. Population and Migration

The  Panel  recalled  its  agreement  that  the  views  of  the  Chief Statistician would be sought in respect of the recommendation made in  Population and Migration Part 2 (SR2/2013) that, three months before the debate on the Population Policy, the Chief Minister should request the Chief Statistician to provide his view on when the register would  be  statistically  viable  as  a  rolling  measure  of  the  Island's population. It was noted that the views of the Chief Statistician had yet to be received.

SM

 

The Panel noted that paperwork in respect of the Long-Term Plan had been received and circulated. The Panel was advised that the Council of Ministers would discuss population policy at its next meeting. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to confirm the current timetable for development of both the Long-Term Plan and the Population Policy. It was agreed to include questioning on the matter at the next Quarterly Public Hearing with Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister.

Consideration was given to whether the Chairmen's Committee had discussed scrutiny of the Long-Term Plan. The Panel was advised that the Committee had yet to undertake such discussions.

WM

10/09/13 Item 1

513/40

5. 2014 Budget

The  Panel  recalled  that  it  had  requested  information  and documentation at the briefing on the Draft 2014 Budget Statement which it had received on 9th September 2013. The Panel was advised that the information had yet to be received and that the matter had been followed up with the Department of Treasury and Resources.

The  Panel  noted  that  initial  thoughts  had  been  received  from  its advisors,  MJO  Consulting  and  the  Chartered  Institute  of  Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Consideration was given to the stakeholders from whom the Panel would wish to hear during the review  and  it  was  agreed  that  representatives  of the  Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors (IoD) would be invited to attend public hearings. It was also agreed that written submissions would  be  sought  directly  from  Jersey  Finance  and  the  Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). Consideration was given to which other bodies and individuals could be invited to make written submissions and it was noted that a call for evidence would be made once the Draft Budget Statement had been made public and that it would be possible for any interested person or party to make such a submission.

The Panel noted that a public hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources would be held on 11th October 2013 for which the apologies of Connétable D.W. Mezbourian were received. The Panel was  advised  that  a  second  hearing  with  the  Minister  had  been provisionally scheduled for 24th October 2013. It was agreed that a second hearing would indeed be necessary.

The Panel agreed to request from the Department of Treasury and Resources a breakdown of taxpayers by the rate at which they paid tax and confirmation of the overall tax take by group.

WM WM

WM WM

05/09/13 Item 1

513/37(4)

6. Public Finances Law Amendments

The  Panel  noted  that  expenditure  on  its  review  of  Draft  Public Finances  (Jersey)  Law  (Amendment  No.4)  201-  (P.73/2013)  had amounted to £8,965.32 from a budget of £11,200.

 

04/09/13 Item 12

513/1(40)

7. Quarterly Public Hearing with the Chief Minister

The Panel considered a question plan for the Quarterly Public Hearing with  the  Chief  Minister  due  to  take  place  on  10th  October  2013. Amendments and additions were agreed which the Scrutiny Officer was  requested  to  enact. It  was  noted  that   Connétable  D.W. Mezbourian , if she were able to attend, would not ask questions in respect of the Modernisation Programme due to her membership of the States Employment Board (SEB).

WM

 

8. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 16th October 2013.