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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 6th February 2013 Meeting No: 68
Present | Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Connétable D.J. Murphy Deputy S. Power Deputy R.J. Rondel |
Apologies |
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Absent |
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In attendance | Dr. D. Gibaut, Chief Statistician [Part of Item 5] Ms. K. Falle, Statistical Officer [Part of Item 5] Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The records of the meetings held on 16th January and 23rd January 2013, including a private record for 23rd January 2013, were approved. |
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23/01/13 Item 2 513/1(41) | 2. Modernisation Programme The Panel noted that the Chairman had not yet been able to circulate information in respect of Lean Academies. The Panel recalled the offer made during the recent meeting with Senator I.J. Gorst , Chief Minister, of a briefing on the Modernisation Programme. Potential dates were identified and the Scrutiny Officer was requested to correspond with the Chief Minister's Department about the viability of the dates. | SF WM |
23/01/13 Item 9 513/1(40) | 3. Meeting with the Chief Minister The Panel was advised that the Scrutiny Office had contacted the Chief Minister's Department regarding the actions which had been agreed at the Panel's meeting with the Chief Minister. |
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23/01/13 Item 5 513/36 | 4. Population and Migration It was noted that a timetable for development of the Population Policy was due to be received from the Chief Minister's Department. The Panel received an update from the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Population and Migration Sub-Panel. It was noted that drafting had been undertaken on the report and that the draft would soon be ready to despatch to contributors for comment on the factual accuracy. It was agreed that the report would also be shared with the Panel at that time. The Panel was subsequently advised that the Sub-Panel would meet on 12th February 2013 to consider Key Findings and Recommendations and that the report would be distributed under | WM |
| embargo on 18th February 2013 for presentation to the States on 19th February 2013. It was noted that the Sub-Panel also currently intended to brief the media and States Members about the report on the day of its presentation. Consideration was given to the areas in which the Sub-Panel was likely to make Key Findings and Recommendations. |
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31/01/13 Item 1 513/37(2) | 5. Deposit Loan Scheme The Panel received an update in respect of its review of Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme (P.131/2012). It was noted that requests for written submissions had been sent to mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, conveyancers and the Jersey Estate Agents Association. It was also noted that a call for evidence had been made through the Jersey Evening Post on 4th February 2013, to which responses had been received. The Panel noted receipt of background documentation which had been requested from the Chief Minister's Department. The Panel was advised of the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Office in determining when the proposals for a Deposit Loan Scheme were considered by the Council of Ministers. The Panel agreed that this line of enquiry should be pursued further. The Panel also agreed to request a copy of the business case for the proposals which had been considered by Senator P.F.C. Ozouf , Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Scrutiny Officer was also requested to construct a chronology of the development of the proposals. It was agreed that further information was required in relation to the housing market and whether there was a sufficient supply of homes within the lower price quartile of properties. It was noted that information on this matter could potentially be requested from estate agents. The Panel received a briefing from Dr D. Gibaut, Chief Statistician, and Ms. K. Falle, Statistical Officer, in respect of statistics relating to house prices and housing affordability. The Panel noted the schedule of public hearings to be held on 13th February 2013 and agreed the general areas of questioning it would pursue. It was noted that the Scrutiny Office would advise the witnesses of those general areas. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to circulate draft question plans for subsequent Panel consideration. The Panel agreed it would invite the Chief Statistician to a public hearing at a later date. It was also agreed that a hearing with either the Jersey Estate Agents Association or a prominent estate agent would be beneficial. The Panel also agreed to request a briefing from the Economic Advisor. Consideration was given to the appointment of an expert advisor and the Panel received an update on the work undertaken in this regard by the Scrutiny Office. Further people were identified whom the Scrutiny Officer was requested to contact in order to ascertain whether they would be interested in assisting the Panel. The Panel considered the timetable for the review and recalled its request to the Minister for Treasury and Resources that the debate on P.131/2013 be deferred to 16th April 2013. The Panel was advised | WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM WM |
| that the actions it had identified would increase the review's scope and therefore make it less likely that the review could be completed by the date currently set for the debate. Noting that the matter could be discussed with the Minister on 13th February 2013, the Panel agreed to reaffirm its request for a deferral and to highlight to the Minister the reasons for the request. | WM |
31/01/13 Item 2 513/37(3) | 6. External Relations The Panel considered draft Terms of Reference for its review of proposals to establish a Minister for External Relations. One amendment was requested and the Terms of Reference were approved, as amended. It was noted that the Terms of Reference would now be despatched to the Chief Minister. The Panel considered the course of the review and agreed that it would invite a written submission from the Chief Minister in the first instance, at which time it would also request submissions from other stakeholders such as the Privileges and Procedures Committee. It was noted that a more general call for evidence would be made in March 2013 ahead of public hearings in April 2013. In that regard, it was noted that 9th April 2013 had been suggested by the Chief Minister's Department as a date for public hearings. Noting that some Members might be away on that date, the Panel agreed that hearings could be held on that date but that a request would be made for possible alternatives. It was noted that Senator Sir P.M. Bailhache , Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for external relations, would appear at the public hearing alongside the Chief Minister. | WM WM |
06/06/12 Item 6 513/1(43) | 7. Public Finances Law The Panel noted a request from the Minister for Treasury and Resources that it consider proposed amendments to the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005. It was noted that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was likely to consider the proposed amendments as well and the Scrutiny Officer was therefore requested to ascertain what work the PAC would undertake. | WM |
23/01/13 Item 3 513/1(41) | 8. Work Programme The Panel noted the status of its Work Programme for 2013. The Panel also noted that information had been received on the work programmes of the Chief Minister's Department and the Department of Treasury and Resources. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to prepare a briefing note for the Panel on the Departments' work programmes. | WM |
513/1(40) | 9. Public Sector Pensions The Panel recalled the offer of the Minister for Treasury and Resources of a briefing on reform proposals for public sector pension schemes. The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officer to correspond with the Department of Treasury and Resources about possible dates and to ensure that the relevant paperwork was received ahead of the briefing. | WM |
| 10. Future Meetings The Panel noted the dates of its Quarterly Public Hearings in 2013. The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on |
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| 27th February 2013. |
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