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Environment - Approved Panel Minutes

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Environment Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date: 21st November 2013 Meeting No: 57

 

Present

Deputy J. Young, Chairman Deputy S. Luce (Vice chairman) Connétable P. Rondel

Apologies

 

Absent

 

In attendance

Mr. M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Record of meeting

The  Minutes  of  the  meeting  held  on  11th  November  2013  were approved and signed.

MO

465/1(182)

2. Machinery of Government Sub-Committee Recommendations

In  response  to  a  request  from  the  Chairmen's  Committee  for consultation with individual Panel members the Panel discussed the recommendations of the Machinery of Government Sub-Committee. Members'  views  on  each  recommendation  were  noted  and  the Scrutiny Officer was asked to arrange for these to be reported back to the Steering Group.

MO

Item 3 11.11.13

514/20

3. Radon

The Panel received an oral update on progress with the review. The advisers were about to commence a preliminary study of evidence previously made available by the Health Protection department, and would revert with any suggestions regarding further information to be requested from departments as part of a submission to the review. Confirmation from the advisers of an extension to the contract date for the review was awaited. It was confirmed that information about the review would be uploaded to the Scrutiny website.

MO

Item 3 29.10.13

514/1(25)

4. Taxi regulation

Members  expressed  concerns  about  continued  delays  to  the publication  of  the  Minister  for  Transport  and  Technical  Services' White Paper, which had been promised on a number of occasions at quarterly public hearings but was still awaited. It was agreed that following comments at the latest public hearing on 11th November 2013,  if  this  matter  was  not  resolved  promptly  the  Panel  would prepare a proposition for debate seeking to oblige the Minister to lodge the White Paper. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to inform the department of the Panel's intention.

MO

514/1(25)

5. Traffic and transport

Following discussion of traffic congestion and associated issues with the Minister for Transport and Technical Services at the quarterly public  hearing  on  11th  November  2013,  members  considered whether this would be an appropriate subject for review. It appeared

 

 

that  the  department  was  unwilling  or  unable  to  consider  radical alternatives to bring about reduced congestion and improve traffic flow, and the Panel believed that progress with the new bus service and  the  Sustainable  Transport  Policy  was  potentially  being hampered as a result. Members noted that this was likely to be a topic of considerable public interest and were in favour of carrying out a review in 2014. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to discuss the possibilities with department officers and report back to the Panel.

MO

 

6. Forthcoming meetings

Quarterly public hearing with the Minister for Planning and

Environment: 2.30pm on 9th December 2013, Le Capelain Room, States Building

Next scheduled Panel meeting: 2.00pm on 17th December

2013, Blampied Room, States Building

MO