Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 15 January 2014

Present

Senator S.C. Ferguson, Chairman Deputy J.G. Reed, Vice-Chairman Connétable D.W. Mezbourian

Apologies

Absent

Deputy R.J. Rondel

Deputy S. Power [Absent for Item 3]

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  12th,  17th,  18th  and  23rd December 2013 were approved and signed accordingly.

17/12/13 Item 1

513/1(41)

2. Modernisation Programme

The Panel undertook a visit to the Department of Social Security to learn more about the Lean Programme. During the visit the Panel received a presentation from the Social Security Chief Officer, Mr. R. Bell, and heard from staff who had undertaken Lean training. The Panel was further provided with a real case study in which Lean had been used to make a task more efficient, for staff and the customer, by significantly reducing the time it took to complete.

The Panel recalled that further information had been requested from the Chief Minister's Department at its briefing on 17th December, in regards  to  the  Modernisation  Programme.  It  was  noted  that  this information had not yet been received and the Scrutiny Officer was asked to follow-up on this request.

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07/01/14 Item 1

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3. Population and Migration / Long-Term Plan

The Panel agreed to defer consideration of the Scoping Document and Terms of Reference until its next scheduled meeting. It was noted that it would be difficult for the Panel to agree the documents until a final draft of the Interim Population Policy had been received. It was further noted that the Panel had some reservations regarding the timetable, which was set out in the draft Scoping Document, for the completion of the review. Although the Panel agreed that the target date for the finalisation  of  the  report  was  appropriate  under  the  Department's current timetable, it was noted that revision might be needed once the Panel had reviewed the final Policy.

The Panel recalled that at its latest briefing it had been advised that the  Interim  Population  Policy  would  continue  to  propose  a  net migration figure of 325 people per year. It was noted that one of the reasons that had been given for this decision was that Departments

had continued to use 325 as an annual net inward migration figure for all their planning projections. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to undertake some research into this matter.

The  Panel  recalled  that  it  had  previously  requested  background documentation in respect of the Interim Population Policy. It was noted that a list of source materials, that had been used to develop the Policy,  had  now  been  provided  by  the  Department.  The  list  was circulated to the Panel. Furthermore, the Panel noted the contents of a paper that had been prepared which provided details of past States decisions in regards to Population and Migration.

The Panel noted that it was due to receive a briefing from Senator P.F. Routier MBE, Assistant Chief Minister, and the Director of Corporate Policy  on  16th  January  2014  at  3:00pm.  It  was  recalled  that  the Council of Ministers was due to meet on the 15th January to consider a latest version of the Policy. It was noted that a request had been made for this document to be provided to the Panel prior to its briefing.

The Panel further noted that it was due to meet the States Chief Statistician on 17th January 2014 to discuss the underlying figures included within the draft policy. Connétable D.W. Mezbourian gave her apologies for being unable to attend the briefing and meeting.

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18/12/13 Item 4

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 further  recalled  that  the  Scrutiny  Officers  had  been  requested  to arrange a meeting with the Managing Director in order to determine whether  the  timing  for  a  review  in  respect  of  SOJDC  would  be appropriate.

The Panel was advised that the meeting had now been arranged and was due to take place on 21st January 2014. It was further advised that the Treasurer of the States had requested to attend the meeting alongside the Managing Director. The Scrutiny Officers were asked to report back to the Panel at the next Panel meeting.

The Panel noted receipt of a topic proposal that had been received in respect of the Esplanade Quarter. It was agreed that consideration of the proposal and discussion of a review on this subject would be deferred until the next meeting. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to draft a Scoping Document to help inform these discussions.

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5. Medium Term Financial Plan

The Panel considered follow-up work to the Scrutiny Review of the Medium  Term  Financial  Plan  (MTFP).  It  was  agreed  that  an assessment of how the accepted recommendations from the initial MTFP Scrutiny Review had been implemented would provide a good basis on which an end-of-term' review could be undertaken. It was further agreed that consideration of the work that had been undertaken by the Department in respect of the next MTFP could also form part of the Panel's review. It was noted, however, that given that the next MTFP would not be fully developed until the new Council of Ministers and States Assembly were in place, it was likely there would be limits to how far this work could go and what could be achieved.

The Panel considered when it would be feasible to undertake this review.  It  was  noted  that  the  review  could  potentially  begin  after Easter, which would allow the Panel enough resources to undertake another review alongside its work on the Interim Population Policy. The Panel also considered whether it would be possible to carry out the end-of-term' review at the same time as the review of the Draft 2015  Budget.  It  was  noted  that  more  work  would  need  to  be undertaken on the draft Scoping Document in order to establish an appropriate timeframe.

The Panel noted that forecasts of expenditure for 2015 would become available from March 2014.

The Panel recalled the approach that was taken for the initial MTFP Review, in which every Scrutiny Panel had produced a short report on the draft MTFP in respect of its own Executive Departments. The Panel considered whether the same approach could be undertaken for the end-of-term' review of the MTFP. Consequently, the Panel asked for a request to be made for this matter to be raised at the next Chairmen's Committee meeting.

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18/12/13 Item 5

513/1(41)

6. Independent Taxation

The Panel recalled its request for research to be undertaken in respect of  Independent  Taxation.  The  Panel  was  advised  that  an  officer meeting with the Treasurer of the States had now been arranged and was due to take place on 6th February 2014. The Panel therefore agreed  to  discuss  this  matter  at  a  subsequent  meeting  once  the Scrutiny  Officers  had  obtained  more  information.  The  Panel  was advised  that,  dependent  on  this  information,  initial  work  on Independent Taxation could potentially be incorporated into its review of the Draft 2015 Budget.

18/12/13 Item 6

513/1(41)

7. States Employment Board

The Panel recalled its request for the Scrutiny Officers to arrange a meeting with the Chief Executive to discuss the States Employment Board  (SEB).  The  Panel  was  advised  that  a  meeting  had  been arranged for 23rd January 2013. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to report back to the Panel with information at its next meeting.

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18/12/13 Item 7

513/1(41)

8. Legislative Process

The Panel was advised that, as requested, the Scrutiny Officers had met the Law Draftsman to discuss the legislative process. The Panel was further advised that, although a detailed review on this subject might not be necessary, some work could potentially be undertaken alongside other reviews. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to draft a Scoping Document for discussion at the Panel's next meeting.

The Panel was informed that the Law Draftsman had offered to come and speak with the Panel about the Legislative Process. The Panel agreed that such a meeting would be beneficial and the Officer was requested to enact the necessary arrangements.

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18/12/13 Item 8

513/1(41)

9. 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

Interim  Population  Policy  and  Long-Term  Plan;  Modernisation Programme; and the Draft 2015 Budget were anticipated, as well as an end of term' review in relation to the MTFP. The Panel further noted that Scoping Documents for work on SODJC and the Legislative Process had been requested for its next Panel meeting. It was agreed that a decision would be made at its next meeting in respect of which review(s) the Panel would undertake next and when it would begin its work. The Panel requested the 2014 Business Plans from the Chief Minister's Department and Department of Treasury and Resources.

In regards to the Modernisation Programme, the Panel considered which areas it could feasibly cover during a review. It was recalled that the Panel had previously noted that the work-stream of e-government could potentially provide an initial focus for its work. The Scrutiny Officers  were  requested  to  undertake  research  to  endeavor  to determine when the best time would be for the Panel to undertake a review of e-government.

The Panel was advised that an update on the Starter Home Deposit Loan Scheme had been requested and would be provided at its next meeting.

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10. Annual Report

The Panel approved a draft report on the Panel's activity in 2013 to be included in the States Assembly's Annual Report for 2013.

13/01/14 Item 1

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11. 2014 Budget

An update was provided in respect of the Panel's work on Draft Public Finances  (Amendment  of  Law  No.1)  (Jersey)  Regulations  201- (P.133/2013). The Panel recalled its decision that its review would lead  to  the  presentation  of  comments  on  P.133/2013.  The  Panel considered the comments it would make following the information it had received at the Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources on 13th January 2014. It was noted that the comments would be presented by the Panel to the States Assembly by Tuesday 21st January 2014. The Panel was advised that, in accordance with Standing Order 37A, the comments would need to be finalised and given to the Greffier of the States by mid-day on Friday 17th January 2014. Consideration was given to matters which the Panel wished to cover in the comments; the Scrutiny Officer was requested to draft comments and to circulate them to the Panel once completed.

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12. Future Meetings

The Panel noted the dates that had been agreed for 2014 Quarterly Public Hearings with the Chief Minister, Minister for Treasury and Resources and Minister for External Relations. The Panel recalled that meeting requests had already been sent in respect of these Hearings.

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place at 9:30am on 29th January 2014.