Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 15 January 2014

Present

Deputy S.G. Luce , Chairman

Connétable S.W. Pallett, Vice-Chairman

Connétable M.J. Paddock

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre (Items 5, 10 and 11, and Item 6 in part)

Apologies

In attendance

Connétable P.J. Rondel (Item 6)

Senior Assistant Law Draftsman (Item 6) Assistant Director, Marine Resources (Item 6) Marine and Coastal Manager (Item 6)

Mr. T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer Mrs E. Turner, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Record of Meeting

The records of the Panel's meetings held on 18th December 2013 and 7th January 2014 were approved by the Panel.

18/12/13 Item 2

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2. Digital Skills

The  Sub-panel  Chairman  updated  the  Panel about recent  Review work,  notably  regarding  the  progress  being  made  with  regard  to written submissions. The Sub-panel would be meeting later that day to evaluate evidence received to date and to establish next steps.

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3. Jersey Innovation Fund

The  Panel  noted  arrangements  for  an  update  briefing  with  the Chairman of the Jersey Innovation Fund on 29th January 2014.

07/01/14 Item 1

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4. Ports of Jersey Incorporation

The Panel noted a file note circulated by the Ports of Jersey of the meeting attended by the Panel at Jersey Airport on 7th January 2014, and  associated  background  documents.  The  Panel  agreed  that  it remained concerned by delays in relation to key aspects of the Ports of  Jersey's  incorporation  programme,  raising  significant  questions about the ability of the Minister for Economic Development to deliver the incorporation project within the current timeframe. It also agreed that the documents that had been supplied to date were not of the substantive nature that had been requested or required, and that the Economic  Development  Department  should  be  reminded  of  the agreement previously made in this area.

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5. Retail Sector Review

The Panel noted the progress that was being made in relation to its Review timetable, and received updated Review files to include a

number of recently received written submissions. It agreed to follow up outstanding responses to written submission requests, further to which consideration would be given to the arrangement of Public Hearings.

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18/12/13 Item 7

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6. Draft Aquatic Resources (Jersey) Law 201-

The  Panel  received  a  joint  briefing  with  the  Environment  Scrutiny Panel  from  Officers  of  the  Law  Draftsman's  Office  and  Economic Development  and  Environment  Departments,  regarding  the  Draft Aquatic Resources (Jersey) Law 201-.

The  Panels  requested  receipt  of  the amendment  relating  to  the appropriate scale' principle for Environmental Impact Assessment's at the earliest opportunity in advance of lodging, once it had been re- drafted as agreed. It further agreed that the draft amendment relating to loose vraic would not now be required to address its concerns in this area, if the Minister agreed that a clear statement explaining that there would be no change to non-commercial collection rights as a result  of  this  Law,  and  no  intention  to  change  them  through Regulations, was instead included in the report accompanying the Proposition.

The Panel also requested a written update outlining the timetable for any  planned  Regulations.  This  information  would  help  inform  the drafting of a Comments paper, which would represent the conclusion of Scrutiny's work on the draft Law itself, with the Regulations to be examined for potential Review as and when developed in the future.

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7. Financial Services Ombudsman

The  Panel  recalled  the  revised  timetable  from  the  Economic Development Department for the States debate of the draft Financial Services Ombudsman (Jersey) Law 201- and associated Regulations. With the imminent lodging of the draft Law, it was agreed that, as far as possible prior to receipt of the legislation, the Panel would seek to secure the services of an expert adviser for its Review.

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30/10/13 Item 10

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8. Work Programme

Consideration was given to the Panel's current and planned Work Programme. It was agreed that a number of topics that were not the subject  of  live  Reviews  would  be  followed  up  at  the  forthcoming Quarterly Public Hearing. To assist preparation, it was agreed that updated  work  stream  documents  would  be  requested  from  the Economic  Development  Department  and  Finance  Industry Development Office.

9. Alcohol and Licensing Strategy

The  Alcohol  and  Licensing  Strategy  consultation  documents  were received by the Panel. It was noted that the Executive lead for the strategy was now held by the Chief Minister's Department, as a result of which the Chairmen's Committee had recently agreed that it would be most appropriate for lead responsibility for its possible scrutiny to rest with the Corporate Services Panel.

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10. Quarterly Public Hearing

The  Panel  agreed  to  request  the  attendance  of  the  Minister  for Economic Development at a Quarterly Public Hearing on the morning

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of 13th February, 2014, with a number of suitable topics having been identified.

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11. Future meetings

The Panel noted that its next meeting was scheduled for 9.30am in the Blampied Room, States Building, on 12th February 2014.