Environment, Housing and Technical Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 18 December 2014

Present

Connétable A.S. Crowcroft , Chairman

Deputy D. Johnson , Vice-Chairman [Items 2 to 13] Deputy J.A. Martin

Apologies

Deputy M. Tadier

Absent

In attendance

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Records of Meetings

The Panel approved the record of its meeting held on 27th November 2014 subject to one minor amendment to clarify that whilst the Panel had  considered  the  development  of  the  Esplanade  Quarter  as  a potential work topic, it had not noted its interest in that matter.

27/11/14 Item 5

514/1/1(1)

2. Work Programme

The  Panel  considered  its  Work  Programme  for  2014,  taking  into account topics which had been discussed at its previous meetings; initial indications of ministerial priorities for 2015; and a number of topic proposals which had been received. The Panel was advised that, whilst the  Code  of  Practice  for  Scrutiny  Panels  and  the  Public  Accounts Committee  stipulated  matters  which  Panels  would  consider  when establishing  a Work  Programme,  it  was  ultimately  for  the  Panel  to decide upon its own Work Programme. Following discussions, it was agreed that two reviews would be scoped:

1. A review of environmental policies of the States of Jersey (including those  incorporated  within  previous  Strategic  Plans)  since  the publication of the Jersey into the Millennium: A Sustainable Future with a view to determining what had been implemented since that time, and what remained to be done, in order to inform work on the new Strategic Plan. This review would report in time for the debate on the new Strategic Plan.

2. A review in respect of the supply of housing.

The  Scrutiny  Officer  was  requested  to  draft Scoping  Documents  in respect of the agreed reviews.

The Panel considered whether work would be undertaken in respect of the fisheries industry. The Panel noted work it was anticipated that the Minister for Planning and Environment would undertake on this subject as well as recent media reports in relation to fishing quotas. The Panel was advised that Deputy C.F. Labey would potentially be interested in being involved in any review of this matter undertaken by the Panel (or Sub-Panel of the Panel). It was agreed that, in the first instance, the Chairman would speak to the Deputy about the matter.

WM

SC

514/1/1(3)

3. Esplanade Quarter

The Panel considered whether to undertake any work in respect of the States of Jersey Development Company (SoJDC) and development of the Esplanade Quarter. It was noted that the Chairman had been contacted by the Chairman of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and the Panel recalled that that Panel was due to undertake a review in respect of these matters. The Panel was advised that the Corporate Services Panel's review was likely to take into account questions in respect of the Masterplan for the Esplanade Quarter, questions which would also potentially fall within the Panel's own remit. It was agreed, given the Corporate Services Panel's review of this matter, that the Panel would not undertake a review itself.

514/1/1(4)

4. Housing Procurement

The Panel noted receipt of correspondence in relation to procurement practices by the former Department of Housing which had been passed to the Scrutiny Office by Deputy G.P. Southern . The Panel was advised that the correspondence had been addressed to the Comptroller and Auditor  General  (C&AG)  and  the  Chairman  of  the  Public  Accounts Committee  (PAC),  within  whose  remits  the  matters  raised  in  the correspondence appeared to fall most appropriately. It was noted that the C&AG had previously indicated in her Audit Plan that she would look into the area of housing maintenance from the perspective of value for money. The Panel therefore agreed that it would not undertake work on the matter. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to inform Deputy Southern of the Panel's decision and to highlight that the Panel would undertake a review in relation to the supply of housing.

WM

514/1/1(5)

5. Topic Proposals

The Panel noted receipt of topic proposals in respect of the following matters:

1. Adaptation of Buildings for Disabled People;
2. Purposes of the Island Plan;
3. Vehicles in Jersey; and
4. Lodging Houses.

The  Panel  considered  that  some  of  the  issues  raised  in  the  topic proposals would be taken into account during its agreed review of environmental policies. It was agreed to advise the correspondent of this fact and to thank the correspondent for the topic proposals. It was agreed that subsequent consideration would be given to the proposals in due course once further information had been received in relation to ministerial priorities.

WM

27/11/14 Item 4

514/1/1(6)

6. Quarterly Public Hearings

The Panel noted a schedule of Quarterly Public Hearings for 2015, in particular noting that the majority of hearings had been arranged for days when scheduled Panel meetings would take place. Consideration was given to whether, on such occasions, the hearings would begin at 10:30am or 11:00am; it was agreed that they would begin at 10:30am. The apologies of the Chairman were noted for the Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Planning and Environment scheduled for 13th February 2015.

27/11/14

7. Scrutiny Training

Item 8 510/1(3)

The Panel noted that training in respect of chairing and teamwork would be  provided  for  Scrutiny  Panel  and  Public  Accounts  Committee Members on 27th January 2015. The Panel further noted that training in respect of questioning would also be provided, with Members invited to attend one-hour-long theory sessions on either 10th or 11th February 2015 and practical sessions on either 27th February or 3rd March 2015.

510/1(45)

8. Scrutiny Meetings

The Panel recalled that, during the December training for Scrutiny and Public Accounts Committee Members, consideration had been given to the Statement of Intent / Purpose agreed for Scrutiny during the 2011 to 2014 term and, in particular, to the status and accessibility of Scrutiny meetings and hearings. The Panel was advised that the Chairmen's Committee had subsequently considered this matter and that it had been agreed by a majority that the status quo would be maintained, whereby Scrutiny meetings would be conducted in private and Scrutiny hearings would be held in public (unless exceptional circumstances were to arise).

27/11/14 Item 9

510/1(3)

9. Visit to Westminster

The Panel received an update in respect of its proposed visit to the relevant Westminster Select Committee. The Panel was advised that 11th February 2015 had been confirmed with Westminster as the date for the Panel's visit to the House of Commons and that a schedule of the visit was awaited by the Scrutiny Office. The Panel was further advised that, contrary to earlier expectations, a visit to the London Assembly appeared to be feasible during the morning of 12th February 2015 with such a visit potentially to include a tour of the Assembly and a meeting with the Assembly's Chairman followed by attendance at one of the Assembly's Committee meetings. The Panel agreed that the visit to London would therefore be extended into 12th February 2015 in order to accommodate a visit to the Assembly and the Scrutiny Officer was requested to make the necessary arrangements.

WM

510/3(9)

10. Public Engagement

The Panel, noting a proposal from Deputy Tadier , considered whether to establish a Twitter account for the Panel. The Panel was advised that the Scrutiny function already had a Twitter account and it was agreed that, in the first instance, the Panel would endeavour to make greater use of that account before determining whether a separate account should be set up for the Panel.

11. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that meetings with the Ministers for Transport and Technical Services and Planning and Environment had been arranged for  2:00pm  and  3:00pm  respectively  on  5th  January  2015. The apologies of the Chairman for these meetings were noted. The Panel was advised that the proposed meeting with the Minister for Housing, arrangements for which had previously been circulated, would need to be re-arranged for after 19th January 2015.

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 15th January 2015. The apologies of the Chairman for that meeting were noted.

12. Departmental Visits

514/1/1(3)

The Panel was advised that the Department of Transport and Technical Services had offered to provide visits for the Panel to the Department's facilities. The Panel expressed its thanks for the offer and agreed that visits would be arranged in due course.

514/1/1(2)

13. Council of Ministers Papers

The Panel was advised of the procedure in respect of Part B Council of Ministers papers whereby the Chairman  was  able to request those papers  which  fell  within  the  Panel's  remit. The  Panel  considered whether the current procedure was the most effective means by which Panels were kept informed of upcoming work by the Executive; it was agreed to request the Chairmen's Committee to consider whether it would  be  preferable  for  Executive  Departments  to  forward  papers automatically for the relevant Panel's attention. It was further agreed to raise this matter with Ministers and to discuss with them more generally how the Panel would be kept informed of the Ministers' upcoming work.

WM

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