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Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 10 February 2015

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Chairmen's Committee

Record of Meeting

Date: 10th February 2015

 

Present

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré, President and Chairman, Corporate Services

Scrutiny Panel

Deputy  L.M.C.   Doublet ,  Vice-President  and  Chairman,  Education  and

Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre, Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman, Public Accounts Committee

Deputy R. Renouf , Chairman, Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel (except items 1 and part of 2)

Apologies

Connétable  A.S.   Crowcroft ,  Chairman,  Environment,  Housing  and Technical Services Scrutiny Panel.

Absent

 

In attendance

 Mrs. K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Records of meetings

The records of the meetings held on 13th, 15th and 30th January 2015 were approved and accordingly signed.

 

465/4(14)

2.  Privileges and Procedures Committee: update The Committee considered the following two matters:-

  1. Review of States Procedures.

The Committee agreed that it wished it be known to the Privileges and Procedures Committee that there should not be a transparent vote for Ministers. It also agreed that it would be useful to have the benefit of comparison with the procedures in other jurisdictions.

  1. Web-streaming of meetings of the States.

The Committee agreed that, whilst the principle was sound, given the large  structural  deficit  and  number  of  other  priorities,  it  would  be inappropriate  to  allocate  money  to  such  matters  in  the  current economic climate.

 

28.11.14 Item 1

513/45

3.  Medium  Term  Financial  Plan  (MTFP)   review:  Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel.

The Committee was advised that the Panel was undertaking a short piece of work to inform the forthcoming in-Committee debate. It was noted that the Committee needed to discuss Scrutiny's approach to reviewing the MTFP in general and this would be considered at its next scheduled meeting.

 

513/1/1(2)

4.  Transfer of Functions: Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel.

The Committee noted that the Chief Minister was currently reviewing the above and that there was a possibility that some areas might be proposed  for  transferal  and  others  not.  Clarification  had  been requested.

 

15.01.215 Item 1

515/31

5.  Ports Incorporation: Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

It was noted that the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel was to have a briefing the following week after which it would be able to progress with  its  review.  The  Committee  noted  the  proposed  timetable  for debate and agreed that there was insufficient time for scrutiny to undertake the very thorough piece of work required on this important matter.

 

13.01.15 Item 9

516/42

6.  Special  Educational  Needs:  Education  and  Home  Affairs Scrutiny Panel

The Committee noted that due to time restraints this review would not start before the beginning of March.

 

516/43

7.  Prison  Board  of  Governors:  Education  and  Home  Affairs Scrutiny Panel

The Committee noted that, following a visit to H.M. La Moye Prison, the Panel would need to undertake a more detailed review into the above than it had previously anticipated.

 

517/1/1(4)

8.  Sex  Discrimination  Legislation:  Health  and  Social  Security Scrutiny Panel

The Committee noted that the above piece of legislation was subject to a public consultation exercise. The Panel had agreed to consider the legislative aspect as opposed to whether it was fit for purpose. The tight timescale was noted. The Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel expressed a wish to be involved in this review.

 

13.01.15 Item 12

512/1(1)

9.  Public Accounts Committee: membership

The  Committee  noted  that  the  above  Committee  was  now  fully constituted. It was also noted that it had been undertaking a desktop study into the background of the issues which led to Port Galots.

 

13.01.15 Item 6

510/1(5)

10.  Code  of  Practice  for  engagement,  for  the  purposes  of Scrutiny,  between  elected  Members  conducting  Scrutiny  and Ministers and Assistant Ministers

The Committee considered the draft Code of Practice for engagement, for the purposes of Scrutiny, between elected Members conducting Scrutiny and Ministers and Assistant Ministers, as determined by the previous Chairmen's Committee.

Some minor amendments were made and it was agreed that the section on Declarations on Perceptions of interest was better placed in the Scrutiny "working" Code.

In relation to point 17 which stated:-

" in developing a balanced work programme, the Panels will take account as far as possible of the following main roles of Scrutiny, namely – Policy.."

 

 

The  Committee  considered  emphasizing  that  "policy"  included  all aspects of policy, namely in formulation and post-formulation.

The Committee agreed to continue consideration of the Code at its next scheduled meeting.

 

13.01.15 Item 16

510/3(7)

11. Public Engagement

The  Committee  welcomed  Mr.  C.  Journeaux,  Communications Director, Betley Whitehorne Image to give a presentation on possible avenues for public engagement.