Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 19 May 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

Deputy S.M. Brée, Vice-Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Apologies

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre, Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel Connétable  A.S.   Crowcroft ,  Chairman,  Environment,  Housing  and Technical Services Scrutiny Panel

Deputy R. Renouf , Chairman, Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman, Public Accounts Committee

Absent

In attendance

 Mr T. Oldham , Scrutiny Manager

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of meetings

Due to apologies received, consideration of the record of the meeting held on 29th April 2015 was deferred until the following meeting.

2.  Activity Reports

The  Committee  noted  the  Panel  and  Public  Accounts  Committee activity reports.

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465/4(14)

3.  Privileges and Procedures Committee: update

The Committee considered a briefing paper on the deliberations of the above  Committee.  There  was  some  uncertainty  in  respect  of  the current stage of the work being undertaken by the Standing Orders and Internal Procedures Sub-Committee, and it was agreed that the Scrutiny Manager would seek further information.

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10.02.15 Item 10

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

The  Committee  noted  completion  of  the  section  regarding  legal advice. It re-considered the section on compliance, noting that it had previously  agreed  to  make  a  representation  to  the  Privileges  and Procedures Committee in relation to sanctions for breaches to the Code by any member of the Executive and any member serving on Scrutiny. It was agreed that further research on the processes in other jurisdictions would be undertaken and considered by the Committee before that representation was made.

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5.  Public Sector Reform Review: Public Accounts Committee

The Committee received and noted a scoping document and terms of reference in relation to the above Review. It was further noted that Deputy S.M. Wickenden would not take part in the Review due to a

declared interest, and it was agreed that this would be clarified with the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee at the next scheduled meeting.

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

The Committee recalled that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel had, after liaison with the Chairmen's Committee, agreed that it would not set up a sub-Panel for the purpose of its overarching Review of the MTFP. Should they wish to do so, individual Panels would review the detail of the MTFP relevant to their associated departments. It had been  agreed  that  good  cross-Panel  communication  would  be paramount and that the most appropriate formal forum for doing so would be the Chairmen's Committee. Relevant briefing papers would be circulated as and when necessary, in addition to other relevant communication at Member or Officer level as need arose.

Whilst retaining this framework for Scrutiny's work on the MTFP, it was agreed that it would benefit the comprehensiveness of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel's Review if it was to receive written feedback from each Panel on key areas. To help achieve consistency, it was agreed that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel might circulate a list of those areas it would like to be covered, along with a proposed timetable.  The  Committee  agreed  that  this  proposal  would  be communicated to all Members of the Corporate Services Panel and Chairmen's Committee.

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7.  Jersey  International  Finance  Centre  Review:  Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

The President updated the Committee with regard to the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel's Review of the Jersey International Finance Centre. It was noted that the Panel continued to await receipt of a key document for its Review, the BNP Paribas Real Estate appraisal of the planned development, despite repeated requests since March 2015 through the Minister for Treasury and Resources. A requirement from the States of Jersey Development Company for the Panel Members and relevant Scrutiny Officers to individually sign a highly restrictive Non-Disclosure Agreement, that was entirely disproportionate to the usual trust based process for receipt of confidential documentation by Panels,  had  been  received  on  18th  May.  This  came  despite  the Panel's confirmation of its agreement to more proportionate terms of confidentiality offered by the Minister for Treasury and Resources for in order to receive the BNP Paribas Real Estate documentation on 1st May. This agreement had postponed the Panel's agreed need, in the absence  of  reasonable  co-operation,  to  pursue  summonsing  the States  of  Jersey  Development  Company  to  provide  the documentation. This process was now likely to re-commence. The delay in receiving this documentation wad also significantly impacting on  the  ability  of  the  Panel's  adviser,  Ernst  and  Young  LLP,  to complete its work.

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8.  Scrutiny Panels: Officer Resources

The Committee was updated as to the current staffing levels within the Scrutiny Office to support the work of the Panels and Committees, noting current vacancies. It was further noted that to preserve an appropriate level of support it was intended that recruitment would be

pursued to fill a vacant Scrutiny Officer post. Due to the vacancies and increasing Panel workloads, the Committee was advised about the need  to  re-allocate  a  small  number  of  Officers  to  try  to  maintain appropriate support to Panels.

It was agreed that associated matters, including the use of advisers and additional research capacity, might be discussed again at the next meeting  of  the  Committee,  so  that  feedback  and  ideas  from  all Chairmen could be taken into account. Indeed, due to the enforced absences at the Committee's meeting it was agreed that the Scrutiny Manager  would  communicate,  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  to  all Chairmen the situation as discussed regarding staffing.

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13.01.15 Item 10

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9.  Blackberries/mobile devices

The  Committee  recalled  the  situation  in  relation  to  mobile  device contracts. It was noted that the means by which Ministers and/or Assistant Ministers were funded for such devices was a decision by individual Departments, but that this may change in the future with procurement aiming to finalise a piece of work on the matter in the second quarter of 2015.

The Committee re-confirmed that it fully supported the principle of addressing any disparity between the provision of devices to Ministers and Assistant Ministers and Scrutiny Chairmen, and that work should continue to provide Chairmen with relevant devices accordingly. The appropriate provision of suitable devices for other Scrutiny members should also continue to be considered.

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10.12.14 Item 1

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10. Business Cards

The Committee agreed that an improved quality of business card was required  and  agreed  that  the  Scrutiny  Manager  would  seek appropriate sources. Consideration was also given to the content of the card. It was noted that with the cards being funded from the Scrutiny  budget  it  was  appropriate  that  they  should  remain predominantly focused on Scrutiny roles, although reference might be made to other States positions and titles. As such the status quo regarding content would remain.

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11. Media Training

An update on the positive uptake of media training was noted and it was agreed that Chairmen and their Officers would remind Panels of the opportunity at forthcoming meetings.

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12. Future Meeting

It was noted that the next meeting date was 9th June 2015, 9.30am- 11.30am, Le Capelain Room