Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 9 June 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

Deputy R. Renouf , Chairman, Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel Deputy S.M. Wickenden, Vice-Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (from Item 3)

Apologies

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

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman, Public Accounts Committee

Deputy S.M. Wickenden, Vice-Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (Items 1 and 2)

Absent

In attendance

 Mr T. Oldham , Scrutiny Manager

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of meetings

The Committee approved the records of its meetings held on 29th April and 11th, 19th, 21st and 22nd May 2015, which were signed accordingly by the President.  

465/4(14)

2.  Privileges and Procedures Committee: update

The Committee considered a briefing paper on the deliberations of the above Committee.

Following the resignation of Connétable J.E. Le Maistre as Chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel, a vacancy had arisen for the role of representative of the Chairmen's Committee on the Privileges and  Procedures  Committee  that  had  been  undertaken  by  the Connétable . It was agreed that consideration of the appointment of the representative should take place after the election of the Connétable 's successor as Chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel on 16th June.

3.  Activity Reports

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

It  was  further  noted  that  a  majority  of  Panels  were  encountering challenges in receiving access to information from the Executive or in receiving  appropriate  notification  in  respect  of  significant  policy developments. It was agreed that this unsatisfactory situation would be raised by the President at his next meeting with the Chief Minister.

It was further agreed that all Scrutiny members would be written to by

the President to remind them of their responsibilities with regard to documents received in confidence by Panels. Any breaches of such conditions would only serve to undermine the integrity of the Scrutiny process  and  add  to  the  challenges  faced  by  Panels  to  receive sensitive  information  as  had  been  discussed  previously  by  the Committee.

19.05.15 Item 6

513/45

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

The  Committee  was  informed  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel that the Council of Minister's current timetable for the lodging of the MTFP was under pressure, with consequences on the timetabling of the Panel's receipt of information for the purpose of its review. It was expected the timetable situation might become clearer after the upcoming debate on the Public Finance (Jersey) Law 2005 – Amendment No.2.

The Panel was working with its advisers on a list of areas about which it would like to receive information from individual Panels in relation to the Department(s) within their remits, as agreed at the Committee's previous meeting.

10.02.15 Item 10

510/1(5)

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

The Committee noted that research was ongoing into the situation in other jurisdictions on matters relating to the compliance section of the draft Code.

TO

13.05.19 Item 6

510/1(64)

6.  Blackberries/mobile devices

The Committee received an update from the Scrutiny Manager with regard to the options for Chairmen of Scrutiny Panels to be afforded parity with Ministers in regard of access to mobile devices in carrying out their roles. It had been established in liaison with Information Services that the two most suitable options available for the Chairmen were:

1. If a Chairman owned a Smartphone, he/she could opt to have mobileiron made available. This was already covered by the States Greffe for all States Members at £60 per annum;

2. Alternatively, he/she could request a Blackberry in accordance with the  current  contract.  Although  this  was  likely  to be  discontinued shortly, the Chairmen's Committee agreed that it was important to gain parity as soon as possible, with the ability to move to the new system along with Ministers once this had been identified and activated by Information  Services.  A  cap  of  £40  per  month  (based  on  rental (£19.50) + calls) would be invoked in line with the policy guiding use by Ministers. However, if a Chairman was away on Scrutiny business then  a  case  could  be  made  prior  to departure  that  £40  may  be exceeded, again in keeping with the policy for Executive Members.

The Committee agreed that the necessary administration should be undertaken in order that the options could be activated and taken up by Chairman as required.

TO

TO

10.05.19 Item 7

511/1(42)

7.  Business Cards

The Committee received an update from the Scrutiny Manager with regard to sourcing improved quality business cards. It was agreed that in the first instance a small trial of the highest quality card that could be  used  by  the  States  Greffe  Reprographics  section  would  be undertaken. Should this trial be unsuccessful, quotes would be sought for the production of the cards from commercial printers.

TO

8.  Future Meeting

It was noted that the next meeting date was 7th July 2015, 9.30am- 11.30am, Le Capelain Room