Economic Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 10 June 2015

Present

Deputy S.M. Brée, Vice-Chairman Connétable M.J. Paddock

Deputy D. Johnson

Apologies

Connétable J.E. Le Maistre, Chairman

Absent

In attendance

Mr. M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Records of meetings

The  Minutes  of  the  meetings  held  on  20th  and  22nd  May  were approved and signed.

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Item 2 22.05.15

515/32

2. Ports of Jersey Incorporation

The Panel agreed that it should include a follow-up review of the Ports of Jersey Limited in its work programme in some 18 months' time, to assess progress after Incorporation. In the meantime the Panel would keep a watching brief on matters raised during the present review, for example appointments to the Board, and monitor relevant activity such as Planning applications. An offer from the department to provide early access to the draft regulations was noted, and the Panel agreed that this should be followed up.

There had been no contact from staff unions since they were informed of the Group Chief Executive Officer's offer to the Panel to protect staff terms  and  conditions  for  one  year  following  Incorporation.  It  was assumed that negotiations may have resumed, but the Panel would take no further part.

The advisers had indicated that their final invoice for the review should not  greatly  exceed  the  agreed  contract  sum,  as  additional  work requested  had  not  required  a  large  number  of  hours.  Due  to  staff holidays the invoice would be ready in about a fortnight.

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515/1/1(1)

3. Work programme

The Panel discussed a draft list of possible review topics, including:

• Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) - due to be lodged by 30th June. The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel was expected to carry out a high-level review of the entire MTFP, with individual Panels contributing comments in their areas
• Transfer of functions - the Scrutiny Officer was asked to request details of any background work carried out in preparation for this in areas affecting the Panel's remit

• Condor Ferries - the Panel discussed whether a review of the company's licence terms and Service Level Agreement might be appropriate,  given  recent  public  complaints  and  political concerns about the service on the northern route following the introduction of the Condor Liberation. It was agreed that more information was needed before any decision could be made
• Rural Economy Strategy (RES) - the Scrutiny Officer was asked to request background information. Members were concerned that  if  the  draft  RES  was  not  lodged  until  September,  as suggested at a recent quarterly hearing, this might not leave sufficient time for meaningful Scrutiny input or a review
• Visit  Jersey  -  the  Panel  agreed  that  a  briefing  on  the  new organisation  and  an  opportunity  to  meet  with  senior management would be helpful, although this could wait until later in the year if plans for 2016 were still under discussion

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4. Forthcoming meetings

 Next  scheduled  Panel  meeting:  9.30am  on  1st  July  2015, Blampied Room, States Building

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