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Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
11th November 2015
Present | Deputy S.M. Brée, Chairman Deputy D. Johnson , Vice-Chairman Deputy J. M. Maçon (Item 2 only) |
Apologies | Connétable J.E. Le Maistre Connétable M.J. Paddock |
Absent |
|
In attendance | Mr. M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of meetings The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th November 2015 were approved and signed. | MO |
Item 2 4.11.15 515/33(1) | 2. Transfer of Functions Members welcomed Deputy Maçon to the meeting following his co-option to the Panel for the purposes of the Transfer of Functions review. Arrangements for review meetings were agreed. It was noted that the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) had suggested that Deport Norton would attend the Panel's hearing with the department on 23rd November. As the Deputy was not an Assistant Minister for ESC, members agreed that it would be more suitable if he attended the subsequent hearing with the Economic Development Department. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to clarify the situation. Members discussed a number of issues, including some arising from an Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel public hearing with the Minister for ESC on 9th November. The Panel agreed to request details of a Memorandum of Understanding being prepared to ensure that schools retained some priority on the Sports agenda. There was a need to clarify what sport functions would be carried out by the Youth Service in future. There were also concerns about whether post-transfer, emphasis might shift from sport for health towards economic benefits, particularly in light of the creation of a new Events Jersey' body. Further queries concerned the future funding of minority sports and heritage interests. It was agreed that the Panel needed to find out more about existing relationships between cultural institutions, sports organisations and clubs and ESC, including levels of funding, to establish a baseline for the review. There was also a need to consider soft' measures used to support and encourage activities, which might not be readily quantifiable. Members queried whether new developments (such as Events Jersey) risked favouring an elitist approach to sports and events which might enhance the Island's reputation elsewhere, but could potentially undermine support for activities with a lower profile. | MO MO MO |
| It was agreed that the Scrutiny Officer would ask ESC for details of all current grants and sponsorships by the department. The Panel noted that there might be a need to enquire about succession planning for senior officers and officials in the existing organisation of Sport and Culture, and who such officials would report to in future. Looking at other areas, some concerns were expressed about the proposed transfer of Digital, Competition and Innovation to the Chief Minister's Department, following the earlier move of Financial Services. It was felt that there could be some conflict of interests if promotion, regulation and proposals for new laws all emanated from the same department, and that regulation needed to be seen as independent. It was also noted that some clarification might be useful to confirm the areas of Scrutiny responsibility in the light of the Transfer of Functions; the Assistant to the Chief Minister clearly expected that the Economic Affairs Panel would continue to take responsibility for the functions transferred from Economic Development to the Chief Minister's Department, as agreed when Financial Services were moved in 2014. It might be helpful for this to be confirmed by the Chairmen's Committee. | MO Panel SB |
Item 3 4.11.15 515/34 | 3. Northern Ferry Route Members reviewed an updated scoping document. This was provisionally approved subject to minor amendments to reduce the level of detail about specific problems affecting recent ferry services, and include reference to Strategic Plan objectives. The Panel discussed possible areas for consideration during the review, including the suitability of port facilities given larger numbers travelling on the Condor Liberation, and the potential impact on tourism to the Islands if current problems were not resolved. It was agreed to change the working title of the review to Northern Ferry Route' to reflect the specific area of interest. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to arrange an early meeting for the Panel with the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Ports of Jersey. | MO MO |
Item 4 4.11.15 515/1/1(6) | 4. Quarterly Public Hearing The Panel discussed areas for questioning for the hearing with the Minister for Economic Development to be held on 16th November 2015, and a number of specific issues were noted to add to a question plan. Members would meet at 10.00am on the morning of the hearing to complete preparations for the hearing in the afternoon. | MO |
| 5. Forthcoming meetings Transfer of Functions review: Preparation for public hearings: 11.30am on 19th November 2015, Blampied Room, States Building Public Hearings: Minister for Education, Sport and Culture: 9.00am on 23rd November 2015, Blampied Room, States Building Minister for Economic Development: 11.00am on 23rd November 2015, Blampied Room, States Building Chief Minister: 10.00am on 24th November 2015, Blampied Room, States Building Next scheduled Panel meeting: 9.30am on 25th November 2015, | MO |
| Blampied Room, States Building |
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