Public Accounts Committee – Approved Committee Minutes - 16th March 2015

Present

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman

Deputy S.M. Wickenden, Vice-Chairman Connétable C.H. Taylor

Deputy J.A. Martin

Mr. M.J. Robinson

Apologies

Mr. R.J. Parker Mr. G. Drinkwater

Absent

In attendance

Ms. K. McConnell, Comptroller and Auditor General Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of Meetings

The Committee agreed to amend the record of its meeting held on 26th February 2015 to reflect the fact that Connétable C.H. Taylor had at that meeting declared his membership of the Sea Cadets.

2.  Conflicts of Interest

The Committee noted a declaration of interest from the Vice-Chairman in respect of the Committee's anticipated work in relation to Public Sector Reform and, in particular, to e-government due to the Vice- Chairman's  involvement  in  the  Executive's  work  in  developing  a strategy  for  e-government. The  Committee  was  advised  that  the declaration might represent a conflict of interest.

The Committee further noted a declaration of interest from Connétable C.H. Taylor in respect of the Committee's work due to his membership of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and that Panel's imminent review in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). It was agreed  the   Connétable 's  declaration  did  not  represent  a  conflict  of interest.

Item 4 26.02.15

512.24

3.  Andium Homes Repairs and Maintenance

The Committee noted that transcripts of the public hearings held on 26th February 2015 had been circulated for the Committee's attention. The Chairman expressed concern at the accuracy of the transcripts and it was agreed that Committee Members would therefore examine the transcription of their own statements during the public hearings in order to determine whether there were deficiencies in the transcripts.

Consideration was given to the public hearings and whether further hearings would be beneficial. It was recalled that a list of potential witnesses had previously been prepared by the Scrutiny Office. Further to its consideration, the Panel noted receipt of correspondence, dated 6th March 2015, from the Chief Executive of Andium Homes Limited, with which had been enclosed the documentation which the Committee

Panel

had agreed to request at its previous meeting. It was subsequently agreed that, in the first instance, Committee Members would read the material received from Andium Homes before a decision was taken on whether to hold further public hearings.

Panel

4. Financial Directions

The Committee considered a draft Scoping Document and draft Terms of Reference for a prospective review in relation to Financial Directions. It was noted that, for the next meeting, the Jersey Audit Office would identify  draft  questions  in  relation  to  this  topic  for  Committee consideration.   Recalling  that  it  had  previously  agreed  to  request confirmation about what had been done by the Department of Treasury and Resources in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, the Committee further agreed to follow up this request and to ask what had been done in respect of the C&AG's recommendations.

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5. Public Sector Reform

The Panel noted receipt of correspondence from the Chief Minister's Department  regarding  the  genesis  of  the  Public  Sector  Reform programme and of a number of reports relating to the programme's development.

Consideration was given to a draft Scoping Document and draft Terms of Reference and the draft documentation was agreed, subject to one amendment to remove references to the Jersey Audit Office in the Scoping Document. It was noted that a media release announcing the commencement of the Committee's review would be prepared.

The Committee considered how to approach the initial gathering of information for its review. It was ultimately agreed to provide the Chief Minister's Department with a table indicating the deliverables which had been described in the reports received by the Committee and to ask for the Department to complete the table in order that the Committee might see  what  progress,  if  any,  had  been  made  in  respect  of  those deliverables; how much funding had been allocated to each one; and how much had in fact been spent.

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6. Future Meetings

The Committee noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 20th April 2015.

7. Committee of Inquiry

The Committee considered whether it should take any action in respect of Committee of Inquiry: Historical Child Abuse – Additional Funding (P.20/2015). No decision was taken.