Public Accounts Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 9 February 2015

Present

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman Connétable C.H. Taylor Deputy J.A. Martin

Deputy S.M. Wickenden

Mr. R.J. Parker

Mr. G. Drinkwater

Mr. M.J. Robinson

Apologies

Absent

In attendance

Mr. S. Warr en, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (for item 7) Mr. I. Clarkson, PAC Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Appointment of Vice-Chairman

The Committee appointed Deputy S.M. Wickenden as Vice Chairman.

Officer

2.  Working Practices

The Committee noted a report dated 2nd February 2015 concerning working practices and agreed the following –

1. that the committee should meet on the following dates during 2015 –

16th March

20th April

18th May

15th June

6th July

27th July

24th August (reserve date)

14th September

12th October

9th November

7th December;

2. that  electronic  and  hard  copy  agendas  should  be provided  to all  members  with  the  exception  of   Deputy  S.M. Wickenden in advance of scheduled meetings;

3. that the Chairman should act as first point of contact for all media enquiries concerning the business of the Committee;

4. that the Committee should offer to assist the Chairmen's Committee  with  development  of  a  new  code  of  practice concerning engagement between Ministers and the Committee

Officer Officer

once  the  Chairmen's  Committee  had  concluded  its  initial discussions on the matter;

5. that  Committee  members  should  declare  conflicts  of interest or perceived conflicts of interest at the commencement of each meeting;

6. that the Committee would wish to consider meeting and observing  the  proceedings  of  its  counterpart  at  the  Welsh Assembly or an equivalent committee elsewhere in the British Isles; and,

7. that the Committee would wish in due course to consider options  for closer  cooperation  with  the  States  of  Guernsey Public Accounts Committee.

Chair / Officer

Officer

Chair / Officer

3.  Records of Meetings

The records of meetings held on 15th and 18th September 2014 were approved and signed.

4.  Legacy Report

The Committee noted the Scrutiny and Public Accounts Committee Legacy Report: November 2011 – November 2014 (R.138/2014 refers).

5.  Health  and  Social  Services  Department  Integrated  Care

Records Programme (P.A.C.2/2014)

The  Committee  noted  the  written  response  of  the  Chief  Executive, States of Jersey, to the 5th recommendation made by the Committee as previously constituted in its report P.A.C.2/2014.

6.  Port Galots – Sea Cadets Relocation

The Committee, having noted a briefing paper produced by its officer concerning  the  history  of  proposals  to  relocate  the  Sea  Cadets, instructed its officer to make further enquiries regarding the expenditure incurred between 2006 and 2014 and to report back to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

Officer

 7  Work Programme

The  Committee,  having  noted  a  briefing  paper  concerning  the Committee's  work  programme  for  2015  and  beyond,  resolved  to commence follow-up reviews of the following Comptroller and Auditor General's reports (in order of priority) –

1. R.9/2015 (Housing Repairs and Maintenance')
2. R.121/2014 (Financial Directions')
3. R.109/2014  (The  States  as  Shareholder  –  Jersey Telecom')
4. R.94/2014 (Use of Management Information in HSSD Operating Theatres')

The Committee instructed its Officer to prepare and circulate draft terms of  reference  and  a  scoping  document  for  a  Housing  Repairs  and Maintenance review and to endeavor to arrange public hearings on the afternoon of 26th February 2015 with senior representatives of Andium Homes and with suitable tenant representatives. It further requested that the Jersey Audit Office prepare supplementary briefing materials for consideration by the Committee in advance of the planned public

Officer JAO

hearings.

The Committee deferred consideration of a review of the Public Sector Reform  programme  pending  receipt  of  background  information requested from the Chief Minister's Department by the Chairman.

Officer