Public Accounts Committee- Approved Committee Minutes - 9 November 2015

Present

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

Deputy S.M. Wickenden

Mr. R.J. Parker

Mr. M.J. Robinson

Apologies

Mr. G. Drinkwater

Absent

In attendance

Mrs. K. McConnell, Comptroller and Auditor General Mr. I. Clarkson, Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

A1.  Minutes

The minutes of the meetings held on: 16th September; 24th September; 30th September; 2nd October; 12th October; and, 23rd October (Part B), were confirmed.

Item A2 14.09.15

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A2.  Conflicts of Interest

The Committee noted the intention of Deputy S.M. Wickenden to decline the offer of a full or partial role within the political oversight group with responsibility for the Public Sector Reform programme.

Vice Chair

Item A3 14.09.15

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A3.  Work Programme

The Committee noted an updated report concerning the status of its work programme for 2015 and beyond.

The Committee noted that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had met the Minister for Treasury and Resources and the Treasurer of the States on 15th October 2015 to discuss the measures being taken to enhance the shareholder management function within the Treasury and Resources Department. It was recommended that the Chairman write to the Minister for Treasury and Resources seeking –

1. a copy of the policy statement directing the operation of the shareholder management function;
2. clarification of the timeframe for publication of the Oxera-informed report and
3. an explanation as to how the scheduling of Oxera's work fits within  the  process  being  followed  by  the  Treasury  and  its shareholder management function in respect of the possible sale of a stake in JT.

The Committee further recommended that the Chairman should ask an oral question of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services during

Chair  / Clerk

the next meeting of the States Assembly with a view to establishing how the Minister's department had responded to recommendation 3 of the 2013  report  produced  by  the  Committee  as  previously  constituted concerning the Car Parks Trading Fund.

The Committee noted the decision to appoint Grant Thornton to audit the accounts of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the period 2015-2020, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Jersey) Law 2014.

Chair  / Clerk

Item 2 09.02.15

A4.  Meeting Dates for 2016

The Committee agreed to meet on the following dates in 2016

11th January

8th Feb

7th March

11th April

16th May

13th June

4th July

25th July (Reserve Date only) 5th September

3rd October

31st October

21st November

12th December

Clerk

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A5.  Internal Audit (R.95/2015)

The Committee considered a response from the Treasury and Resources Department  to  the  recommendations  made  by  the  Comptroller  and Auditor General in her follow-up report on the internal audit function (R.95/2015 refers).

The Committee was broadly content with the response received and concluded that it was not minded to review the internal audit function.

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A6.  Procurement (R.96/2015)

The Committee considered a response from the Treasury and Resources Department  to  the  recommendations  made  by  the  Comptroller  and Auditor General in her follow-up report on the procurement function (R.96/2015 refers).

The Committee identified a series of issues and concerns arising from the response received. In particular it was concerned that the Corporate Procurement  Strategy  had  yet  to  be  finalised,  notwithstanding  an increasing  tendency  for  executive  to  contemplate  outsourcing  of services. In this regard, the Committee was mindful of the demand for client-side  skills  within  the  States  of  Jersey  that  outsourcing  could reasonably be expected to generate.

The Chairman was recommended to write to the Treasurer of the States seeking a copy of the high level plan set for the completion of the Procurement Strategy in early course.

Chair / Clerk

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A7.  Management  Information  in  HSSD  Operating  Theatres (R.97/2015)

The  Committee  considered  a  response  from  the  Health  and  Social Services Department to the recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General in her follow-up report on management information in operating theatres (R.97/2015 refers).

Provisional concerns were expressed by the Committee regarding the quality of management information at the department's disposal to inform longer term decision making. Recommendations 5-7 of the C&AG's report were considered to be closely interlinked and potentially critical to the costing of a particularly expensive element of the planned new hospital build. On the basis of the response as drafted, it was considered appropriate to invite the department to clarify how the existing plan to implement the recommendations made in R.97/2015 had been aligned with the timeframe for the new hospital project.

The Committee recommended that the Chairman write to the Chief Officer,  Health  and  Social  Services  Department  summarising  the Committee's concerns and, further, that a copy of the letter should be forwarded to the Chairman of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel for information.

Chair  / Clerk

Item A6 12.10.15

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A8.  Financial Directions

The Committee recalled that it had invited representatives of the Treasury and Resources Department to attend the next scheduled meeting of the Committee and explain how the work to update Financial Directions was progressing.

The Committee was advised that on the morning of 9th November the Treasury and Resources Department had sought to defer the briefing, so as to allow that department to prepare comprehensively for hearings with the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel. After careful consideration, the Chairman had reluctantly agreed to the request of the department.

The Committee noted the position and agreed that the Treasury and Resources Department should, in the interim, be invited to supply any documentation outlining the project plan to reform the existing Financial Directions.

Clerk

Item A8 12.10.15

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A9.  Financial Management

The Committee considered a further report concerning the review of financial management and discussed potential topics to be explored in forthcoming hearings with accounting officers.

The Committee instructed its officer to finalise arrangements for public hearings in January and February 2016 and to draft an outline question plan for its first hearing.

Clerk

Item A10 12.10.15

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A10.  Comptroller and Auditor General – Work Programme

The Committee –

1. noted a draft project specification for a review of e-government, and
2. received an oral update regarding the status of the Jersey Audit Office Audit Plan 2015 – 2016.

Item B1

A11.  Information Security

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The Committee noted that the Council of Ministers had received and considered an information security roadmap on 14th October 2015.