Public Accounts Committee – Approved Committee Minutes - 12 October 2015

Present

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

Deputy S.M. Wickenden

Apologies

Mr. G. Drinkwater Mr. R.J. Parker Mr. M.J. Robinson

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 meeting held on 14th September were confirmed.

Item A2 14.09.15

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A2.  Conflicts of Interest

Deputy  S.M.  Wickenden  notified  the  Committee  that  he  was  in discussions with the Chief Minister regarding a possible role as either an advisor or member of a political oversight group concerning the ongoing e-government project.

The  Committee  noted  the  position  and  recommended  that   Deputy Wickenden obtain terms of reference for any role he was being invited to accept  and  to  forward  the  same  to  the  Chairmen's  Committee  for consideration.

Deputy Wick- enden

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 was notified that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman were due to meet 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. The Committee noted that the Chairman would update the Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

Chair

Item A1 02.10.15

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A4.  Public Sector Reform Programme

The Committee noted that its final report had been presented to the States on 5th October 2015 as PAC.3/2015 and that a response from the Chief Minister's Department to the recommendations made in the report should be expected by 16th November 2015.

Clerk

Item A4 14.09.15

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A5.  Terms of Reference and Code of Practice

The Committee considered the Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee, together with a covering report prepared by the Clerk.

The  Committee,  having  noted  that  the  Chairmen's  Committee  was engaged in a review of the Code of Practice, agreed that members should give further consideration to the existing Code and exchange views as necessary in advance of the Committee's next scheduled meeting.

Item A8 14.09.15

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A6.  Financial Directions

The  Committee,  having  noted  the  executive  response  to  its  report PAC.2/2015, agreed that it should invite 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.

Clerk

Item A6 15.06.15

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A7.  Private Patients Income

The Committee received and considered a supplementary response to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report R.51/2015.

The Committee was pleased to conclude that the Health and Social Services Department had devised a comprehensive implementation plan that  appeared  capable  of  generating  material  improvement  within reasonable timescales.

The Committee noted the supplementary response and agreed that it was not minded to launch a follow-up review of income from private patients.

Item A7 14.09.15

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A8.  Financial Management

The  Committee  considered  a  scoping  document  and  draft terms of reference for a proposed review of financial management.

The Committee, having made certain minor revisions so as to clarify the scope  of the  review,  approved  the  terms  of reference  and  scoping document and agreed that they should be forwarded to the Chairmen's Committee for noting as soon as practicable.

Turning to the matter of preparation and the scheduling of hearings, the Committee –

1. agreed that it was minded to request the attendance of as many accounting officers as possible at one of a number of public hearings to be scheduled between December 2015 and February 2016, and
2. requested  that  the  Comptroller  and  Auditor  General  make arrangements to brief the Committee in detail during November regarding her findings as recorded in R.38/2014.

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A9.  Financial Report and Accounts 2014

The Committee received a briefing from Mr. J. Rickett and Mr. C. Hughes, representing PWC, regarding the external audit of the States of Jersey Financial Report and Accounts 2014.

The Committee agreed that it should request similar briefings from the external auditors in subsequent years.

Clerk

Item A9 14.09.15

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A10.  Comptroller and Auditor General – Work Programme

The Committee –

1. noted a draft project specification for a review of management information in the Education, Sport and Culture Department;
2. noted a draft project specification for a review of the use of management consultants; and,
3. received an oral update regarding the status of the Jersey Audit Office Audit Plan 2015 – 2016 and a review of the e-government project.

Item A9 06.07.15

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A11.  Information Security

The Committee received further information concerning the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on information security within the States of Jersey (R.75/2015 refers).

The Committee, having noted the summary response from the Chief Minister's Department in respect of R.75/2015, agreed that it should request a briefing from the Chief Minister's Department in early course regarding the steps being taken to address the recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Officer