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Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 18 October 2016

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Chairmen's Committee

Record of Meeting

Date: 18th October 2016

 

Present

Deputy  J.A.N.  Le  Fondré,  President  and  Chairman,  Corporate  Services Scrutiny Panel

Deputy  R.   Renouf ,  Chairman,  Health  and  Social  Security  Scrutiny  Panel (From Item 4)

Deputy S.M. Brée, Chairman, Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Deputy D. Johnson , Chairman, Environment, Housing and Technical Services Scrutiny Panel

Deputy T.A. Vallois, Vice-Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Apologies

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet , Vice-President and Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman, Public Accounts Committee

Absent

 

In attendance

Miss G. Cardwell, Internet and Intranet Manager, Information Services (Item 3)

Mr M. Egan, Greffier of the States (Item 4)

Mr T. Oldham , Scrutiny Manager

Mr A. Harris , Scrutiny Officer (Items 1-3 in part)

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1.  Records of meetings

The Committee approved the records of its meetings held on 20th and 27th September 2016, which were accordingly signed by the President.

 

20.09.16 Item 2

2.  Activity Reports

The Committee noted Panel and PAC activity reports.

 

06.07.16 Item 8

3.  Scrutiny Website

The  Committee  welcomed  the  Internet  and  Intranet  Manager, Information  Services  who  provided  a  briefing  on  the  project  to upgrade the States Assembly/Scrutiny website. It was agreed that a similar update briefing would be provided at an appropriate stage of the project. This would be in addition to proposed workshops with the site's users, including States Members, which would be organised in order to test the prototype site once it had been designed.

TO

20.09.16 Item 4

4.  Panel Names and Remits

The  Committee  further  considered  its  draft  amendments  to  the Standing  Orders  of  the  States  of  Jersey  and  States  of  Jersey (Powers, Privileges and Immunities) Regulations. It welcomed the Greffier of the States, who provided advice in relation to the draft

 

 

 

proposal for greater protection from civil or criminal prosecution to be provided  to  persons  or  organisations  named  within  evidence submitted to Scrutiny Panels and the PAC. The Committee's core objective in this area was to rectify an apparent anomaly, as those persons or organisations named in evidence were not afforded the same privilege and immunities as those submitting evidence by the aforementioned Regulations.

In addition to the above matter, the Greffier identified a number of wider concerns about the way in which parliamentary privilege was codified in Jersey in respect of the Assembly's Committees/Panels. As a result of the advice received, it was agreed that the matters identified by the Greffier should most appropriately be referred to PPC for further consideration, and that the Committee would defer any further work on the associated proposals whilst PPC established what, if any, action it might take.

Further explanation of the Committee's work and its position on the matters raised would also, if required, be provided directly to PPC by its representative (the Chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel).

It was agreed that Propositions to introduce the ability for Panels to place witnesses on oath when giving evidence in person, and to amend Standing Orders in respect of the remits of the Corporate Services  and  Economic  Affairs  Panels,  should  continue  to  be progressed.

TO

SB

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20.09.16 Item 5

5.  Protocol for Engagement between Scrutiny Panels/PAC and the Executive

The Committee recalled that the draft Protocol had been forwarded to  the  Council  of  Ministers  by  the  President,  and  noted  that  a response was awaited.

 

20.09.16 Item 6

511/2/1

6. Residential Property Transactions Review Panel

Deputy D. Johnson , Chairman of the Review Panel, updated the Committee about the progress of the Review. The Panel continued to aim to complete evidence gathering over the coming weeks and present its report in November, mindful in particular of associated resource challenges and the protracted timeframe of the Review.

 

 

7.  Future Meetings

The Committee noted that its next meeting was scheduled to take place  on  22nd  November  at  9.30am,  Le  Capelain  Room,  States Building.

The Committee's meeting dates for 2017 were agreed as follows:

24th January

28th February

21st March

25th April

16th May

 

 

 

13th June

11th July

19th September

17th October

21st November