Chairmen's Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 22 November 2016

Present

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

Deputy R. Renouf , Chairman, Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel Deputy D. Johnson , Chairman, Environment, Housing and Technical Services Scrutiny Panel

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

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

Apologies

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

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

Absent

In attendance

Mr T. Oldham , Scrutiny Manager

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of meetings

The Committee approved the records of meetings held on 18th, 26th and 28th October 2016, which would be signed by the President.

18.10.16 Item 2

2.  Activity Reports

The Committee considered Panel and PAC activity reports, noting in particular  recent  instances  of  Panel  members  lodging,  in  an independent capacity, Propositions relating and referring to ongoing Panel  work.  It  agreed  to  discuss  the  matter  further  at  its  next meeting.

TO

18.10.16 Item 6

511/2/1

3.  Residential Property Transactions Review Panel

Deputy D. Johnson , Chairman of the Review Panel, updated the Committee about the progress of the Review.

It was noted that the agreed end date for the allocation of an Officer resource to the Panel had passed, and that the Officer who had been working on behalf of the Panel had since left the States Greffe.

The Committee discussed the issue of the Officer resource with the Scrutiny Manager and considered the remaining work identified by the Chairman and Panel members present. It was noted that the Panel intended to hold up to two more meetings with stakeholders, and  present  a  report  in  advance  of  the  Christmas  recess.  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the of the Environment, Housing and  Technical  Services  Scrutiny  Panel  proposed  that  the  Officer allocated to their Panel might have the capacity to work with the Review Panel to assist it to complete its work within the suggested timeframe. It was agreed that the Officer resource proposal would be followed up by the Scrutiny Manager.

TO

4.  Review Panel Proposal: Medicinal Cannabis

The  Committee  considered  a  Review  Panel  topic  proposal  from Deputy  T.A.  Vallois  on  behalf  of   Deputy  M.   Tadier ,  regarding medicinal cannabis. It recalled P.128/2014 Cannabis: possession of cannabis  for  treatment purposes  –  petition  lodged  by   Deputy  M. Tadier , which was rejected by the States, and agreed that a review was unlikely to lead to a different outcome during this Assembly. The Committee agreed, with the exception of Deputy T.A. Vallois, that it would not therefore establish a Review Panel.

It was, however, recognised that the issue raised was not without merit for a Scrutiny review at a more appropriate time, and that it was wide ranging matter. It was as agreed that Chairmen would remain mindful of the subject and of potential opportunities to ask related questions during other reviews or quarterly hearings.

It was agreed that Deputy T.A. Vallois would relay the decision of the Committee to Deputy M. Tadier .

TV

5.  Provision of Offices for Scrutiny Chairman

The Chairman of the PAC proposed that the Chairmen's Committee should to write to the Greffier of the States to request that work be undertaken  to  identify  and  provide  dedicated  office  space,  and potentially associated staff resources such as Personal Assistants and researchers, for Scrutiny Chairmen.

Whilst  the  Committee  did  not  agree  that  writing  to  request  the provision of such office space and associated staff resources would be justified, it did agree that there was merit in improving facilities for Members more generally, not least the provision of a parliamentary library and research facility. It was noted that such a facility would also be of value to Scrutiny, complementing the resources already provided to Scrutiny Panels through the Scrutiny Office.

It was agreed that an update would be requested from the Deputy Greffier of the States about progress made by the Privileges and Procedures  Committee  with  regard  to  a  recent  CPA  Benchmark Report', which included matters relating to parliamentary facilities.

TO

6.  Future Meetings

In  the  absence  of  the  President  due  a  family  bereavement,  the Committee agreed to defer the following agenda items until its next meeting:

• Protocol for Engagement between Scrutiny Panels/PAC and the Executive
• Panel Names and Remits

The Committee's next meeting was scheduled to take place on 6th December at 9.30am, Le Capelain Room, States Building.