Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 1 February 2016

Present

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré, Chairman Deputy S.M. Brée, Vice-Chairman Connétable C.H. Taylor

Deputy K.C. Lewis

Apologies

In attendance

Sir P. M. Bailhache , Minister for External Relations [item 8 only] Mr D. Walwyn, Director of External Relations [item 8 only]

Mrs J. Hales , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Records of Meetings

The Panel approved the records of the meetings held on 8th and 10th December 2015 and 21st January 2016. The Chairman signed them accordingly.

Item 2 14/01/16

513/46

2. Jersey International Finance Centre

The  Panel  discussed  its  recent  Public  Hearing  with  Privileges  and Procedures Committee (PPC) regarding the summons process it had initiated on the States of Jersey Development Committee (SOJDC) and asked if there had been any update. The Panel requested a letter be drafted and sent to PPC if no update was received by Thursday 4th February 2016. The Panel agreed the officer liaise with the Chairman regarding its content prior to sending.

513/1/1(4)

3. Ministerial Decisions

The Panel noted the recent Ministerial Decisions from the Department of Treasury and Resources. The Panel requested the full details of the Ministerial Decisions be circulated for further consideration. The Panel discussed whether Scrutiny Panels should receive confidential Ministerial Decisions as a matter of course and agreed it would raise this at the next Chairman's Committee meeting.

513/1/1(6)

4. Quarterly Hearing

The  Panel  discussed  areas  of  questioning  for  its  upcoming  Public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources on 22nd February 2016. The Panel requested a draft question plan be circulated on Friday 5th February 2016 for further input.

510/1(3)

5. Scrutiny Member Training

The  Panel  noted  a  document  detailing  previous  training  which  had previously  been  provided  and  discussed  if  any  additional  member training was required at this stage. The Panel agreed to further training from H.M. Solicitor General, however requested if it could be made more specific to review hearings as opposed to a courtroom setting.

513/1/1(2)

6. Panel Remits and Transfer of Functions Revisions

In  light  of  the  recent  transfer  of  functions  approval  by  the  States Assembly, the Panel noted a document showing discrepancies between the remits of certain Panels "on paper vs in practice". The Panel noted the  remit  for  Jersey  Property  Holdings  (JPH)  now  stood  with  the Environment, Housing and Technical Services Panel (EHTS) and was advised that should any members of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel wish to take part in any future review, a sub-panel would need to be formed by EHTS. The Panel was advised that any future review decisions would need to be discussed further at Chairman's Committee.

7. Future Meetings

The Panel agreed its next scheduled meeting would take place on 22nd February 2016 at 9.30am in Blampied Room, States Building and would include a Public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

513/1/1(3)

8. External Relations Briefing

The Panel attended a briefing with Sir P.M. Bailhache , Minister for External Relations and Mr D. Walwyn, Director of External Relations at Cyril Le Marquand House.