Public Accounts Committee – Approved Committee Minutes - 8 February 2016

Present

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman

Deputy S.M. Wickenden, Vice-Chairman Connétable C.H. Taylor (from Item 4) Deputy J.A. Martin

Mr. R.J. Parker

Mr. M.J. Robinson

Apologies

Mr. G. Drinkwater

Absent

In attendance

Mrs. K. McConnell, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)

Mr. M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer

Ms. C. Tomlinson, Scrutiny Officer to the Public Accounts Committee

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Apologies

Apologies were received from Mr. G. Drinkwater. The Chairman agreed to query availability of Mr. Drinkwater at future meetings.

AL

2.  Minutes

It was noted the minutes of 11th January contained an error to be corrected before they could be confirmed.

Mindful of the recent FOI legislation, the Committee agreed that the future agendas and minutes would be formatted to align with those of other Scrutiny Panels, with the exception of confidential matters. It was further agreed that all items would be itemised separately, for ease of reference and to avoid duplication of discussion. Hence, the minutes of this meeting were reformatted to reflect this change.

CT

3.  Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were reported.

4.  PAC Terms of Reference and Codes of Practice

The Chairman briefly explained the background to discussions at Chairmen's Committee. Some concern was expressed that the terms of reference and Codes of Practice could become too detailed  and  prescriptive,  potentially  reducing  flexibility.  The Committee agreed that its preference would be for new Codes of Practice to be relatively simple, with more complicated issues to be referred to the Policy and Procedures Committee as and when necessary. The Committee agreed this should be fed back to the Chairman's committee promptly.

CT

5.  Public Sector Reform

Regarding the ministerial response to the Committee's report

512/27

(PAC.3/2015), the Chief Minister's Department had been invited by the Chairman to reconsider its response to recommendation

1. No further correspondence had yet been received. It was agreed written questions would be drafted to request a formal progress update.  

CT

512/1/1(6)

6.  Financial Directions Review

The C&AG advised the Panel she had received responses to the recommendations in her report and would prepare a follow-up report for the second half of the year.  

C&AG

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7.  Financial Management

The  Committee  considered  and  amended  a  framework  of questions to be asked of the witnesses (Chief Executive Officers of  Health  and  Social  Services,  Infrastructure,  Constitutional Affairs and the Greffier of the States), in advance of the Public Hearing on 9th February 2016.

It  was  agreed  that  the  Treasurer  should  be  sent  a  letter requesting  the  project  plan  for  implementation  of  the recommendations made by the C&AG.

The Committee agreed the Chairman would consider a draft request to the previous witnesses asking for further information and written responses to questions posed.

CT

AL

512/1/1(6)

8.  The States as Shareholder – JT

The Chairman had written to the Treasury Minister asking him to set out the reasons for ownership, and to clarify the shareholder function but no reply had yet been received. It was agreed that a further letter should be sent reiterating the request, mindful that the PAC were concentrating on the shareholder management function rather than other aspects that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel was considering.

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512/1/1(6)

9.  Use of Management Information in Health and Social Services (HSSD) operating theatres

The  Committee  noted further  correspondence from the  Chief Executive  Officer  of  the  HSSD  concerning  the  use  of Management Information in the Health Department (dated 23rd December 2015).  

512/1/1(6)

10. Procurement

The  Committee  noted a  further  response from  the Treasury, dated  23rdrd  December  2015,  regarding  the  C&AG's  report

(R.96/2015)  The  Treasurer  had  agreed  it  would  send  a procurement strategy by January 2016, which the Committee had not yet received. The Committee agreed it should send a reminder letter.

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11. Ongoing Scrutiny Training

The Committee agreed it would wish to follow up on the training received  in  2015,  and  directed  the  Officer  to  organise  such training with a strong practical learning element.

CT

12. Chairmen's  Committee  meeting  -  Transfer  of Functions

The  Committee  noted  the  Transfer  of  Functions  paper  and agreed names should reflect the functions undertaken.

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13. Executive  Response  to  PAC  2.2015  (Financial Directions)

The Committee noted the response dated 4th January 2016 from the  Executive  and  noted  its  action  plan  in  relation  to recommendations made.

512/1/1(6)

14. Community and Social Services (C&AG report)

The Committee praised the comprehensive response from the Chief  Executive  Officer  of  HSSD,  regarding  the recommendations set out in R.131/2015. It agreed it would send a  letter  to  the  CEO,  advising  it  would  follow  the  timely implementation  of  those  recommendations  with  interest  and follow up as and when necessary.  

CT

AE Article 37 512/1/1(6)

15. C&AG – Financial Management Follow up report

The C&AG presented a brief confidential update on her plans to follow up the R.38/2015 report.

QE Article 37 512/1/1(6)

16. C&AG – Modernising Financial Management

The Committee received a confidential copy of the presentation given recently by the C&AG to the Financial Advisory Board, entitled, "Modernising Financial Management".  

QE Article 37 512/1/1(6)

17. C&AG – Jersey Audit Office Audit Plan

The C&AG presented a brief confidential update on the progress made.