Public Accounts Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 13 June 2016

Present

Deputy A. Lewis , Chairman

Deputy S.M. Wickenden, Vice-Chairman Connétable C.H. Taylor

Mr R.J. Parker

Deputy J.A. Martin

Mr M. Robinson

Apologies

Mr G. Drinkwater

Absent

In attendance

Mrs K. McConnell, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Miss S. McKee , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Apologies

Apologies were received from Mr G. Drinkwater.  

2.  Minutes

The Committee approved the records of its meetings held on 7th March, 11th April and 16th May 2016. The Chairman signed them accordingly.

3.  Declarations of Interest

The Committee noted declarations of interest. Mr. M. Robinson was  conflicted  in  respect  of  the  Review  of  Travel  and Accommodation and Mr. R. Parker in relation to commercially sensitive information held by HRG. Furthermore, the Committee noted that the Vice-Chairman was conflicted in respect of the Innovation Fund, due to a close relation's request for funding, and  would  therefore  withdraw  from  any  future  work  on  this matter.

4.  The National Audit Office

The Committee confirmed that it was due to receive the Director of Parliamentary Relations from the National Audit Office for a meeting at 12:30pm on 1st July 2016. The Committee agreed the proposed topics of discussion that had been circulated prior to the meeting.

5.  Internal Audit

The Committee noted apologies from Ms. C. Watson, the Chief Internal Auditor, for her non-attendance at the meeting. It was further noted that the Chief Internal Auditor wished to attend the meeting with the Treasurer of the States and was unable to attend as a result of the Treasurer's unavailability. The Scrutiny

Officer  was  requested  to  ascertain  the  correct  procedure  in regards  to  who  could  attend  Public  Hearings  and  whether accounting officers needed to be present.

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6.  Next Meeting

The Committee noted that its next scheduled meeting was due to take place at 12:30pm on 4th July 2016. Mr. R.J. Parker provided his apologies as he would be unable to attend the meeting.

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7.  Financial Management

The Committee deferred consideration of the draft report until its next meeting in order to provide Members more time to review the documentation. It was agreed, however, that Members would provide  comments  to  the  Chairman  on  the  draft Recommendations by Monday 20th June.

The  Committee  noted  that  it  wished  for  the  report  to  be presented before the summer recess.

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8.  Travel and Accommodation Expenses Review

The Committee noted the various documentation it had received in regards to this matter and deferred consideration until its next scheduled meeting.

The Committee considered potential witnesses it wished to invite to attend Public Hearings. It was agreed that the Committee would invite the Chief Officer for Economic Development, the Chief  Officer  for  Health  and  Social  Services,  with  the  Chief Officer for Education to the first hearing of an hour, then the Chief Officer for Community and Constitutional Affairs, and the Police Chief for another hour on the same day. The Committee identified the afternoon of Thursday 30th June as a potential date for Public Hearings. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to arrange  the  Hearings  with  the  various  Departments.  The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) advised the Committee that she would be unable to attend the Hearing.

The Committee agreed to meet at 12:30pm on Monday 27th June to prepare for the Hearings.

The  Committee  further  agreed  that  its  intention  would  be  to present a report after the summer recess and not before, as previously discussed.

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9.  Fuel Farm Lease Renewal

The  Committee  noted  the  private  meeting  that  took  place between the Chairman and the Law Officers on Thursday 26th May.

The Committee was due to consider a skeleton report which had been circulated prior to the meeting. It was agreed, however, to defer consideration of the report until its next meeting.

The Committee agreed to hold separate Public Hearings with the Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  States  of  Jersey,  Mr.  J. Richardson, and the Assistant Chief Minister, Senator P. Ozouf . It further agreed to hold the Hearings after the summer recess and  the  Committee  identified  Monday  12th  September  as  a potential hearing date. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to arrange the hearings with the relevant Departments.

The Panel agreed to meet on Monday 5th September to prepare for the Hearings.

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QE Article 37 515/1/1(1)

10. C&AG – Jersey Audit Office Audit Plan

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

The C&AG advised the Committee that she was undertaking a review of the Innovation Fund and her intention was to produce a report by September 2016. The Committee agreed to wait to review the C&AG's report before it undertook its own work on this matter.

The  Committee  was  also  advised  that  the  C&AG  would  be undertaking work on the grant framework and would welcome the Committee's thoughts on this matter at its next meeting.

It was noted that the C&AG had not yet received a response to the  action  plan  in  respect  of  Freedom  of  Information,  E- government and Compromise Agreements. The Scrutiny Officer was requested to chase for the responses.

The Committee was asked to consider any areas of work it wished the C&AG to examine as part of her action plan for next year.  The  Committee  identified  outsourcing,  and  the measurement of its performance, as a potential review.

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QE Article 37 515/1/1(1)

11. C&AG – Review of Risk Management

The C&AG presented a brief confidential update on her review of Risk Management.

QE Article 37 515/1/1(1)

12. C&AG – eGov Report

The Committee noted the C&AG's report on eGovernment. It was advised that Dr Sally Howes from the National Audit Office was due to visit Jersey to speak about digital innovation.

The  Committee  agreed  that  it  wished  to  undertake  a  formal review on this matter and that it would begin work after the summer recess. The Committee identified Monday 3rd October for  hearing  preparation  and  Wednesday  5th  October  for  a potential hearing date.

The C&AG was requested to arrange a meeting between Dr Sally Howes and the Deputy Chair (who agreed to take the lead on this review) before the Committee met on the 3rd October.

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QE

13. C&AG – Financial Management

Article 37 515/1/1(1)

The Committee noted the speech that was given by the C&AG to the Institute of Directors on 24th May 2016.

14. CAPAC

It was noted that the Committee would be welcome to join the Commonwealth  Association  of  Public  Accounts  Committees (CAPAC) as an Associate Member. The Committee agreed to join CAPAC and for a formal request to be sent by the Chairman.

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15. PAC Symposium

The Committee was advised that the Chairman had received an invite to attend the 4th Public Accounts Committees Symposium in London on 17th-18th October 2016. The Chairman advised that he would circulate more information on the Symposium to the  Committee  before  a  decision  was  made  as  to  whether Members  should  attend.  It  was  noted  that  the  deadline  for registration was 5th July.  

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