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Corporate Services - Approved Panel Minutes - 15 December 2017

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date:  15th December 2017

 

Present

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré, Chairman Senator S.C. Ferguson

Apologies

Deputy S.M. Brée, Vice-Chairman Deputy K.C. Lewis

In attendance

Mr S. Spottiswoode, Scrutiny Officer Mr T. Leveridge, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Item 4 11/12/17

1.  Draft Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law Review

The Panel considered a number of possible amendments to the draft law, arising from evidence it had received and the legislative scrutiny it had undertaken. Amendments in the following areas were considered:

  • Civil  celebrants  purporting  to  represent  a  particular  body  or organisation
  • Religious content in civil ceremonies
  • Protection for buildings owned by religious organisations, where such building is not a usual place of worship
  • A "Conscience Clause" to offer protection under the law where persons with strongly held religious beliefs express views on same sex marriage or act in such a way that might otherwise contravene anti-discrimination legislation

It was noted that a widely drafted Conscience Clause might not be permitted as an amendment to the draft marriage law. It was agreed to approach the Bailiff to seek guidance on this matter.

It was agreed to seek appropriate legal advice and also to prepare law drafting instructions.

The Panel discussed its question plan for the Public Hearings with the Dean of Jersey and the Catholic Dean. It was noted that the Dean of Jersey had been due to attend a public hearing on 18th December but had notified the Panel that he was unwell and would not be able to attend. It was agreed to re-schedule the hearing until January 2018.

 

Item 5 11/12/17

2.  Public Finance Law changes

Following its briefing the previous week on various proposed changes to the Public Finance Law and related other laws, the Panel discussed the scope of the changes and the options for a review.

It was agreed that the Chairman would write to the incoming Chief Executive to set out the Panel's views on the matter.

 

 

 

It was further agreed to agree to a request to meet with the incoming Chief Executive early in 2018 to discuss the proposals further.

 

 

3.  Revenue Administration Law

The  Panel  agreed  to  receive  a  briefing  on  the  proposed  Revenue Administration  Law  and  asked  the  Officer  to  make  the  necessary arrangements.

 

Item 3 11/12/17

4.  Migration Policy

Recalling  its  previous  decision  to review  R.134/2017,  the  Migration Policy published by the Council of Ministers, the Panel requested that a scoping  document  be  drawn  up  and  that  the  following  actions  be undertaken:

  • Make initial contact with the Chief Statistician with regard to statistics that might be required as part of the review
  • Research the migration systems operative in other jurisdictions
  • Progress the Panel's previous work in relation to the evolution of tax and supplementation

 

 

5.  Work Programme

The Panel discussed its priorities for the first quarter of 2018. It was agreed that the following pieces of work were of immediate priority and that the Panel would review its capacity to take on other work in mid- January:

  • Draft Marriage and Civil Status Law
  • Migration Policy
  • Public Finance Law changes