PAC - Approved Minutes - 18 August 2017

Present

Connétable A.S. Crowcroft , Vice- Chairman (Acting Chairman) Deputy J.A. Martin

Connétable C.H. Taylor

Mr M. Robinson

Apologies

Mr R. Parker

Mr G. Drinkwater

In attendance

Mr. S. Warr en, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (via telephone)

C. Tomlinson, PAC Officer

Mr M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer.

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

512/1(1)

1. PAC Chairman

The Committee recalled that the Chairman, Deputy A.D. Lewis , had stepped aside from the PAC until such time as the outcome of the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) process.

The Committee noted that the PPC was unanimous in finding that the Chairman breached the Code of Conduct for States Members, in misleading the States Assembly in 2008 and not, at the earliest opportunity, seeking to rectify the situation. However, the PPC had been divided on whether he had breached the Code in respect of lying to the Assembly in 2008, and subsequently to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry in 2017.

The Committee noted that a Vote of Censure had been lodged au Greffe, to be debated at the next States Assembly sitting of 12th September 2017.

The Committee then considered options available to it, namely to:

1. Ask the Chairman to resign;
2. Resign as members of the PAC;
3. Await the outcome of the Vote of Censure;
4. Invite the Chairman to resume his Chairmanship.

The Committee was unanimous in agreeing it did not need to invite the PAC Chairman to address this meeting as it was well aware of his position.

With the exception of Deputy J.A. Martin, it agreed to await the outcome of the Vote of Censure, and if that vote was carried, it would expect Deputy A.D. Lewis to make a personal statement of apology to the Assembly and resign. Deputy J.A Martin advised that she no longer had confidence in the Chairman and would

CT

resign from the PAC with immediate effect, unless the Chairman tendered his resignation within the next few days.