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Public Accounts Committee - Approved Committee Minutes - 16 January 2017

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Public Accounts Committee Record of Meeting

Date: 16th January 2017

 

Present

Deputy A.D. Lewis , Chairman

Connétable A.S. Crowcroft , Vice-Chairman (except for Item 7) Connétable C.H. Taylor

Deputy J.A. Martin (from Item 7)

Mr R. Parker

Mr M. Robinson

Apologies

Mr G. Drinkwater

In attendance

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

C. Tomlinson, PAC Officer.

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Mr G. Drinkwater

 

 

2. Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting of 21st November 2016.  

 

 

3. Next Meeting

The Committee noted its next meeting would take place on 30th January 2017 at the earlier time of 12-2pm to accommodate an early States sitting, that it would not take the form of a public hearing, and that Connétable C.H. Taylor would be unable to attend.

CT

 

4. Declarations of interest

Connétable A.S. Crowcroft , Vice-Chairman, declared a conflict of interest in the proposed review of the Jersey Innovation Fund and therefore withdrew from the meeting whilst Item 7 was discussed.

 

 

5. Strategy for Procurement

The  Strategy  for  Procurement  report  was  noted  and  the Committee agreed to discuss in more detail at its next meeting.

CT

21.11.16 Item 4

512/1(8)

6. Code of Audit R.124/2016

The Committee noted the Code of Audit.

 

21.11.16 Item 4 512/1(8)

512/31

7. Jersey Innovation Fund

The C&AG provided an update of the Jersey Innovation Fund since her report had been published on 12th January 2017. The Committee also noted a confidential report of 7th December 2016,

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relating to the immediate action undertaken by the CMD in relation to the Fund.

The  PAC  considered  draft  Terms  of  Reference  and  a  draft scoping document in respect of its own proposed review, and agreed it would not wish to duplicate the work already undertaken by the C&AG. The Officer was asked to redraft both documents and circulate to members by email, in light of the discussion. The Officer was also requested to draft a letter to the A-G to request details of the parameters of any criminal investigation of third parties which may be taking place, so as not to encroach on legal proceedings by its own review.

 

21.11.16 Item 4 512/1(8)

8. MI in Education

The Committee noted two versions of the Action Plan in relation to the C&AG's review and asked the Officer to circulate the most up-to-date version.

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21.11.16 Item 4 512/1(8)

9. Use of Consultants

The Committee noted the Executive Response and Action Plan in relation to the C&AG's review and agreed it would wish to ask for further clarification on some points. It asked the Officer to liaise with the C&AG to produce a draft list of further questions.  

CT

02.11.16 Item 5 512/30

10. Travel and Accommodation Expenses Review

The Committee noted the Executive Response and Action Plan in respect  of  its  Review,  and  noted  that  the  Chief  Minister's Department did not accept its Recommendation 5, namely that it should  be  a  contractual  obligation  for  Officers  to  declare ownership of loyalty cards. It noted the Officer had written to the Department to clarify that this applied only to travel loyalty cards such as airlines.

The Committee agreed that it would wish to invite the Chief Executive and the Treasurer of the States to a public hearing in April 2017, in order to assess whether they had progressed on the implementation of recommendations.

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21.11.16 Item 6 512/32

11. eGov Report

Mr M. Robinson reported that a meeting with the C&AG and her Associate, Ms Anne Trudgeon, would take place to discuss the way forward with the PAC review.  

MR

 

12. Future PAC Reviews

The Committee agreed that in addition to its ongoing review of eGov, and its planned review of the Jersey Innovation Fund, it would also undertake the following reviews during 2017, and requested the Officer to work with individual Members to draft Terms of Reference and scoping documents where appropriate:

Estate Management – the PAC agreed to await the C&AG's review of same before deciding the terms of their own review. Police Station – The Vice Chairman agreed to take the lead on this review which was envisaged as a narrow remit, namely a

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review of the decisions from its inception to the opening of the new police HQ, focussing on value for money.

Ports of Jersey – the PAC agreed to await the C&AG's review of same before deciding the terms of their own review. Entertainment  budgets  and  hospitality  expenses  for  all Departments, including Non-Ministerial – the PAC agreed that Deputy J. A. Martin would take the lead on this review.

Road surfacing Connétable C.H. Taylor agreed to take the lead on this review which was envisaged as a narrow remit, namely a review of road surfacing for States owned roads to ensure value for money.