Machinery of Government PPC Sub-Committee - 19 September 2025

1 1st Meeting 19.09.2025

Privileges and Procedures Committee Machinery of Government Sub-Committee (1st Meeting)

19th September 2025

 Part A (Non-Exempt)

All members were present, with the exception of Deputy M.R. Scott of St. Brelade , from whom apologies had been received.

Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South , Chair

Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity , Vice Chair Deputy L.V. Feltham of St. Helier Central

Deputy R.L. Kovacs of St. Saviour

Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter

In attendance –

Y.   Fillieul ,  Assistant  Greffier  of  the  States,  Chamber  and  Members' Support, States Greffe

E. Patterson, Secretariat Officer, Specialist Secretariat, States Greffe

C. Tucker, Secretariat Officer, Specialist Secretariat, States Greffe

  Note:  The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A only.

Minutes.  A1. The Minutes of the meeting of 13th June 2025 of the Sub-Committee as

previously constituted, having previously been circulated, were taken as read and were confirmed.

Welcome.  A2. With reference to its Minute No. A3 of 26th April 2024, of the Sub-Committee

as previously constituted, Members were welcomed to the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted Machinery of Government (MoG) Sub-Committee.

It was noted that, at its meeting on 15th July 2025, the Privileges and Procedures Committee had re-appointed Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier of St. Helier South as Chair of the MoG Sub-Committee and an invitation had been extended to all States Members to join the Sub-Committee.

Appointment  A3. The Sub-Committee, with reference to Minute No. A2 of 26th April 2024, of of Vice Chair.  the Sub-Committee as previously constituted, agreed to re-appoint Deputy H.L.

Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity as Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee.

Democratic  A4. The Sub-Committee, with reference to Minute No. A2 of 13th June 2025, of the Accountability  Sub-Committee  as  previously  constituted,  noted  correspondence  addressed  to and   Deputy L.J. Farnham of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter , Chief Minister from Governance   Deputy T.A. Coles of St. Helier South , Chair, in connexion with the Democratic Sub- Accountability  and  Governance  Sub-Committee's  (DAGS)  recommendation Committee  regarding to the structure of the Cabinet Office (R.23/2022 referred). Recommendat-

ions.  It  was  recalled  that  previous  discussions  had  focused  specifically  on  DAGS recommendation No. 2, which related to the creation of a Cabinet Office function

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by means of merging the Ministerial Support Unit and the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department (SPPP). It was noted that, in practice the Cabinet Office had been formed by combining the Chief Operating Office, the Office of the Chief Executive and SPPP, contrary to what had been envisaged by the DAGS.

The Sub-Committee noted that the Chair had written to the Chief Minister on 22nd August 2025, in connexion with the above and, in particular, statutory protections and lines of accountability in respect of the services provided to Ministers by the Cabinet Office. It was recalled that the recent appointment of Mr. P. Wylie as Chief Officer,  Cabinet  Office,  had  not  been  communicated  to  non-Executive  States Members. Consequently, the Chair had requested that States Members be provided with regular updates in connexion with senior Government appointments. In his response dated 15th September 2025, the Chief Minister had advised that Ministers were individually elected legal entities who were empowered to make decisions and were subject to democratic oversight and accountability, as set out in the States of Jersey Law 2005 and the Employment of States of Jersey Employees Law 2005. In discharging  its  duties,  the  Cabinet  Office  operated  within  established  legal parameters, ensuring consistent support for Ministers. It was further noted that these arrangements promoted strong lines of political accountability. The Chief Minister had  also  undertaken  to  ensure  that  States  Members  were  informed  of  senior appointments and organisational changes.

The Sub-Committee discussed the content of the letter and the wider issue of statutory protections for Chief Officers in situations where advice was provided which conflicted with the views of the Chief Executive Officer. The Sub-Committee requested that a response to the Chief Minister's letter be drafted which included examples of potential conflicts of interest, with particular regard to the Infrastructure and Environment Department.

The Sub-Committee noted the position.

Lobbying  A5. The Sub-Committee, with reference to Minute No. A3 of the 13th June 2025, of Guidance and  the Sub-Committee as previously constituted, received an oral update from Mr. Y. Engagement   Fillieul , Assistant Greffier of the States, Chamber and Members' Support, States Code.  Greffe, in connexion with the proposed Lobbying Guidance and Engagement Code.

It was recalled that the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) had expressed reservations about the original proposal for a Lobbying Law and Register in the Jersey context and had highlighted the potential for unintended consequences. PPC had  requested  that  the  Sub-Committee  develop  Lobbying  Guidance  and  an Engagement Code, as opposed to formal legislation. It was further recalled that Deputy M.R. Scott of St. Brelade had raised concerns regarding the proposal in the context of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

The Sub-Committee was advised that work on the Guidance and Engagement Code was ongoing and that Deputy Scott 's comments had been taken into consideration. The Sub-Committee would receive drafts of the aforementioned documents for review ahead of the next scheduled meeting. If the Sub-Committee was content with the approach, final approval would be sought from PPC.

The Sub-Committee noted the position.

Role profiles  A6. The Sub-Committee, with reference to Minute No. A4 of 13th June 2025, of the for elected  Sub-Committee as previously constituted, received and considered a draft report Members. entitled Role Profiles for States Members' and heard from Mr. Y. Fillieul , Assistant

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Greffier of the States, Chamber and Members' Support, States Greffe.

It was recalled that a briefing paper had previously been considered by the Sub- Committee, which had outlined the various roles available to States Members, including Ministerial and non-Ministerial pathways.  The  report  had now  been updated to include information in relation to the ability of back benchers to challenge Ministerial Decisions.

The  Sub-Committee  discussed  the  content  of  the  report  and  agreed  that  the information contained therein was extremely useful in terms of providing a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Members. Members suggested that information of this nature should be included within the States Members induction programme.

The Sub-Committee approved the report, subject to final approval by the Privileges and Procedures Committee.

On a related matter, Deputies H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity and K.L. Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter sought clarification on the legal status  of   Connétable s  as  States Members.  A  discussion  ensued as to  whether Connétable s were required to vote in the Assembly in line with the majority view of parishioners. Reference was made to situations where Connétable s held executive roles and how this aligned with the role of parish Connétable . The Assistant Greffier of the States undertook to investigate this matter further and report back at a future meeting.

Work  A7. The Sub-Committee, with reference to Minute No. A2 of 13th June 2025 of the programme. Sub-Committee as previously constituted, considered the ongoing work programme,

which  was  informed  by  recommendations  set  out  in  the  final  report  of  the Democratic Accountability and Governance Sub-Committee (DAGS) (R.23/2022 referred).

The Sub-Committee discussed the following matters –

Recommendation No. One: Each Department to have one accountable Minister

- Following discussions, the Sub-Committee agreed to close this matter. Recommendation No. 2: The creation of a Cabinet Office style function

- Whilst no further action would be taken at this time, it was requested that this matter be included in the Legacy Report to inform future iterations of the Sub- Committee.

Recommendation No. 7: Monitor performance of Arm's Length Bodies

- This matter had previously been delegated to the Public Accounts Committee and was closed.

Recommendation No. 10: Expand the role of the Deputy Chief Minister

- The Sub-Committee noted that this workstream had been completed and the matter was closed.

1st Meeting 19.09.2025

Recommendation No. 14: Induction process

- The Sub-Committee was informed that a new programme was being curated for the 2026 Induction. The Sub-Committee expressed a desire for a variety of learning styles to be reflected within the induction programme. This workstream was ongoing.

Date of Next  A8. The Sub-Committee noted that the next meeting would be held on 17th October Meeting.  2025, from 11.00 am – 12.30 pm in Le Capelain Room, States Building.