Scrutiny
The latest news on Scrutiny in Guernsey.
Welcome to Scrutiny in Guernsey. You can find out about the Committee and the scrutiny process using the menu to the left of this page. Follow the link for 'Scrutiny Reviews' for downloadable published reports.
Below is a quick overview of the most recent developments.
Scrutiny requests an update on Animal Welfare Legislation
The Committee is of the view that there may be confusion as to the current status of animal welfare legislation given the passage of time since the 2003 resolutions. It felt there was benefit in the Commerce and Employment Department clearly summarising the current situation and therefore wrote to the Department requesting it publish a statement on their website clearly setting out:
- The background to the introduction of the new legislation;
- The existing powers of animal welfare and animal protection legislation;
- The powers that will be brought in with the new legislation;
- The current estimated timescale for the production of the new legislation;
- The effects of any further delays to the new legislation being brought in.
The Committee is pleased to report the Commerce and Employment Department reacted promptly to its request, and has added an update to its pages of the Government website here.
29.07.10
Scrutiny publishes Q&A on the Administration of the Electoral Roll
Conscious of the difficulties that had occurred with the ‘roll over’ of the Electoral Roll in 2008, the Committee asked the Home Department for clarification on what was being done to ensure the same mistakes were not repeated. The Committee also felt that the responsibility for administering the Electoral Roll appeared to be ill-fitting with the rest of the Home Department’s mandate and it asked the Policy Council whether this might be reviewed.
The Scrutiny questions and answers from Home Department Minister, Deputy G H Mahy and Chief Minister Deputy L S Trott have now been published and are availabe here.
12.04.10
Scrutiny urges public to speak out against vandalism
The Committee will be presenting its ‘Investigating Vandalism - Monitoring Report’ to the States of Guernsey in July, which includes recommendations to States’ Departments on measures they could consider to help tackle the problem of vandalism.
However, in the light of the incident at Saumarez Park, the Committee would like to take the opportunity to re-emphasise one of the key messages contained in its report: that all members of the community have an important role to play in tackling this type of anti-social behaviour.
See the full press release here.
09.04.10
The Committee has published its updated work programme. It identifies six new work streams, including expanding its follow-up of the implementation of States Resolutions, examining the Billet d'Etat each month and reconsidering the Committee's role in the strategic planning process. Good progress has been made on the Planning Service review and transcripts of the public review meeting will be published shortly. The next topic for a public review meeting is likely to be School Exclusions.
19.03.10
Scrutiny Joins Facebook
Facebook members who wish to become a ‘friend’ of ‘Scrutiny Guernsey’ will see news updates on the Committee’s activities and receive invitations to events, such as the Planning Service Review meeting on the 4th March.
Scrutiny Chairman, Deputy Barry Brehaut, says “The Committee is working towards a higher public profile to raise awareness of the scrutiny process and ultimately to engage the public in constructive challenge of government policy and services to the community”
To see the full press release click here.
01/03/2010
Scrutiny In the States
The February States Meeting (Billet d'Etat IV and V 2010) raised a few issues relevant to Scrutiny's work:
- The Committee had its States Report on its Performance Report and Forward Work Programme debated and unanimously endorsed by the Assembly.
- Deputy Sean McManus, Scrutiny Member, informed the Assembly of the questions the Committee is asking about the administration of the Electoral Roll.
- The Committee offered its support to the States Assembly and Constitution Committee's proposals to extend the publication times of the Billet d'Etats. This will provide better opportunity for scrutiny of States Reports.
- Regretably, at the close of a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Public Accounts Committee, Deputy Martin Storey announced his intention to resign from the Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Chairman, Deputy Barry Brehaut, issued a response to the media.
25/02/2010
Planning Service Scrutiny Review
Members of the public are welcome to attend the Committee's meeting with the Environment Department to observe the hearing. It will be held at 9:30 to 13:00 on Thursday 4th March in the Cambridge Room of Beau Sejour to discuss and review the action taken by the Department in addressing the recommendations contained in the ‘Review of Guernsey’s Planning Service’ Report produced by Chris Shepley in April 2008.
Scrutiny Chairman, Deputy Barry Brehaut, says: "The public Scrutiny review meeting will provide an opportunity for the Department to demonstrate the steps it has taken recently to improve customer service as a result of the Shepley report and the implementation of new legislation."
“The Guernsey Press has cast doubt on the progress the Department has made, but the Committee did not choose this review topic expecting to unearth poor performance. The Committee is open-minded as to what it might find and is here to celebrate good performance as much as hold Departments to account. Of course there will always be room for improvement in any area and the Environment Department will I am sure welcome constructive Scrutiny recommendations following this review."
For more details click here.
23/02/2010
Planning Service Scrutiny Review
The Scrutiny Committee will be holding the first in its series of ‘Review Meetings’ on Thursday 4th March 2010 to consider how Guernsey’s Planning Service has changed since an independent review carried out in 2008.
Deputy Hadley, lead member for the review panel, said,
“Everyone has a view of the planning service and everyone has at some time, either directly or indirectly, been affected by the decisions it makes. It is clear at this early stage of investigation that the Department has taken significant steps, in response to the Shepley Report and in introducing the new planning law, to improve its service. The Panel will be interested to learn how effective these changes have been and hopes to contribute positively to further improvements. "
For the full story click here.
05/02/2010
2008/9 Performance Report and Forward Work Programme
The role of scrutiny is becoming increasingly important, according to the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, Deputy Barry Brehaut, in his foreword to the Committee’s recently published performance report. The report provides the highlights for the current Scrutiny Committee’s first year of operation since the elections in May 2008, up to the end of April 2009. The performance report includes information on the work the Committee undertook to review its criteria for selecting topics for scrutiny and to develop its forward work programme. In a recent letter to all States Members, enclosing the Committee’s performance report, the Committee has provided an update on the proposed format for its future public forum “monitoring meetings” and revealed the topics that have been prioritised for review.
To see the full press release and download the report click here.
Scrutiny publishes its Investigating Vandalism Review Report
Scrutiny Chairman, Deputy Barry Brehaut, said; “The review results clearly indicate that vandalism is a concern within the community that should not be ignored or tolerated and, further, is one in which the States should assume more responsibility.”
Click here to see the full press release and download the report.
14/10/09
The Scrutiny Committee have written to the Public Services and Health & Social Services Departments to obtain details of how the Departments identified and addressed the airport foam pollution issue. Read the press release here.
16/09/09
At its meeting of 15th July 2009, the States determined to appoint a Tribunal of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Airport dispute. Scrutiny has therefore put its own investigation on hold until further notice, pending the conclusion of the tribunal.
13/08/09
Airport Dispute Scrutiny Review update available here.
25/06/09
Scrutiny launches public Review into the circumstances surrounding the airport firefighters’ recent industrial action.
The Committee will be confirming its terms of reference, appointing its Panel and beginning to gather evidence within the next couple of weeks. Read the press release with details of the review here.
03/06/09