Scrutiny Management Committee

Duties & Powers

To lead and co-ordinate the scrutiny of committees of the States and those organisations which are in receipt of public funds, or which have been established by legislation, by reviewing and examining legislation, policies, services and the use of monies and other resources.

As far as is reasonably practicable, to appoint scrutiny panels (whether task and finish or standing panels) to carry out the work of reviewing and scrutinising committees’ policies and services and their management of monies and other resources entrusted to them: provided that neither the President nor the members of the Policy & Resources Committee shall serve on such scrutiny panels and also provided that the Committee retains the power, if it so wishes, to carry out any review itself rather than through an appointed panel and also provided that the Committee shall at all times be responsible, and accountable to the States, for everything done by the Committee and any panels it has appointed, including the content of any report issued under its name.

To appoint a Legislation Review Panel to carry out the functions of legislative scrutiny in Article 66 of the Reform Law and also to recommend any changes to legislation from which it believes the Island may benefit: provided that the Committee shall at all times be responsible, and accountable to the States, for everything done by the Legislation Review Panel; and to constitute the Legislation Review Panel as follows: a President who shall be a member of the Scrutiny Management Committee and also a member of the States, a minimum of four other States’ members, a minimum of two non-voting members who shall not be members of the States, and any number of additional and occasional non-voting members as the Scrutiny Management Committee sees fit for the purposes of review of any item of legislation or any other matter: provided that such additional and occasional non-voting members may or may not be members of the States and also provided that neither the President nor the members of the Policy & Resources Committee shall serve on the Legislation Review Panel.

To scrutinise any matter contained in a policy letter which has been referred to the Committee by resolution of the States in accordance with any terms set out in the resolution and to submit to the States its findings thereon within a period of time set out in the resolution, which findings, together with the original matter, shall be laid before the States.

To promote and facilitate the participation in scrutiny of the widest possible range of States’ members and persons independent of the States.

When determining the subject of its reviews and examinations, to pay particular attention to the performance of committees in contributing to States’ objectives and policy plans and to matters which are of substantial importance or of significant public interest.

To recognise that the carrying out of scrutiny in public where possible is likely to contribute positively to public perceptions of scrutiny.

To submit a report to the States annually which reviews the work of the Committee and its panels over the previous 12 months and which sets out the Committee’s objectives and, to the extent that it is possible while retaining a flexible and responsive approach to scrutiny, an indicative programme of work over the next 12 months.

To represent the work of scrutiny in the States, and publicly to promote and champion the value of scrutiny.

To advise the States if and when in its opinion circumstances justify the establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry in accordance with the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Guernsey) Law, 1949, as amended.

To exercise powers and perform duties conferred on the Committee by extant States’ resolutions, including those resolutions or parts of resolutions which relate to matters for the time being within the mandate of the Scrutiny Management Committee and which conferred functions on the former Legislation Select Committee, Public Accounts Committee and Scrutiny Committee.