Since taking over the top job in Jersey politics, one of Senator John Le Fondré’s first initiatives has been to introduce ‘policy development boards’, which are made up from backbench politicians. Each board’s job is to advise ministers.
The Chief Minister has said that the move, which has so far seen the development of a PDB to review new sites for the future hospital, will see backbenchers more included in the decision-making process.
Another PDB is being considered to assist Housing Minister Sam Mézec in developing affordable and social housing policy.
However, Senator Kristina Moore, the president of the Chairman’s Committee, which oversees the Scrutiny process, has written to Senator Le Fondré outlining a number of concerns about the idea.
The letter requests that the Chief Minister suspends the establishment of any more PDBs until the matters raised by the committee have been addressed.
Earlier this week Senator Moore, a former Home Affairs Minister who did not get given a ministerial role following this year’s general election, criticised Senator Le Fondré, saying that he was a ‘man without a plan’.
Senator Moore’s letter says that conflicts of interest could be created if Members sit on both PDBs in an advisory capacity and on scrutiny panels, which are intended to be critical of ministerial policy. She also says that the establishment of PDBs creates ‘blurring of lines’ between the executive and scrutiny branches of government.
Senator Moore, who believes that the move could drain the resources of Scrutiny, specifically criticises the hospital PDB, claiming that it might duplicate work being carried out by established panels, as well as undermining them.
‘On behalf of the committee, I would ask you to reconsider the formation of the hospital PDB,’ Senator Moore’s letter says.
‘We believe the nature of the work it proposes to undertake is more appropriately a matter for Scrutiny, in this case the well-established Future Hospital Review Panel.’
Her letter adds: ‘In the wider context, the example of the hospital PDB has raised serious concerns amongst the Chairmen’s Committee as to the appropriateness of PDB’s as you envisage them, as have the overarching terms of reference.
‘We foresee potentially serious consequences emerging for the Scrutiny function.’
Committee members Constable Mike Jackson and Deputies Kirsten Morel, Mary Le Hegarat and Rob Ward supported the letter. Senator Sarah Ferguson did not.
The Chief Minister was approached for comment, but had not replied at the time of writing.
