Sarah’s Scrutiny Show was a bit subdued this week – now that the Pied Piper has left town. At least the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel public meeting was only 10 minutes late starting at 9.40 a.m. and it’s the only scrutiny show in town this week.

The mystical tunes still lingered though and there was competition in a rambling, casual sort of way between Senators Ferguson, Perchard and Deputy Le Fondre to express the most Thatcherite, reactionary views…

The proceedings had a somewhat surreal, temps passé, the party’s over feel  - as though nobody quite knew why they were there but all wanted to be somewhere else – in a different time zone perhaps.

Senator Breckon was bugging them a bit – misrepresenting what the Panel had written in a previous Report to support his anti-GST Proposition….but he does not understand taxation…we should keep our powder dry on this they agreed.

How come that people from Poland and Madeira and the UK are still arriving in Jersey and getting jobs whilst there is so much local unemployment? – was one theme.

The Social Security bill is now £170 millions and growing all the time – how much is paid out in benefits? How much was paid out in 2004/5? We must stamp on the increasing outgoings…

There is no incentive to return to work if benefits are so high – what we need is information on trends…there are plenty of jobs…

And we need to watch what happens in the EU too because the French are wanting to introduce border controls against Italy and we cannot in Jersey because we are bound by the terms of Protocol 3…we need a legal opinion on this and accurate figures…

They also wondered about secret negotiations between Jersey and the UK and outside influences over the Fulfilment Industry and Zero Ten…there are lots of rumours and leaks…

It was better under the old Parish welfare system, there was more control then and it’s not fair that some departments like Planning are not cutting costs at all but simply increasing charges and carrying on as normal…and there are more external consultants  now than ever and Education have 14 internal reviews going on…

And there were more leaks and rumours…had Chief Executive Officer Ogley  resigned  or was he dismissed…what settlement was made…was it in accordance with his contract or was it like Mr Pollards “in house” settlement?…we are getting fed up with this …the public has the right to know…and how will his successor be appointed…we should  consult with employment law specialists…but that will mean more external consultants…our question to the Chief Minister should be  on the Departure and Replacement of the Chief Executive Officer and the Re-Structuring Plan…

What else does the CM do? How about Probity and conflicts of interest? Does the CM or other Ministers sign up to a Code of Practice? What training or instruction do they receive on appointment…what advice is given to them or Assistant Ministers…and what name do you prefer to be called by Senator Perchard?

The meeting ended at 11.10a.m.