AN INDEPENDENT Deputy intends to stand for a key role in Scrutiny in order to counter what she described as ‘discomfort’ felt by States Members and members of the public about the influence of Reform Jersey.
Reform candidates elected as chairs of Scrutiny panels and the Public Accounts Committee will make up two-thirds of the membership of the six-strong Scrutiny Liaison Committee.
Deputy Moz Scott, who was elected to represent St Brelade at last month’s general election and subsequently chosen by the States Assembly to chair the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, confirmed yesterday that it was her intention to also stand as chair of the liaison committee.
In recent years, the chair of Corporate Services has also served as Scrutiny Liaison chair, but Deputy Scott’s announcement sets up the possibility of a contest against Deputy Sam Mézec, the Assembly’s choice as Corporate Services chair.
The other members of the committee are independent Deputy Steve Luce and a trio of Reform Members: Deputies Lyndsay Feltham, Catherine Curtis and Geoff Southern.
Deputy Scott said: ‘Members of the States and of the public have expressed discomfort to me that Reform members are dominating the Scrutiny Liaison Committee, despite having just ten of the 49 seats in the Assembly.
‘My standing offers an opportunity to restore some balance, while offering Deputy Mézec a chance to inform Members how he would manage the conflict between his role as leader of Reform and as chair of the Scrutiny Liaison Committee, if elected.’
Deputy Mézec said yesterday that he was not yet in a position to respond to Deputy Scott’s announcement.
The Liaison chair role is set to be filled at Tuesday’s Assembly meeting, when Members and representatives of a number of official bodies, including Scrutiny panels, will also be appointed.
