Review of Citizens’ Panels, Assemblies and Juries published
14th February 2022
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a report examining the use
and operation of deliberative practices in Jersey, namely the Care Inquiry Legacy
Citizens’ Panel, the Our Hospital Citizens’ Panel, the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate
Change, and the Assisted Dying Citizens’ Jury.
The PAC found that the core cost of the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change had
more than doubled, with the final cost over triple the initial cost provided and,
therefore, has concerns regarding the quality of budgeting for this deliberative
practice. The Committee, therefore, strongly recommends that the Government
evaluate this process and incorporate learnings into all future bodies, to avoid
significant increases in budget.
The PAC found that the Our Hospital Citizens’ Panel was not overseen by a single
department, and it did not publish the identity of the external facilitator. In turn, it
recommends that all deliberative bodies are undertaken by a single department with
a named external facilitator. The PAC has suggested that compiling the learnings
from each deliberative body moving forward to develop a framework and policy
toolkit would provide Ministers with a comprehensive set of recommendations for
establishing new deliberative bodies.
Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “We welcome
the way participants of Jersey’s deliberative practices have engaged with the
important issues being discussed and encourage the Government to provide all
Islanders with the opportunity to learn about deliberative processes and encourage
democratic engagement. A number of concerns regarding the budgeting and
operation of these Panels, Assemblies, and Juries remain and, in turn, the
Committee has suggested a framework and policy toolkit to improve the functioning
of deliberative practices moving forward.”
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