Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB): Appointments

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A decision made 28 October 2016:

Decision Reference: MD-E-2016-0051
Decision Summary Title :	Appointments to the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB)		Date of Decision Summary:	27th October 2016
Decision Summary Author:	Assistant Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Appointments to the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB)		Date of Written Report:	27th October 2016
Written Report Author:	Assistant Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Appointments to the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB)
Decision(s): The Minister, acting in accordance with Article 4 of the Milk Marketing Scheme (Approval) (Jersey) Act 1954, appointed Louise Read and Tony Taylor to the Jersey Milk Marketing Board and, having consulted the Chairman of the Board, re-designated the Director – Environmental Management and Rural Economy as adviser to the Board with immediate effect.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 4 of the Milk Marketing Scheme (Approval) (Jersey) Act 1954 states that the Board shall consist of 9 members elected by the registered producers and of 4 persons appointed by the Minister. Following the retirement from the Board of Brian Foulser – a Ministerial appointment - and having accepted that the range of skills and knowledge required would be best obtained by recruiting two new appointees, the Minister is nevertheless mindful that the Board would be negatively impacted by any loss of access to the input of the Director – Environmental Management and Rural Economy. The Minister is satisfied that recruitment process followed was appropriate.
Resource Implications: There are no manpower or financial implications of this decision.
Action required: The Assistant Director will formally advise the Chairman of the JMMB of the above appointments.
Signature: Senator L J Farnham		Position: Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed)

Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB): Appointments

Milk Marketing Scheme (Approval) (Jersey) Act 1954

Appointments to Milk Marketing Board

BACKGROUND

Articles 3 and 4 of the Milk Marketing Scheme (Approval) (Jersey) Act 1954 stipulate that the Jersey Milk Marketing Board administers the milk marketing scheme and that the Board shall consist of 9 members elected by the registered producers and of 4 persons appointed by the Minister.

RECRUITMENT

Following the retirement of Brian Foulser, the Board initiated a recruitment process through the offices of Thomas and Dessain. An independent search of suitable candidates was undertaken against set criteria relating to commercial and marketing experience, relevant audit and compliance knowledge and with a view to achieve gender equality on the Board.

It became clear during the recruitment process that the likelihood of securing the desired qualities would be greater if two suitable candidates were recruited. On that basis, six candidates were selected objectively, with 5 subsequently making themselves available for interview by Mr. Andrew Le Gallais, Chairman and John King, Board Member.

Two candidates were identified as fitting the skill sets required and were deemed appointable. These were Louise Read and Tony Taylor. These are duly recommended to the Minister for appointment to the Board with immediate effect.

For the avoidance of doubt, neither appointee was known to the members of the interview panel prior to the interviews being undertaken. The Minister may also wish to note that the States of Jersey Appointments Commission was consulted regarding the appointment process. No concerns were raised regarding the recruitment.

ISSUE

There would technically be 5 ministerial appointees on the Board if the Minister was to make the two appointments recommended. This would be outside the scope of Article 4 of the Act.

The Minister will recall that his department is represented on the Board by both the Chief Executive Officer, EDTSC and the Director – Environmental Management and Rural Economy. It is understood that the Board values the input of both officers and that the Board is keen to increase the frequency of private meetings with Ministers and senior civil servants to discuss policies and trading circumstances of the Board so that all parties are kept fully up to speed. Facilitating such an arrangement whilst maintaining an appropriate Board constitution would be possible by retaining the Chief Executive Officer as Ministerial appointee to the Board and by re-designating the Director – Environmental Management and Rural Economy as an advisor to the Board with right of attendance at meetings as necessary.

RECOMMENDATION

The Minister is recommended to approve the appointment of Louise Read and Tony Taylor and to re-designate the Director – Environmental Management and Rural Economy as advisor the Board with the right to attend meetings as necessary, subject to confirmation that the Board endorses the re-designation of the Director.