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A decision made (11.09.06) to approve the appointment of Chairperson to the Statistics User Group.

Subject:	Statistics User Group: Appointment of Chairperson
Decision Reference:	MD-C-2006-0040		Exempt clause(s):	n/a
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a		Report File ref:	n/a
Written report – Title	Statistics User Group: Appointment of Chairperson
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Jeremy Harris, Policy Adviser
Decision(s): To approve a draft report and proposition recommending the appointment of Mr. Charles Christopher Gooding Clarke as Chairperson of the Statistics User Group for a period of three years with effect from 15th October 2006.
Reason(s) for decision: Mr. Clarke is considered to be eminently suited to the post of Chairperson.
Action required: JH to arrange for the report and proposition to be lodged ‘au Greffe’ for consideration by the States on 26th September 2006.
Signature: Chief Minister		Date of Decision:

Statistics User Group - Appointment of Chairperson

STATISTICS USER GROUP

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion -

to refer to their Act dated 17th November 1999, in which they approved the establishment of a Statistics User Group, and to approve Mr. Charles Christopher Gooding Clarke as Chairperson of the Statistics User Group for a period of three years commencing on 15th October 2006.

CHIEF MINISTER

REPORT

1. Introduction

1.1 The States is asked to approve the appointment of Mr. Charles Christopher Gooding Clarke as Chairperson of the Statistics User Group for a period of three years commencing on 15th October 2006.

2. Background

2.1 The Statistics User Group (S.U.G.) was established by the States in 1999 as an independent body to review and comment upon official statistics in Jersey (P.142/99). The chairperson of the Group for the first three years was Professor Tim Holt, and he was succeeded by Mr. John Boothman, who resigned from the post in August 2005.

2.2 An advertisement for a successor was placed in the Jersey Evening Post towards the end of last year but no responses were received. It was accordingly decided to readvertise the post in March 2006, but again this advertisement did not attract any applications. Mr. Clarke was therefore contacted as an individual who was considered as being suitable for the post of chairperson, and I am very pleased that he has agreed to allow his name to go forward.

2.3 The Appointments Commission was consulted during the process of advertising for a chairperson and it has no objection to the appointment of Mr. Clarke.

2.4 Subject to approval by the States, Mr. Clarke would take over as chairperson of a now well-established User Group. The Group has ten members who represent a wide range of organisations within the Island, including the Société Jersiaise, the Chamber of Commerce, the Jersey Consumer Council, and Concern. None of the members, including the chairperson, receive any remuneration for their services.

2.5 I believe that Mr. Clarke would be eminently suited to the position of Chairperson. Mr. Clarke is a chartered accountant who has recently retired from his position as Chairman of KPMG Channel Islands. Having joined KPMG London as a graduate trainee in 1977, Mr. Clarke worked his way up through the ranks and was appointed as a principal and then as a partner in the firm, becoming the Managing Partner of the Jersey Office in 1997. Mr. Clarke was also Chairman of the Jersey Branch of the Institute of Directors from 2002 to 2004, having previously served as Vice-Chairman.

3. Financial and manpower implications

3.1 This proposition does not have any financial or manpower implications.