Jersey Council for Health and Safety at Work: Appointment of Member

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A decision made on 29 July 2020

Decision Reference: MD-S-2020-0047
Decision Summary Title :	Appointment of member to the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work		Date of Decision Summary:	27 July 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Health and Safety		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report Title :	Appointment of member to the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work		Date of Written Report:	27 July 2020
Written Report Author:	Director of Health and Safety		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Appointment of a member to the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work.
Decision(s): The Assistant Minister decided to approve the re-appointment of Mr Adrian De Gruchy to serve as a member of the Council for a three-year term of office with effect from 1 August 2020.
Reason(s) for Decision: The proposition and report on the Council, P 102, which was agreed by the States in 1991, provided for the Social Security Committee to appoint the members of the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work. The changes set out in machinery of government legislation have transferred the responsibility for the appointment of members to the Minister for Social Security as delegated to the Assistant Minister.
Resource Implications: There are no implications for the financial or manpower resources of the States.
Action required: The Director of Health and Safety to notify the Chairman of the Council of the decision of the Assistant Minister’s decision.
Signature:		Position: Assistant Minister for Social Security Deputy S. Wickenden
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Jersey Council for Health and Safety at Work: Appointment of Member

Appointment of member to the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work

SUMMARY

The constitution of the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work, which was agreed by the States on the 30th July 1991, provides for the appointment of members to the Council by the Social Security Committee. With the introduction of Ministerial Government, the responsibility for appointment of members now rests with the Minister for Social Security, delegated to the Assistant Minister.

The Assistant Minister is, therefore, requested to reappoint Mr Adrian de Gruchy, as recommended by Dr Stephen Taylor, Chairman of Council, to serve a further three-year term of office as a member of the Council.

BACKGROUND

The Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work

The Council is an independent body set up by the States to promote the health and safety of workers and others affected by work activities. The Council consists of a Chairman and four members who are appointed to serve a three year term of office. The Minister presents a report to the States notifying of their intention to appoint the Chairman, with the Minister appointing members to the Council.

The Council receives an annual grant to carry out its work and is required to submit an annual report and audited accounts to the States.

Proposed member

The term of office of a Council member, Mr Adrian de Gruchy, expired on 13 March 2020. Recruitment to the vacant position commenced, in mid-February 2020, in accordance with the Jersey Appointments Commission Code of Practice. Mr de Gruchy applied to sit as a member for a further 3 year term of office. Two additional candidates submitted applications, one of whom withdrew early in the process in light of competing priorities associated with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation at that time.

After consideration of the applications submitted by the remaining new applicant and Mr de Gruchy, Mr de Gruchy was selected as the preferred choice by the Chairman on the strength of his valuable contribution to Council over his preceding term of office and to provide consistency during the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19. The other applicant was, however, invited to reapply for a further vacancy arising in August 2020, following the expiry of the 3rd and last term of office of another Council member.

As a result of this appointment process, Dr Taylor, Chairman of Council, has put forward Mr Adrian de Gruchy to sit as a member on Council for a further 3 year term of office. Mr de Gruchy is a Managing Director of a local group of companies offering integrated business support services including transport, training, fleet and equipment solutions.

Due to the temporary changes in working and competing priorities as the Government of Jersey moved through its COVID-19 exit strategy, Mr de Gruchy has sat as an ex-officio member until arrangements could be made for him to be formally appointed. This decision is intended to address this matter.

Financial and manpower implications

Members of Council serve on an honorary basis and therefore this appointment has no implications for the financial or manpower resources of the States.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Assistant Minister agrees to the proposal from Dr Taylor, Chairman of the Jersey Council for Safety and Health at Work, to reappoint Mr Adrian de Gruchy for a further 3-year term of office as a member of Council with effect from the 1 August 2020.

Tammy Fage

Director of Health and Safety

27 July 2020