SUMMARY OF DECISIONS OF JOINT RULES COMMITTEE
MEETING ON 18 NOVEMBER 2004
Item 3 – Consideration of vision statement
NOTED:
That all parties except the DA were in support of the vision statement as set out in Option 2 of the First Report of the Joint Rules Committee, dated 21 September 2004. (As its members could not be present at the meeting, the ACDP had indicated its support for Option 1 in writing)
AGREED:
That the preferred vision statement (Option 2) would be put before both Houses.
Item 4 – Consideration of governance model
AGREED: That -
- in the absence of the chief whip, the deputy chief whip or a member duly designated by the chief whip could attend meetings of the Parliamentary Oversight Authority;
- the smaller parties would forward to the Presiding Officers the names of the members who would represent them on the Parliamentary Oversight Authority and the names of their alternate members;
- a designated alternate could not attend a meeting if the full member was present; and
- the Secretary to Parliament would serve on the Parliamentary Oversight Authority in ex officio capacity.
RESOLVED:
On the motion of Ms Mentor, seconded by Mr Gibson, the governance model as presented was agreed, subject to the adjustment of details, as identified at the meeting (see attached document), the Secretary to Parliament to convene the Parliamentary Oversight Authority accordingly.
Item 5 – Consideration of system for referral of bills to National House of Traditional Leaders in terms of section 18 of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, Act 41 of 2003
AGREED: That -
- the system set out in the supporting document would be adopted in principle; and
- the Joint Subcommittee on Review of the Joint Rules would be tasked with formulating the proposed rule amendments for consideration and adoption by the Joint Rules Committee.
Item 6 – Consideration of desirability of annual review of Constitution
AGREED: That –
- the membership of the Constitutional Review Committee would be finalised as a matter of urgency in accordance with the decision of the Joint Rules Committee at its meeting on 4 August 2004; and
- the matter of whether it was appropriate to continue with an annual review of the Constitution, as required by the Constitution, would be placed on the committee’s agenda for consideration.
Item 7 – Implementation of oversight and accountability recommendations
NOTED:
The progress report on the meeting of the Task Team on Oversight and Accountability on 17 November 2004.
Item 8 – International relations: Establishment of structured relations with European Union and other regional bodies
NOTED: That
- information about the EU and other regional bodies globally had been requested to enable the consideration of parliamentary friendship groups in broad terms; and
- the relevant documents received from the Department of Foreign Affairs would be distributed to all members of the Joint Rules Committee.
Item 9 – Code of Members’ Ethics
NOTED: That –
- the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests would deliberate on the matter early in 2005 and thereafter report to the Joint Rules Committee.
Item 10 – Implementation of Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act
NOTED:
- The progress report by the Joint Subcommittee on Review of the Joint Rules on the drafting of the necessary rules.
- The (verbal) progress report by the Legal Services Office on an exchange of information with legislatures on the implementation of the Act.
AGREED: That -
- the draft leave policy which had been formulated would be tabled at the next meeting of the Joint Rules Committee for consideration; and
- the question of sanctions, as contained in the proposed leave policy, would be brought to the attention of the Joint Subcommittee on Review of Joint Rules.
Item 11 – Co-chairpersons for certain joint committees
NOTED: That the matter was being given further attention by the National Council of Provinces and would therefore stand over.
Item 12 – External funding of committees
NOTED:
The document entitled "Revised draft recommendations to the Joint Rules Committee on the sponsorship or funding of committees – 12 October 2001" needed further refinement in the light of new developments.
AGREED: That -
- the Presiding Officers would determine the appropriate committee to deal with the matter; and
- a further report would be presented to the next Joint Rules Committee meeting.
Item 13 – Parliamentary travel policy
AGREED: That –
- the document entitled "Draft framework and proposals for parliamentary travel policy" would be referred to political parties for consideration and subsequent refinement, also taking into account the points raised at the meeting.
Other business: Items 14 – 19
AGREED: That the remaining agenda items, including the minutes of previous meetings, would stand over to the next meeting of the Joint Rules Committee.