SQLFusion - Cornwall Public Inquiry Advisory Panel Terms of Reference

CORNWALL PUBLIC INQUIRY

ADVISORY PANEL TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Advisory Panel will consist of six to eight individuals whose task is to provide advice to Normand Glaude, Commissioner. At a staff level, their main liaison will be with the Director of Policy, who will act as Chair, but from time to time they may deal with Lead Counsel or other Cornwall Public Inquiry staff as the Commissioner may suggest.

The general responsibilities of the Panel will be related to: research; commenting on options, recommendations and overall report structure or approach; acting as a sounding board for the Commissioner to debate and refine issues and possible solutions; public meetings or consultations. Members will operate both as a group and as individual advisors, and may review specific chapters of the draft report. The intention is to foster a constructive and informal network of assistance to the Commissioner and for the Inquiry to benefit from the expertise, networks and wisdom of the Advisory Panel.

Specifically, the Advisory Panel will have responsibilities related to:

Research

Suggesting and reviewing research topics and research designAssisting in identifying appropriate individuals or organizations to carry out research
Reviewing specific research proposals generated by parties and making recommendations for approvalRecommending instances where peer review of specific research is appropriate and conducting review or recommending appropriate peer reviewers
Reviewing relevant draft research reports and consultation and comments on draft research
Reviewing or developing options for consideration by the Commissioner of recommendations for research for inclusion in the final report of the Inquiry.

Sounding Board and Report Development

Participating in discussions regarding options for report design and approach
Meeting with the Commissioner to debate issues and refine approaches and possible options or recommendations The Advisory Panel will be in existence for the duration of the Cornwall Public Inquiry, until the Commissioner’s final report is issued and any consultations or activities are complete.

Public Meetings or Consultations

Chairing or participating in relevant symposia, consultations or workshops on research
At the request of the Commissioner, chairing or participating in community meetings, workshops or other community events or consultations

Work of the Advisory Panel will be collegial and consensual. The Panel members will be required to maintain confidentiality in respect to the work of the Panel and the Inquiry.

Panel members must be free of any conflict of interest with respect to the work of the Cornwall Public Inquiry.