Scrutiny seek Islanders’ views on mental health and education plans
13 October 2021
Over the next two months, the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel will be reviewing capital projects and revenue programmes being proposed in the 2022-25 Government Plan.
Priority areas of focus include:
- The redesign of the Children and Adult Mental Health Services;
- Early Years funding and policy for children up to 5 years of age;
- Police efficiencies;
- Reform of the education system; and
- Funding for care leavers
To evaluate these projects, and whether they align to common strategic priorities or not, the Panel will hold public hearings with relevant Ministers and invite key stakeholders and members of the public to share their views via the States Assembly website The first public hearings have been scheduled and can be watched online.
- Friday, 15 October with the Minister for Home Affairs
- Friday 22 October with the Minister for Children and Education (focussing on the children's portfolio)
- Monday 1 November with the Minister for Children and Education (focussing on the Education portfolio)
All the projects and programmes being scrutinised by the Panel are available on the States Assembly website. The key areas of focus for this Government Plan Review, which are consistent with other Government Plan reviews, are listed below.
- Projects costing over £500,000, and where costs have decreased and/or increased significantly from last year.
- Current project overspends, delays, deferrals and those which do not align with the Common Strategic Priorities.
- Projects which are contentious in the public eye and of concern to stakeholders.
- Whether resources allocated to projects are sufficient or excessive.
- The impact of projects on Islanders, particularly children.
- Whether the projects agreed in last year's Government Plan have been delivered.
The review findings and recommendations along with any proposed amendments to the Government Plan will be presented alongside findings from other Scrutiny panels focusing on their respective areas of responsibility. The documents will be published on the States Assembly website at least one week before the States Assembly's debate on the Government Plan during the week of 13 December 2021.
Deputy Robert Ward, Chair of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, commented: "The Panel is keen to look in detail at some aspects of the Government Plan, including police efficiencies and the redesign of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. We're keen that members of the public and key stakeholders have their say on these and other projects the Government is proposing to spend money on over the next four years."
