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Privileges and Procedures Committee Political Awareness and Education Sub-Committee (4th Meeting)
13th April 2023
Part A (Non-Exempt)
All members were present with the exception of Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson of St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter, Deputy I. Gardiner of St Helier and Connétable M.A Labey of Grouville from whom apologies had been received.
Deputy C.S. Alves of St Helier
Deputy C. F. Labey of Grouville and St Martin Deputy R. L. Kovacs of St Saviour
Deputy M. B. Andrews of St Helier
Deputy R. Ward of St Helier
In attendance –
Ms K. Boydens , Principal Committee and Panel Officer Ms M. Jehan , Education Manager
Ms K. Camara, Research and Project Officer
Note: The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A
Minutes. The Sub-Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on the 26th January
2023, subject to a minor amendment.
Appointment The Sub-Committee agreed to appoint Deputy Ward as Vice Chair. of a Vice
Chair.
Quorum. The Sub-Committee agreed that the quorum would be one half of its membership,
rounded up to the next whole number.
Citizenship The Sub-Committee discussed and considered a paper regarding the organisation of a Day. Citizenship Day' for 16–25-year-olds in Jersey. The Sub-Committee discussed a
number of ideas including incentives to ensure high participation of young people such as vouchers to receive a free provisional licence. The Research and Project Officer was tasked to contact Deputy Gardiner regarding a Steering Group she had chaired in the last term of office, which had undertaken research into a possible Citizenship Day. In addition, the Sub-Committee requested the Research and Project Officer to contact the St Helier Parish Secretary who had also previously carried out similar research into a Citizenship Day to ask whether any plans or proposals had been previously formed which may be beneficial for the project.
The Research and Project Officer was also requested to liaise with Connétable Crowcroft of St Helier and Connétable Vibert of St Peter who had also undertaken similar work previously.
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The Sub-Committee agreed that part of the day could include young people receiving their social security card. In order to find out about the process of obtaining a card, the Research and Project Officer was requested to contact the Customer and Local Services Department in order to gain a better understanding of their systems and processes.
The Sub-Committee agreed to pilot a Citizenship Day in St Helier late June or early July 2024 to allow for further consideration and planning. It was agreed that next steps would be considered once further research had taken place.
Electoral The Sub-Committee discussed and considered a paper regarding the electoral register, Register. noting the processes contained in the Election (Jersey) Law 2002. The Sub-Committee
noted the timescales stipulated in the Law regarding when each register was cleansed' before an election. The Sub-Committee suggested that this process could be standardised so that the timing was consistent between all 12 Parishes and recalled that it had requested research was undertaken to provide clarity over how the register was updated and key time scales before and during election periods. In that regard, the Research and Project Officer advised that the paper provided an overview of the administration of the electoral register, as set out in the Election Law.
The Sub-Committee noted that the Election Law provided for a rolling register, so it changed daily to have added (or removed) those who on that day met (or ceased to meet) the criteria as an elector. The Sub-Committee further noted that annual letters requiring eligible voters to register were distributed and sent out no later than the 1st November. Article 8(4) of the Law included a provision for a Parish to serve notice on a person where it appeared they may no longer be eligible as an elector. In this event, a letter was sent out, allowing the person in question 28 days to confirm that they remained eligible as an elector. If the person did not confirm eligibility within the stipulated period, their name was removed from the register. During an election period, notice of registered voter letters, demonstrating which people in each household were registered, and therefore eligible to vote was sent between 1st and 15th March.
The Research and Project Officer had consulted with Sue De Gruchy, Secretary, Comité des Connétable s whom provided a number of insights regarding the process and considerations when discussing a change in law. The Sub-Committee considered whether to propose a Law change with would need to be considered by the Privileges and Procedures Committee.
The Sub-Committee noted that work was underway to develop an Automatic Voter Registration system, which would alleviate the current concerns. The Sub-Committee requested to receive an update from the Head of Digital and Public Engagement regarding the current work underway in the first instance and agreed that next steps and further consideration of a Law change would consider once the Sub-Committee had a better understanding of the work in progress.
Jersey Youth The Sub-Committee received an update from the Education Manager regarding a Parliament. scheduled meeting with the Jersey Youth Parliament on 15th May 2023, following
Deputy Gardiner 's request to provide representation. Deputy Ward and Connétable Labey of Grouville both agreed to attend the meeting with the Education Manager.
The Education Manager asked the Sub-Committee to discuss and consider talking points ahead of the meeting. The Sub-Committee agreed it would be beneficial to include the Jersey Youth Parliament in the organisation of the Citizenship Day, requesting the opinions and ideas of young people on how to achieve a good turnout on the day.
The Education Manager advised that a paper would be circulated prior to the meeting with the Jersey Youth Parliament which would include prompts and key talking points
4thMeeting 13.04.2023
in order to aid discussions.
Future The Sub-Committee agreed to reschedule its next meeting to the 8th June 2023. The Meetings. Research and Project Officer was requested to make the necessary arrangements.