Minutes - PPC Sub Committee - Diversity Forum - 24 January

Privileges and Procedures Committee Diversity Forum

(8th Meeting)

24th January 2024

Part A

All members were present with the exception of Deputy M.R. Scott of St Brelade and Deputy I. Gardiner of St Helier from whom apologies had been received.

Deputy C.S. Alves of St Helier, Chair

Deputy L.M.C Doublet of St Saviour

Deputy H.L. Jeune of St John, St Lawrence, and Trinity Deputy R.L. Kovacs of St Saviour

Connétable M.A. Labey of Grouville

Connétable K. Shenton-Stone of St Martin

In attendance -

T. Oldham , Assistant Greffier (Committees and Panels)

K. Boydens , Principal Committee and Panel Officer

J. Lepp, Research and Project Officer

Note:  The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A.

Minutes.  A1. The Sub-Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 15th November

2023, subject to one minor change.

Liberate  A2. The Sub-Committee recalled that it had agreed to invite the Chief Executive Officer Jersey.  of Liberate Jersey for a meeting to discuss a presentation to States Members on diversity

and LGBTQ+ issues. The Research and Project Officer advised the Sub-Committee that Vic Tanner had recently resigned as CEO but had nevertheless been invited to attend the Sub-Committee meeting in February. The Sub-Committee discussed the new CEO Kaye Nicholson, and agreed that both should be invited to attend, if available. The Vice Chair, Deputy L.M.C Doublet declared an interest in this matter as the new CEO was her partner. The Sub-Committee agreed that it was not a direct conflict, and a meeting could go ahead, should Ms Nicholson attend.

International  A3. The Sub-Committee discussed plans for International Women’s Day (8th March Women’s Day.  2024) and agreed that it should, if possible, co-ordinate events with other bodies such

as  the  International  Cultural  Centre Steering  Group  and  Commonwealth  Women Parliamentarians (CWP). It was noted that there were plans to hold events online, specifically a conference with young women aged 16-18. Further information was due to be decided regarding topics of debate/discussion for the online event.

The Sub-Committee noted that the theme for International Women’s Day was ‘inspire inclusion’ and agreed to discuss this further as to how it could be encapsulated into any plans for the day.

The Principal Committee and Panel Officer explained that plans for International Women’s day may already be underway by the Digital and Public Engagement Team at the States Greffe. The Sub-Committee tasked the Research and Project Officer to contact the Head of Digital and Public Engagement (D&PE) to confirm. The Sub- Committee also requested that a number of ideas were shared with the Head of D&PE including a pop-up tent in St Helier, a Q&A session and video of both male and female States Members. The Research and Project Officer explained that an update would be provided to the Sub-Committee on Teams and before its next scheduled meeting in February.

Violence  A4. The Sub-Committee received a summary report of the Violence Against Women Against  and Girls report which had been published in 2023. The Sub-Committee noted that there Women and  were a number of recommendations listed in the report, some of which were due to be Girls Report.  addressed by the Government. Deputy Jeune advised that the Government, through the

Justice and Home Affairs Minister had produced a matrix as to how it would address the recommendations. The Sub-Committee agreed that, once a new Government had been formed and a new Justice and Home Affairs Minister was appointed, it would write to request a copy of the matrix and an update on how the Government intended to action the recommendations. The Research and Project Officer was tasked to take the necessary action.

The Sub-Committee agreed to publish a post on social media reflecting that it had read and discussed the report and was due to follow up with the Government about how the recommendations would be addressed. The Research and Project Officer was tasked with contacting the Head of Digital and Public Engagement to discuss the post.

Raising  A5. The Sub-Committee recalled that at its previous meeting held in November 2023, Diversity in  it had discussed whether to organise a Diversity Campaign, similar to one which had Candidates  been undertaken by the previous Sub-Committee during the last term. In that regard, Standing for  the Sub-Committee reviewed and discussed a paper regarding the 2021 Diversity Election.  Campaign  which  included  a  number  of  suggestions  for  a  second campaign.  The

Principal  Committee  and  Panel  Officer  explained  that  the  Digital  and  Public Engagement Team was already working on a campaign which would include diversity. The Sub-Committee agreed that its ideas and plans could be fed into the work and asked the Research and Project Officer to invite the Head of Digital and Public Engagement to  the  next  Sub-Committee  meeting.  The  Sub-Committee  also  agreed  that  the discussions should involve members of the Political Awareness and Education Sub- Committee and the Officer was tasked to extend the invitation to members of that Sub- Committee.

Diversity  A6. The Sub-Committee noted and reviewed the items on the Legacy Report. The Sub- Forum Legacy  Committee discussed the item of introducing role descriptions for Assembly roles and Report.  noted that this item was currently being addressed by the Machinery of Government

Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee discussed introducing a public sector equality duty. Deputy Jeune advised that codes had been developed as well as a diversity form/toolkit. The Research and Project Officer was tasked with contacting the Group Director of Strategic Policy to find out the status of the publication of these documents.

The Sub-Committee reviewed the item of the diversity of recruitment to States-owned bodies and arm’s length organisations. The Sub-Committee agreed that an update was needed on this work as it had followed a research piece undertaken in collaboration with the Government and previous Diversity Forum Sub-Committee. The Research and Project Officer was tasked with contacting the Diversity and Inclusion Consultant to inquire about the status of this item within the Government.

The Sub-Committee reviewed the action to establish a dedicated Equalities Minister and Department. The Sub-Committee noted that currently the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs had been given responsibility for equality and diversity, however with the creation of a new Government, due to be formed following the Vote of No Confidence, this could change in the coming weeks.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the item regarding enhancing social mobility and tackling the growing poverty gap, particularly through education policy, would be added to its next agenda to discuss in more depth.

Remote  A7. The Sub-Committee received an update on the remote participation and proxy Participation in  voting briefing that occurred on 5th December 2023. The Sub-Committee noted that the States  Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) was currently revising the proposition on Assembly.  remote participation based on the feedback received by the Members who attended the

briefing. It was noted that members had not been in favour of introducing a proxy voting system in Jersey, therefore, PPC did not intend to bring forward any proposals in that regard.

The Sub-Committee requested sight of the revised proposition on remote participation before it was lodged by PPC. The Research and Project Officer confirmed that this action would be taken forward in due course.

Forthcoming  A8. The Sub-Committee reviewed forthcoming propositions to the States Assembly. propositions of  The proposition on the Jersey Overseas Aid re-appointment of a Commissioner was the States  discussed and it was agreed that a letter would be drafted to the current Minister of Assembly.  International Development to ask whether diversity of  the Commission could be

circulated to members before the debate. The Sub-Committee agreed that if a response was not received by early February, it would publish comments on the proposition. The Research and Project Officer was tasked with drafting a letter and preparing comments.

Any Other  A9.   Deputy   Doublet  advised  that  she  had  attended  a  meeting  of  the  All-Party Business.  Parliamentary  Humanist  Group  in  Westminster  which  was  also  attended  by

Parliamentarians from around the United Kingdom and specifically a speaker who provided humanist pastoral support to Members of the Senedd in Wales. The Sub- Committee agreed that a meeting with the speaker would be beneficial and tasked the Research and Project Officer with organising a meeting with the speaker, the Chair of the Diversity Forum, the Chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee and Deputy Doublet .

Future  A10. The Sub-Committee noted that its next meeting was due to take place on 22nd Meetings.  February 2024 at 11:00am in the Blampied Room.