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Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Meeting 2
Date: 11th December 2006 Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building
Present Deputy F.J. Hill, B.E.M., Chairman
Deputy D.W. Mezbourian , Vice-Chairman
Deputy S. Pitman
Deputy J. Gallichan
Apologies Deputy A.E. Pryke
Absent
In attendance Senator M.E. Vibert , Minister for Education, Sport and Culture [Item 5]
Deputy J.B. Fox, Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture [Item 5]
Mr. D. Greenwood, Assistant Director, Culture and Lifelong Learning [Item 5]
Mrs. S. Costigan, Principal Youth Officer [Item 5]
Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer
Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer [Item 3]
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
[19/12/05, Item 2] | 1. Panel Constitution and Working Arrangements The Panel welcomed Deputy J. Gallichan to her first meeting. The Panel noted that the administrative arrangements agreed by the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel (at its meeting on 19th December 2005) would continue to apply. The Panel appointed Deputy D.W. Mezbourian as its Vice- Chairman. The Panel was advised that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel had trialled a rapporteur system in which one Member had received briefings on a selected topic from the appropriate Department. It was agreed that Deputy Gallichan would consider this matter in anticipation of further discussion at the next meeting. | JG |
[27/11/06, Item 2b] | 2. Youth Service The Panel agreed it would undertake a review of this topic. It was noted that Terms of Reference (that had previously been drafted) would need to be revisited and potentially redrafted. |
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[27/11/06, Item 3] | 3. Centeniers in the Magistrate's Court Copies of the first section of the draft report were distributed to the Panel. The Panel was advised that work would continue on the other sections of the report. The Panel noted that, on 21st November 2006, the Attorney- General, Mr. W.J. Bailhache QC, had tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier regarding the Attorney-General's role as titular head of the Honorary Police. The Officer was requested to distribute copies of the answer to the Panel. | WM/CA |
| The Panel noted it had received a written submission from an individual who had previously submitted a Scrutiny Topic Proposal Form regarding Parish Hall Enquiries. To assist the drafting of the report, it was suggested that each Member of the Panel be assigned the transcript of a Public Hearing and take responsibility for identifying statements (in that transcript) that could potentially be cited in the Panel's report. The Panel noted it had not received information which Centenier M.P. L'Amy had undertaken (at the Public Hearing on 21st September 2006) to supply. The Panel requested the Officer to provide an update on when the Panel could expect to receive the information. | WM/CA |
| 4. Police Authority The Panel noted that reference had recently been made by the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator W. Kinnard, to the creation of a Police Authority in Gibraltar. The Panel was advised that it appeared this authority had been established following the approval of Police Bill 2006 by (Gibraltar's) House of Assembly. It was further advised the Department of Home Affairs had been approached for information on the constitution of the Gibraltarian police authority and that a response was awaited. |
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| 5. Meeting with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture a) Youth Service The Panel met Senator M.E. Vibert , Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, to consider the proposed review of the Youth Service. It was noted that, whilst the meeting would be recorded, a verbatim transcript of the recording would not be made. It was recalled that the Panel had advised the Minister at the meeting (of the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel) on 18th April 2006 of the Panel's intention to undertake a review of this topic. It was further recalled that, on 2nd August 2006, the Minister had indicated he would receive a draft copy of the new Youth Service Strategic Plan in September 2006 and that the new draft strategy for the Youth Service would be given to the Panel as soon as the Minister had received it. The Panel noted that this had not occurred. The Minister advised the Panel that work on the Strategic Plan had not progressed as quickly as had been anticipated and that he had consequently been unable to despatch a full copy of the draft strategy until November 2006. It was noted that the draft strategy (received by the Panel on 30th November 2006) had not yet been presented to the Council of Ministers. The Panel requested the Minister to notify it of any future delays that might arise in the distribution of documents or information. The Panel was advised that the Ministerial Team (comprising the Minister and two Assistant Ministers) had yet to consider the draft Strategic Plan. It was further advised that the draft would possibly be amended following the Ministerial Team's consideration and that a finalised version would be available in January 2007 for distribution to the Panel. The Panel advised the Minister that it had agreed to undertake a |
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review of this topic although it would possibly have to revisit (and redraft) the Terms of Reference. It was noted that, subsequent to this, the Panel would invite the Minister to another meeting.
The Panel was advised that Deputy J.B. Fox, Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, had been given responsibility for the Youth Service. WM
The Panel was advised that an Action Plan for the Youth Service in 2007 would be finished by the end of December 2006 in order for it to be implemented in January 2007. It was agreed that a copy of the Action Plan would be given to the Panel. The Panel was further advised that Senior Youth Workers would develop action plans for specific Youth Service projects. It was noted that the draft Strategic Plan described the operational relationship of the Strategic and Action Plans.
The Panel was advised that the Department's work on the Youth Service would dovetail in with the Department's work in the Parishes and in relation to the Waterfront.
b) Other Matters
It was recalled that a good working relationship (between the Panel and the Minister) had been established during work on Strategic Plan 2006 – 2011 (P.40/2006) and Annual Business Plan 2007 (P.92/2006). It was noted that this had not always been the case in relation to the topics of the Youth Service and Early Years. It was agreed that open communication would assist the development of a good working relationship.
[13/11/06,
Item 2b] The Minister advised the Panel that, aside from the Youth Service,
the large issues facing his Department in 2006 were Early Years education and care and funding for Higher Education.
The Minister advised the Panel that he would consider a draft report in relation to Early Years in the afternoon of 11th December 2006 and that the report would subsequently be presented on 14th
[13/11/06, December 2006 to the Council of Ministers. The Minister further Item 2b] advised that a copy of the report could be given to the Panel
subsequent to the consideration of the Council of Ministers. The
Panel was advised that the Early Years strategy was due to be
implemented in 2008.
The Panel was advised that changes would be implemented in September 2007 to the funding arrangements for students in Higher Education.
It was agreed that the Panel and Minister would meet regularly during 2007 in order to discuss progress and for each party to provide the other with updates. It was further agreed that the Minister would be advised of potential meeting dates once the Panel had agreed its meeting schedule for 2007.
The Panel and Minister considered the report of the meeting that would be given to the media. It was agreed that the meeting had entailed an amicable discussion of the way forward.
[27/11/06, 6. HMP La Moye
Item 2b] The Panel noted that, in 2007, it would invite the Chief Prison
Officer of HMP La Moye to provide an update on implementation of the recommendations contained in the Wool Report.
The Panel noted that it had not received a copy of the Performance WM Improvement Plan (PIP). It requested the Scrutiny Officer to clarify
when the Panel could expect to receive the Plan.
- Minutes of Previous Meetings
The Panel approved the minutes of its meeting of 27th November 2006 as well as the minutes of the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel meeting of 13th November 2006.
- Matters Arising and Action Updates
The Panel recalled its previous agreement that it would be beneficial to learn about the work undertaken by Select Committees of the House of Commons.
[27/11/06, AU 7: The Panel noted that correspondence had been sent on 29th Item 6] November 2006 to the Minister for Home Affairs expressing its
support for Crime (Disorderly Conduct and Harassment) (Jersey) Law 200-.
[27/11/06, 9. GP Out-of-Hours
Item 4] The Panel noted it had received the transcript of the Public Hearing
with Senator S. Syvret, Minister for Health and Social Services,
held on 13th November 2006. The Scrutiny Officer was requested WM to send a hard copy of the transcript to Deputy S. Pitman.
The Panel noted that no action had yet been taken following its request for clarification on the subsidy provided by the Department of Social Security for night-time home visits by General Practitioners (GPs).
[27/11/06, 10. Overdale
Item 5] The Panel was advised that the Social Affairs Sub-Panel (Overdale
Review) would meet on 14th December 2006 to consider the draft report. It was noted that the Chairman had comments and questions relating to the draft report which he would forward to the Scrutiny Office.
- Forthcoming Propositions
The Panel agreed it would not seek to undertake a review of the following propositions lodged au Greffe:
- Draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Jersey) Regulations 200- (P.162/2006)
- Jersey Police Complaints Authority - appointment of Chairman and members (P.165/2006)
- Questions to Ministers without Notice
The Panel deferred consideration of this matter to its next meeting.
8. Meeting Dates
The Panel considered and agreed a proposed list of meeting dates for 2007.
The Panel noted that it would next meet at 9:30am on Monday 8th
January 2007.
Signed Date
Chairman, Education and Home Affairs Panel
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