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SOCIAL AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL Meeting held on Wednesday 11th January at 1:45pm
Present Deputy F.J. Hill, B.E.M., Chairman
Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman Deputy D.W. Mezbourian
Deputy A.E. Pryke
Deputy S. Pitman
Apologies
Absent
In attendance Mrs. K. Tremellen-Frost, Scrutiny Manager [Items 5 and 6]
Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer
Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer
Item No. | Agenda matter Action | |
1. [09/01/06 item 2] | Matters Arising The Panel noted that the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 12th January 2006 would have an impact on any decision the Panel might make regarding Criminal Justice Policy (P.201/2005) or Housing Trading Organisation: establishment (P.211/2005). The Chairman proposed that individual States Members investigating a particular subject should inform the Chairman of the appropriate Scrutiny Panel if this subject lay within the remit of that Panel. It was noted that arrangements had been made for a presentation on the proposed Income Support System on 25th January 2006 at 2:30pm at Philip Le Feuvre House, La Motte Street. The Panel considered which issues would be raised during the discussion with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture. | |
2. | Meeting with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Senator M.E. Vibert and Mr. T. McKeon, Director of Education, Sport and Culture attended upon the Panel. The Chairman welcomed the Minister and Director and explained the purpose of the meeting. Higher Education The Panel was informed that a Higher Education Development Group (chaired by Mr. Michael |
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Goldstein) had been established to consider strategies for higher education in Jersey. The Panel was advised that the Group would examine the issue of Open University fees for Jersey residents.
The Panel was advised of certain current arrangements for funding students in higher education and informed that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture would be considering the introduction of a loan system for Jersey students at university in the United Kingdom.
Further Education
The Panel was informed that a review of Highlands College would take place.
14 – 19 Curriculum
The Panel was informed that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture would be addressing recommendations made by a working group to the former Education, Sport and Culture Committee.
The Panel was told that no suggestion had been made for a return to the '11 plus' system.
The Panel was informed that the Island's curriculum was not obliged to mirror the UK curriculum.
The Panel was informed that the presence of a single sixth-form college could potentially lead to an increase in expenditure on education.
Cultural Development
The Panel was informed of projected developments in the implementation of the Cultural Strategy and that Deputy C.F. Labey , Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, had been given the brief for this implementation.
Early Childhood Education and Care
The Panel was advised of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture's present policy regarding the provision of nursery education. It was further advised that the Department was continuing to develop proposals outlined in Investing in Our Future: A Vision for Early Childhood Education and Care in Jersey (R.C. 54/2005).
Fort Regent
The Panel was informed that the question of using Fort Regent as a conference centre would be considered by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. It was noted that a scrutiny review concerning Fort Regent would potentially lie within the remit of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
Greenfields Centre
The Panel was informed that current provisions at the Greenfields Centre were satisfactory.
Youth Service
The Panel was advised of the progress to date of the Youth Service and was informed of an impending review of the Service led by Ms. Shirley Costigan. It was advised that Deputy J.B. Fox, Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, had been given the brief of the Youth Service.
The Panel was informed that there were no plans to bring back the Youth Advisory Committee.
HMP La Moye
The Panel was advised of the Department's rôle in the provision of education services in the prison and informed that no specific provision had been made for the extension of the apprentice scheme to the prison.
States Strategic Aims
The Panel was advised that the Department's general approach with regard to States Strategic Aims 2 and 9 was to educate local people in order to negate the need to import workers.
Apprentice Scheme
The Panel was informed that the scheme was administered by Highlands College.
Relationship between the Panel and Ministry
The Panel and Minister expressed their desire for a good working relationship between the Panel, the Minister and Department of Education, Sport and Culture. It was agreed that early involvement of scrutiny in the Department's work could be of benefit.
The Panel requested that it be allowed to visit some of the Department's sites and that it receive information on the organisation of the Ministry. The Panel was advised that Mr. Jim Westwater would be the liaison for the Scrutiny Officers.
- Matters Arising from the Meeting with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to liaise
with the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture in order to establish a timeline of the Department's work
for those matters which had been discussed. In addition, the Officers were requested to clarify what CA/ course of action would be pursued with regard to the WM Youth Service.
The Panel requested copies of the following documents:
- Investing In Our Future: A Vision for Early Childhood Education and Care in Jersey (R.C. CA/ 54/2005) WM
- Review of Higher Education: The Next Steps (R.C. 21/2005)
- Realising the Potential: A review of the future
role of further education colleges (led by Sir Andrew Foster)
- Future of the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel
The Panel was advised that no formal request had
been made to the Scrutiny Office for an investigation
into the ramifications of splitting the Panel. The Panel [19/12/05 was informed that a split would not lead to an Item 2] immediate increase in budget or officer allocation. It
was agreed that the Panel would not split but that a
case for further funding and manpower allocation
could be made for 2007.
The Panel was advised that the Assistant Greffier of the States was the accounting officer for the Strates Greffe and would, therefore, have responsibility for the Scrutiny budget. This responsibility would be delegated through to the Scrutiny Manager and subsequently to the Scrutiny Officers. The Panel was also advised that its budget would not be used to cover transcription costs but that it would cover the costs of any adviser the Panel might decide to employ.
- Future Meetings
The next scheduled meeting would take place on Monday 23rd January 2006.
It was agreed that the Panel would hold a supplementary meeting on Thursday 26th January 2006 to consider suggested review topics.
SIGNED
Date: CHAIRMAN, SOCIAL AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL