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Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Date: Monday 15th May 2006 Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building
Present Deputy F.J. Hill, B.E.M., Chairman
Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman Deputy A.E. Pryke Deputy
D.W. Mezbourian
Deputy S. Pitman
Apologies
Absent
In attendance Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Minutes of Previous Meetings The Panel approved the minutes of the meeting of 2nd May 2006 |
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[18/04/06 Item 9b] [18/04/06 Item 6h] [02/05/06 Item 3] [02/05/06 Item 4d] [02/05/06 Item 5] | 2. Matters Arising a) To note Action Updates The Panel noted the Action updates as attached and requested further action in respect of the following:
& Culture further requesting a timetable of work being undertaken on Early Years Education and Care and seeking clarification as to whether the Minister would be bringing green and white papers to the States on this matter in due course. 9. The Panel discussed the outstanding request for information in respect of longer term care and agreed to write to the Department requesting an update on progress with their request. 15. The Panel discussed the proposed review of Early Years Education and Care and agreed that until they received confirmation of the proposed timetable from the Education, Sport & Culture Department the review may be subject to postponement. 17. The Panel agreed to write to the Chief Minister further requesting copies of the agendas and minutes of the Social Policy Sub-Group. | CA/WM CA/WM CA/WM CA/WM CA/WM |
- The Panel agreed to write to Mrs. Costigan further requesting
[02/05/06 information relating to uniformed groups, the Staff audit of CA/WM Item 6] Sessional Workers, the work of three area managers and NVQ
training.
- The Panel agreed to write to Senator Vibert further requesting
[It0e2m/0 56/]06 a timetable for the new Youth Strategy and the proposed CA/WM
involvement of the Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
28. The Panel discussed the possibility that the Minister for Home
[02/05/06 Affairs may withdraw the proposition in question and re-lodge an CA/WM Item 12] amended version for debate in due course. The Chairman
informed the Panel that the Minister for Home Affairs would be
making a statement in the States on Tuesday 16th May. b) To note Chairman and Panel Members' Actions
- Social Affairs Panel Split
The Panel discussed the proposed split and agreed that their favoured option was as for the Panel to remain with its currently constituted membership and to retain the Departments of Education, Sport & Culture and Home Affairs. They further agreed that it be proposed that a new Social Affairs Panel be constituted. Its remit to cover the Departments of Health & Social Services, Social Security and Housing.
The Panel agreed that their less favoured option would be to disband the current Social Affairs Panel and constitute two new Panels. One Panel would have responsibility for the departments of Education, Sport & Culture and Home Affairs, the other Panel would have responsibility for the departments of Health & Social Services, Social Security and Housing. The Chairmen and members would then be elected by the States in line with current standing orders. The Panel agreed that this option could be very disruptive to both membership and the current work programme.
The Panel discussed whether current Panel members would prefer to seek membership of the proposed new Panel. It was agreed that this was a matter for the individual Panel members to decide. The Panel agreed to seek clarification from the Greffier of the States as to the procedure required to progress the CA/WM proposition. The Panel further agreed to inform the Chairman's
Committee of their decision once clarification from the Greffier
had been received. CA/WM
- Public Meeting
The Panel noted that a Public Meeting to discuss the Draft Strategic Plan on Thursday 18th May had been organised by the
Chairmen's Committee. The Panel agreed that the purpose of the meeting had not been made clear to them and that in future all advertisements should be e-mailed to States members in advance of the proposed meetings.
| Deputy Pryke offered her apologies for the meeting. iii) Draft Strategic Plan The Panel discussed their response to the Draft Strategic Plan. The Panel agreed that the delay in responding to the Plan had been regrettable and was as a result of the Chairmen's Committee attempt to organise a co-ordinated response. The Panel noted that the Chief Minister was due to make a statement in the States clarifying whether amendments to the Draft Strategic Plan would be allowed. The Panel agreed that the Chairman should e-mail the Chief Minister to clarify the situation prior to his statement. The Panel further agreed that, subject to the Chief Minister's response to the Chairman's correspondence, the relevant Ministers should be invited to meet with the Panel as soon as possible. The Panel noted that Senator Perchard had indicated he would be bringing amendments to the Draft Strategic Plan in respect of the Prison. The Panel agreed to request sight of these amendments. | BH/CA CA/WM |
| 3. Income Support The Chairman of the Income Support Sub-Panel, Deputy Martin, informed the Panel that they were meeting with the Minister for Social Security at 9:30am on Friday 19th May to discuss progress with the Income Support proposals. Deputy Martin confirmed to the Panel that Incapacity Benefit would be linked to the new Income Support proposals. Deputy Martin further informed the Panel that there was not an up to date estimate of the size of the proposed Citizen's Fund, that it is proposed the Citizen's Fund will be administered by Social Security and that it is intended to provide quick solutions when support is needed. |
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| 4. GP Out-of-Hours The Lead member, Deputy Pryke, advised the Panel that the following meetings had been agreed: Monday 22nd May, 10:00am – preparation for the Public Hearings Thursday 25th May, 10:00am – preparation for the Public Hearing at 11:00am with the JCRA Friday 26th May, 9:00am – preparation for the Public Hearing at 9:30am with representatives of the GP Co-op and the Public Hearing at 11:00am with the Minister for Health & Social Services |
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| The Panel noted that they had yet to receive official confirmation that the Minister for Health & Social Services would attend the Public Hearing. It was agreed to seek confirmation of attendance. Deputies Martin and Pitman offered their apologies for the Public Hearing on Thursday 25th May. The Panel were informed that a member of the Public had expressed an interest in talking to the Panel about the review. It was agreed to invite them to a subsequent Panel meeting. | CA/WM CA/WM |
| 5. Centeniers in the Magistrate's Court The Chairman informed the Panel that he had contacted the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK and they would be happy to receive the Panel should they decide to visit. The Chairman further informed the Panel that it would be beneficial to consider the Guernsey system. The Panel agreed that the Lead and Assistant Members meet with the Lead Scrutiny Officer to investigate the proposed visits and to progress the review. The Panel discussed a letter from the Comité des Chefs de Police in respect of a letter from the Panel informing the Comité of changes to its work programme. The Panel agreed to write to the Comité explaining that the change to its work programme had been caused by the withdrawal of a proposition by the Housing Department. | CA/WM CA/WM |
| 6. HMP La Moye The Chairman congratulated the Panel for their work both in preparation and during the Public Hearing with the Minister for Home Affairs in respect of the Prison. The Panel agreed to include a break in the middle of any future Public Hearings if they were likely to be lengthy. The Panel discussed the Public Hearing, the format of the resulting report and noted the importance of the transcript of the Public Hearing. The Panel agreed to invite Jurat Tibbo, as Chairman of the Board of Visitors, to a Panel meeting to discuss their role in respect of the Prison. The Panel further agreed to request a copy of the Board of Visitors' 2005 Annual Report. The Panel noted the sickness levels of staff at the Prison and the relatively high proportion of musculoskeletal related sickness. The Panel also noted the announcement that a teaching co- ordinator was to be appointed to assist at the Prison. The Panel agreed to ask Home Affairs how much and when money was requested for the Prison. | CA/WM CA/WM CA/WM |
CA/WM
The Panel agreed to send thank the Minister for attending the Public Hearing in a covering letter when the transcript of the Public Hearing was sent for her consideration.
- Sexual Offences
The Panel referred back its statement in the States in response to the Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- being referred to them for consideration. The Panel noted that their statement had recommended that "the Home Affairs Minister carries out wide consultation before drafting the appropriate supporting legislation. In addition, the Panel requests that evidence of that consultation be provided to it prior to the proposed legislation being brought back to the States." The Panel discussed the implications of their statement and whether, in their view, wide consultation' had been carried out. The Panel subsequently discussed the possible courses of action open to them if the consultation was deemed inadequate. Deputy Martin suggested that a Sub-Panel be set up to consider the issue should a review of some description be deemed necessary. The Panel further discussed the possibility of consulting with the following:
Medical Officer of Health
Brook
ACET
Minister for Health & Social Services
Minister for Home Affairs
The Panel agreed that no decision would be made until after the Minister for Home Affairs had made a statement in the States on Tuesday 16th May in respect of the course of action her
Department intended to take. If, as anticipated, a revised proposition was lodged the Panel would consider this prior to making a decision on the appropriate course of action.
- Work Programme
The Panel noted the revised work programme and related information.
- Questions to Ministers
The Panel noted that Deputy Pitman would be asking questions of the Minister for Education, Sport & Culture in respect of outstanding documents previously requested.
- Future Meetings
The Panel noted that the next meeting would take place at 9:30am on Tuesday 30th May 2006 in Le Capelain Room, States Building.
Signed Date
.. Chairman, Social Affairs Panel