Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 2 October 2006

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Agenda matter

Action

1. Minutes of previous meetings

The  Panel  approved  the  minutes  of  its  meeting  of  the  19th September 2006.

[04/09/06 Item 8a]

[04/09/06 Item 9]

[04/09/06 Item 13]

2. Matters arising

1. Action Updates

The Panel noted updates on actions requested at its previous meetings and agreed the following further actions:

2. The Panel agreed to write to the topic proposer informing him of progress in this area.

3. The Panel agreed to write a further letter to the Chief Minister requesting an update on progress in this area.

4. The Panel agreed to send the letter that had been previously drafted.

2. Chairman and Panel Members Actions

The Chairman informed the Panel that a media consultancy firm, Orchid Communications, had been appointed by the Chairmen's Committee  after  a  process  in  which  six  companies  were interviewed and three shortlisted.

Deputy Mezbourian explained that the consultancy firm had been contracted to do ten hours work per week on a four month trial basis from October 2006. It was confirmed that Orchid would be arranging to meet with all of the Scrutiny Panels in order to understand what the Panels wanted by way of support and how the Panels felt the scrutiny process should be portrayed to the public. The Panel was further informed that the work of the

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media consultants would be co-ordinated and managed by the Chairmen's Committee through the Scrutiny Manager.

Deputy Mezbourian updated the Panel in respect of progress in organising the Scrutiny Away-Day. The Panel were informed that the current proposal was for all non-Executive members to be invited to attend along with the Scrutiny Office staff.

The  Panel  noted  the  Government  Communication  Day  being

organised by the Chief Minister's Department on Monday 20th October.

The Panel considered the split of the Social Affairs Panel to form a fifth Panel. The Panel discussed the possibility of considering this issue at the proposed Away-Day

The Chairman informed the Panel that he would be attending a meeting of ATTAC on Thursday 19th October in order to talk

about the rôle of Scrutiny.

3. Rôle of the Centenier in the Magistrate's Court

The Chairman updated the Panel on progress in respect of this review. The Panel were informed that arrangements for the visit of Ms. T. Easton form the Crown Prosecution Service were in hand. As a result of discussions the Panel agreed the following actions:

To write to Centenier Rigby confirming his attendance at a Public Hearing  Monday 30th October  from 1:30pm  until

2:30pm;

To write to Centeniers Gotel and Foley acknowledging their submissions and thanking them;

To ascertain the status of the transcripts for the Public Hearings of the 19th and 23rd September;

For the Chairman to meet with Ms. Easton at her hotel and accompany her to the States building;

To  book  a  restaurant  on  the  evening  of  Thursday  5th October in order for the Panel to dine with Ms. Easton; and

For the Chairman to transport Ms. Easton to the airport and provide lunch on Friday 6th October.

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Chairman CA/WM Chairman

4. Income Support

The  Chairman  of  the  Sub-Panel  informed  the  Panel  that  the Interim Report would be completed in time for presentation to the

States on Tuesday 10th October. The review would then be suspended until more detailed information was available from the

Social Security Department. Based upon information currently available, it was unlikely that the review would re-start before 2007.

5. GP Out-of-Hours

The Panel considered the forthcoming Public Hearings with Dr. Cameron  and  the  Jersey  Competition  Regulatory  Authority (JCRA). The Panel noted that there was currently no date for a Public Hearing with the Minister for Health & Social Services or Dr. Perchard. The Panel further noted that a performance review

of the GP Out-of-Hours Service was required on 6th October 2006 and agreed to request a copy of the results in advance of

any  subsequent  Public  Hearing  with  the  Minister  and  Dr. Perchard. The  Panel  went  on  to  discuss  a  possible  line  of questioning for the Minister and Dr. Perchard concerning the use of alternative premises, namely established doctor's surgeries.

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6. Overdale

The Panel noted the arrangements for the forthcoming Public Hearings. The Panel were informed that Mrs. I. Le Feuvre had been suggested as a potential witness by the Health & Social Services Department.

7. HMP La Moye

The Panel received copies of the draft report on HMP La Moye. The Chairman informed the Panel that answers by the Minister for Home Affairs in the States to questions posed by the Panel members had been put on file in the Scrutiny Office.

The Panel discussed the outstanding Performance Improvement Plan  (PIP)  and  agreed  to  consider  the  report  at  their  next meeting.

8. Update on Topic Proposals

1. The Panel noted the Act of the Legislation Committee and agreed to advise the topic proposed accordingly.

2. The Panel noted the correspondence from the Minister for Home  Affairs  and  agreed  to  notify  the  topic  proposed accordingly.

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9. Questions to Ministers

The  Panel  noted  the  forthcoming  arrangements  for questions without notice to Ministers.

10. Future Meetings

The  Panel  considered  the  arrangements  for  the  forthcoming Public Hearings and noted it would next meet on Monday 16th October  2006  at  9:20am  in  the  Le  Capelain  Room,  States Building.