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Social Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Meeting 7
Date: 20th February 2006 Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building
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 Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer
Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter Action | |
| 1. Minutes of Previous Meeting The Panel approved the minutes of the meeting of 6th February 2006 with one amendment to Item 1 relating to the statement made in the States following a decision to refer an item to Scrutiny. It was agreed to add that the statement should "say whether the Panel will scrutinise the matter or not." | |
[06/02/06, Item 2] [06/02/06, Item 2] [06/02/06, Item 4g] [06/02/06, Item 6] | 2. Matters Arising from the Minutes The Panel noted that the correspondence from Advocate C. Lakeman relating to Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- (P.196/2005) had been received electronically. The Panel noted that work on the powers of subpoena were still in progress. It questioned whether these powers would apply only to Scrutiny panels or whether Ministers would be granted similar powers. The Officers were requested to clarify the situation. CA/WM The Panel noted that it would be meeting with Senator B.E. Shenton at 10:00am on 6th March 2006. It further noted that Senator Shenton had only been invited to discuss the issues of Early Years Education and Income Support. He had not been invited to form part of a sub-panel. The Panel noted that a formal request for feedback on the Scrutiny website (www.statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny/frame.asp) had come from the Chairmen's Committee. It also noted that the Committee had considered the matter of a notice-board to advertise Scrutiny panel meetings. However, it had made no decision as the person responsible for the board had been unable to meet with the Committee. | |
| 3. Other Matters Arising The Panel noted that the Council of Ministers had established a sub-group of Ministers to steer matters of social policy and that Mr. I. Skinner had been seconded to the Chief Minister's Department to work on this subject. The Panel agreed to write to the Chief Minister to ask what consideration had been given to the relationship between the Panel and the new sub-group. It also agreed to request information on the work of the sub-group. | CA/WM |
The Panel noted that Scrutiny Topic Scoping Documents for those Topics chosen for review had not been uploaded on to the Scrutiny website.
The Panel received a report from the Chairman on the [06/02/06, Chairmen's Committee meeting of 17th February 2006. It noted
Item 2] that the Committee had agreed to split the Social Affairs Scrutiny
Panel when sufficient manpower and financial resources could be
allocated. It was further noted that an approach would need to be
made to the States to obtain this allocation.
The Panel noted that the Chairmen's Committee had considered the involvement of Deputy S. Pitman in the proposed review of the Youth Service. It was accepted that whilst Deputy Pitman had a strong interest in the subject, this did not equate to a conflict of interest.
The Panel considered the relationship between Scrutiny and the media. It was informed that Deputy D.W. Mezbourian had met with Mr. C. Bright, editor of the Jersey Evening Post, and that the former had suggested a meeting between Mr. Bright and the Chairmen's Committee. The Panel noted that the relationship between Scrutiny and the media was a subject of ongoing discussion for the Chairmen's Committee.
The Panel received the following documentation:
Fire and Rescue Service: Integrated Risk Management Annual Action Plan 2006
The Panel received the following documents and noted they were confidential and not for public viewing:
States of Jersey Customs & Immigration Service: Business Continuity Plan
Income Support (Jersey) Law 200- (Draft 1)
Income Support (Jersey) Law 200- (Draft 2)
The Panel considered whether it should co-ordinate questions for those sessions in States sittings where Ministers receive questions without notice. It was agreed that this would be discussed at the next meeting.
- Work Programme
- General
The Chairman reported that the Chairmen's Committee had approved the Panel's proposed Work Programme at the Committee meeting on 17th February 2006. The Committee had
expressed reservations regarding the ambition of the Panel and whether there were sufficient manpower resources to achieve this ambition.
The Panel noted that the initial reviews would be Income Support and GP Out-of-Hours. It further noted that work on these reviews was due to begin immediately.
The Panel agreed that it was desirable to use one advert to give
the Terms of Reference and call for evidence for both initial CA/WM reviews. The Officers were requested to initially draft one advert
but to revert to single adverts for each review should they subsequently deem it more appropriate.
The Panel agreed that it was too early to consider potential dates
for Public Hearings but that this matter should be placed on to the
next Agenda. CA/WM [26/01/06], The Panel agreed that each Minister within its remit should be
Item 2] contacted regarding the Panel's decisions relating to its Work CA/WM
Programme.
- Income Support
The Panel agreed that Deputy J.A. Martin would act as Lead Member, with Deputy S. Pitman as Assistant Lead Member, for the above review.
The Panel considered the interest of Deputy G.P. Southern in this
topic and agreed to invite him to its meeting on 6th March 2006 in CA/WM order to discuss what he could contribute to the review.
The Panel noted that a sub-panel could be formed for this review. It noted that Standing Order 139 provided the following guidelines for the establishment of Scrutiny sub-panels:
- A scrutiny panel may establish a sub-panel to review,
consider, scrutinize or report or liaise upon any particular matter.
- A scrutiny panel may appoint an elected member who is not a member of the scrutiny panel or a Minister or Assistant Minister to be a member of a sub-panel.
- A scrutiny panel may not allocate any of its resources to a sub-panel without the agreement of the chairmen's committee.
The Panel further noted the lack of precedent regarding the creation and working of sub-panels and agreed that the matter would be discussed at the next meeting.
- GP Out-of Hours
The Panel agreed that Deputy A.E. Pryke would act as Lead Member, with Deputy D.W. Mezbourian as Assistant Lead Member for the above review..
The Panel agreed that it would not create a sub-panel for this review.
- Youth Service
[06/02/06, The Panel noted that Mrs. S. Costigan, Principal Youth Officer,
Item 4f] would be invited to its meeting on 20th March 2006 in order to CA/WM
discuss the Youth Service.
- Responding to Drug Use
The Panel noted that it had received information from the [06/02/06, Department of Home Affairs following its request for an update on
Item 5] the response to Recommendation 18 of Responding to Drug Use (SR1/2004). It agreed that this information did not provide a
suitable update and that the Panel should therefore meet with the
person responsible for implementing Recommendation 18. CA/WM The Panel requested it receive a copy of Health Needs Analysis
HM Prison La Moye carried out Dr R. Wool in 2004. CA/WM
The Panel noted correspondence received from Drs. G. Callander
and J. Bailey. It agreed that the correspondence reflected the confusion that had arisen regarding the role of Scrutiny. It subsequently agreed that the Panel could not be held accountable for the withdrawal of funding for training of General Practitioners. The Panel agreed that correspondence should be
sent to the Minister for Health and Social Services advising him of CA/WM the matter and asking that the Panel be kept informed of any
response to the concerns raised by Drs. Callander and Bailey. It
further agreed that the Panel should write to Drs. Callander and
Bailey to inform them of the Panel's actions.
- Smoking Ban
The Panel noted correspondence received from Mr. G. Fletcher,
Chief Executive of the Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA), regarding the proposal for a partial ban on smoking in the workplace. It agreed that the Panel would write to the Minister for
Health and Social Services to inform him of the concerns of the
JHA and to request that the Panel be kept informed of the Department's work in this area. The Panel further agreed that the
Panel should write to the Minister for Economic Development to CA/WM make him aware of the concerns raised by Mr. Fletcher. The
Panel also agreed a response should be sent to Mr. Fletcher informing him of the Panel's actions.
- Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- (P.196/2005)
The Panel noted the promise made by the Minister for Home [06/02/06, Affairs (during her Public Hearing with the Corporate Services
Item 4e] Scrutiny Panel on 16th February 2006) that legislation regarding
abuse of a position of trust would be brought forward. The Panel
agreed to write to the Minister to ask whether the Panel's recommendations (communicated by the Chairman in his CA/WM statement to the States on 31st January 2006) would be
addressed.
- Panel Members' Contact Details
The Panel agreed it would provide the Officers with full contact details. It received clarification that details would not be released into the public domain without prior permission from the Member concerned.
- Public Meeting
The Panel noted that the Environment Scrutiny Panel had [06/02/06, arranged a public meeting for 2nd March 2006. It therefore
Item 4] decided to postpone its own meeting from 2nd March 2006 to 15th
March 2006. The Officers were requested to check whether the CA/WM Town Hall would be available for this alternative date. The Panel
would prepare for the Public Meeting at its meeting on 6th March 2006.
The Panel noted that the purpose of the meeting would be to inform the Public of the Panel's responsibilities, present the Work Programme for 2006 and receive suggestions for Review Topics from the Public.
The Panel also noted that a bundle of information could be provided to members of the Public who attend the meeting. The CA/WM
Officers were requested to prepare a display that would present
the Panel to the Public.
The Panel agreed that a Press Release should be sent to the [06/02/06, media that set out the Panel's agreed Work Programme and CA/WM
Item 4] provide advance notice of the Public Meeting. A separate advert
would be placed closer to the date of the Meeting.
The Panel noted the cost of advertising in 24Se7en. It further noted that it would be of interest to see costing estimates for advertising through Channel 103.
- Forthcoming Propositions
The Panel agreed it would not seek to review Cigarette Lighter Refill Canisters – Sale to Minors (P.218/2005).
[06/02/06, The Panel deferred any decision on a potential review of the Item 3] proposals to develop the Stafford Hotel site into a private hospital
pending the States decision on Private Hospital Development: Scrutiny Review (P.221/2005).
- Future Meetings
The Panel noted that the training day on Friday 24th February [06/02/06, 2006 would begin at 8:15am.
Item 8]
The Panel agreed that it would meet in Le Capelain Room, States Building for the next two meetings but that discussion of future locations would occur at the next meeting.
The Panel noted that the next meeting would take place at 9:30am on Monday 6th March in the Le Capelain Room, States
Building.
Signed Date ..
Chairman, Social Affairs Panel