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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 26 January 2006

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SOCIAL AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL

Meeting held on Thursday 26th January 2006 at 9:30am

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 [Part of Item 2]

Mr. C. Ahier , Scrutiny Officer

Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

 

Item and Back

No. Ref.

Agenda matter Action

1.

 

Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200-

 

 

Further to the States decision of 18th January 2006 to refer Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200-(P.196/2005)

to the Social Affairs and Corporate Services Scrutiny Panels, the Panel considered the draft version of the statement to be made by the Chairman at the States

sitting of 31st January 2006.

 

 

The Panel met with the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel to discuss each Panel's proposed course of action relating to the referral from the States. The Social Affairs Panel was informed that the Corporate Services  Panel  was  minded  to  accept  the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- (P.196/2005) as a review topic. It was further informed that this review would focus  on  Jersey's  international  obligations  with respect to the European Convention of Human Rights and would have a projected duration of six weeks.

 

 

The Panel, in conjunction with the Corporate Services Scrutiny  Panel,  met  with  Mr.  L.  Small,  Director, Jersey Youth Reform Team. Both Panels explained their  proposed  courses  of  action  regarding  the referral to Scrutiny of Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- (P.196/2005). Mr. Small advised the Panels of the  situation  regarding  his  pending  case  in  the European Court of Human Rights.

 

 

 

2.

 

Consideration of Work Programme for 2006

 

 

 

The Panel considered the following suggested topics and agreed that they would not be subjected to a

 

review:

  • Implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Cardiology Service
  • Services for elderly tenants, Fuel Poverty and Rent Structure [considered as one topic]
  • Tenant participation and re-branding of States tenants [considered as one topic]

The Panel considered the following suggested topics and agreed that they might merit the Panel's attention in the future, subject to further information:[KTF1]

New Directions (i.e. "the redesign of the health and social care system")

  • [KTF2]Implementation  of  a  Public  Health Strategy
  • Implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Longer Term Care
  • In-Island Higher Education
  • Introduction of student loans
  • Further Education provision
  • 14-19 Curriculum

The Panel considered the following suggested topics and agreed that a Scrutiny Topic Scoping Document would  be  completed  for  each  one. The  Panel assigned  responsibility  for  the  completion  of  each Scoping  Document  (indicated  in  brackets)  and agreed that the Documents would be ready for the

Panel meeting of 6th February 2006: JM

  • Income Support ( Deputy J.A. Martin) AP
  • Provision  of  a  General  Practitioners  out-of- BH/DM hours  co-operative  service  ( Deputy  A.E. Pryke)
  • Criminal  Justice  Policy  (P.201/2005) BH (Chairman and Deputy D.W. Mezbourian )
  • Implementation of the recommendations of the SP Wool Report on Health Needs in H.M.P. La Moye (Chairman) SP
  • Sexual  Offences  (Jersey)  Law  200- (P.196/2005) ( Deputy S. Pitman) DM
  • Youth Service ( Deputy S. Pitman) JM/AP
  • Early Childhood Education and Care ( Deputy D.W. Mezbourian )
  • Housing Trading Organisation: establishment (P.211/2005) (Deputies J.A. Martin and A.E.

Pryke)

It was noted that Income Support and the GP out-of- hours system were those topics most likely to merit

the Panel's initial attention.

It  was  noted  that  the  Panel's  proposed  Work

Programme for 2006 would need to be ready by 10th February 2006 in order that it could subsequently be

considered  by  the  Chairmen's  Committee  on  17th CA/WM February 2006.

The Panel agreed that each Minister within its remit CA/WM should be informed of the Panel's decisions on those

matters  relating  to  that  Minister. This  would  be undertaken once the proposed Work Programme had

been viewed by the Chairmen's Committee.

The  Panel  requested  the  Officers  to  contact  the following  Departments  in  order  to  obtain  certain information:

  • Department of Social Security: It was agreed that  a  request  should  be  made  for  a  draft

[09/01/06 version  of  the  Law  regarding  the  proposed Item 2] Income Support system. It was also agreed

that  a  request  should  be  made  for  the background evidence relating to the proposed five-year residency requirement for access to Income Support.

  • Department of Home Affairs: It was agreed that an earlier request for Business Plans for the individual sections of the Department of Home Affairs should be followed up. Furthermore, the Panel agreed that it would like to receive an update on the response by the Department

[11/01/06 of  Home  Affairs  to  Recommendation  18  of Item 2] Responding  to  Drug  Use  (SR1/2004)

regarding  H.M.P.  La  Moye. It  was  also agreed that the Panel would like to see a draft version of the revised Criminal Justice Policy SP when it became available.

  • Department of Education, Sport and Culture: The  Panel  requested  further  information  on the proposed review of the Youth Service. It agreed that it would like to meet with Mrs. S. Costigan,  Principal  Youth  Officer. It  also agreed that Deputy S. Pitman would approach the  Youth  Service  for  information  on  the proposed review.

The  Panel  considered  calling  for  suggestions  of review topics from the Public. It was noted that the four  Scrutiny  Panels  had  not  co-ordinated  their actions in this regard but that this did not negate the

possibility of a single request from all Scrutiny Panels being  made  under  the  aegis  of  the  Chairmen's Committee.

3. Future Meetings

The next meeting would take place on Monday 6th February 2006. Subject to confirmation, the meeting

would occur at Trinity Parish Hall .

The Panel recalled that a visit to the Department of [23/01/06 Housing had been arranged for Monday 30th January

Item 2]

at 2:00pm.

SIGNED

Date: CHAIRMAN, SOCIAL AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL

[KTF1]Might [KTF2]WW