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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes 10 September 2007

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Education & Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 10th September 2007 Meeting 39

Present Deputy D.W. Mezbourian , Chairman

Deputy J. Gallichan, Vice-Chairman Deputy S. Pitman

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

Mr. T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter Action

[04/09/07, Item 3]

1. Early Years

The  Panel  discussed  its  approach  to  Annual  Business  Plan  2008: Amendment (P.93Amd/2007)  lodged  by  the  Minister  for  Education, Sport  and  Culture.  The  Panel  recalled  its  correspondence  with  the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture in which the Panel explained that it would not take part in the debate on Annual Business Plan 2008 (P.93/2007):  Amendment  (P.93Amd/2007)  and  would  abstain  from voting. The Panel agreed that this remained the appropriate course of action  and  that  the  merits  of  its  Review  would  be  maintained irrespective of the outcome of the debate.

The Panel noted its approval by email on 6th September 2007 of the budget for travel arrangements for the expert adviser interviews that would be held on 14th September 2007.

The  Panel  requested  copies  of Changes  in  Children's  Cognitive TO Development at the Start of School In England 2000-2006.

[04/09/07, Item 9]

2. Policing Of Events - User Pays

The Panel discussed its draft Terms of Reference for its Policing of Events User  Pays  Review  and  agreed  amendments.  Further,  it discussed the draft Scoping Document and agreed amendments. The Panel approved the outline budget for the Review.

The Panel noted the oral question tabled by the Deputy of St Martin to be asked of the Minister for Home Affairs in the States Assembly on 11th September 2007, regarding the levying of user pays charges on the organisers of the Jersey Live event in September 2007. The Panel agreed  to  advise  the  Minister  prior  to  the  States  sitting  on  11th September 2007 of its decision to undertake the Review and the Terms of Reference. The Panel would also write to the Minister for Home Affairs to request a briefing on the subject of Policing of Events.

The Panel further agreed to write to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, the Minister for Economic Development and the Chairman of  the  Economic  Development  Scrutiny  Panel  notifying  them  of  its Review and informing them of the Terms of Reference. It would also be requesting a briefing from the Minister for Economic Development on the area of Event led Tourism.

The Chairman advised the Panel that she had informed the Chairmen's Committee  at  its  meeting  on  7th  September  2007  of  the  Panel's

WM

WM WM

decision to undertake a Scrutiny Review on the matter.

The  Panel  agreed  that  the  Officer  should  continue  to  work  on  the progression  of  the  various  aspects  of  the  Review,  including  the WM preparation of the call for evidence, media release and arrangements

for Public Hearings, for which the Panel identified and agreed some potential  dates.  Further  background  research  would  also  be undertaken, including the situation in other jurisdictions.

WM The Panel requested a copy of the relevant section of Hansard relating

to the withdrawal of P94/2006.

The  Panel  discussed  the  merits  of  the  appointment  of  an  expert independent adviser to assist the Review. It agreed that it would not be appointing an adviser at this moment but if necessary would review this decision at a future stage.

[04/09/07, 3. Annual Business Plan

Item 10] The Panel was advised about discussions on the Annual Business Plan

that had taken place at the Chairmen's Committee meeting on 7th September 2007. The Officers were requested to check the format and WM /TO update  the  Panel  on  the  process  for  Panel  reports  that  had  been

agreed at that meeting.

The Panel agreed that it would not be possible at this stage to submit

formal comments in advance of the Annual Business Plan debate that

would commence on 18th September 2007, although it would contact WM/TO the Education, Sport and Culture Department to seek clarification on

some aspects of its Annual Business Plan.

The Panel requested the Officers to investigate whether there was an TO opportunity for Members to access training on financial Scrutiny. The

Panel further requested that the next Strategic Plan - Progress Against WM/TO Initiatives report be placed on the agenda when available.

  1. Matters Arising

[04/09/07, The Panel was advised that Highlands College had been notified that

Item 7] the  Panel  would  not  be  able  to  attend  a  site  visit  on  previously DM

suggested dates. The Panel would contact the College in due course to

arrange an alternative date.

The Panel requested the Officers to clarify the distribution procedure to

Panels of Chairmen's Committee agendas, meeting briefing notes and WM/TO records of meetings, and to update the Panel accordingly.

The Panel agreed to write to Mr Andrew Williamson CBE to submit comments  regarding  its  concerns  over  children  absconding  from TO Heathfield  Children's  Centre  to  his  Review  of  child  protection arrangements

  1. Ministerial Decisions

The Panel noted that the following decision had been made by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture:

  • Student Grants Orders 2007 (MD-ESC-2007-0034)

The Panel noted that the following decisions had been made by the Minister for Home Affairs:

  • Criminal Injuries Compensation Board - report and accounts for 2006 (MD-HA-2007-0052)
  • Request for funding transfer for Change to phase 3 of the prison

redevelopment plan (MD-HA-2007-0055)

  • Request to increase the Prison establishment by two and a half Civil Servant posts (MD-HA-2007-0056)
  • Police (Police Complaints and Discipline Procedure) (Amendment) La 200- (MD-HA-2007-0053)
  • Police (Honorary Police Complaints and Discipline Procedure) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 200- (MD-HA-2007-0054)
  1. Forthcoming Propositions

The Panel noted the following propositions:

  • Draft Criminal Justice (Community Service Orders)(Amendment)

(Jersey) Law 200-

  • Draft Police (Honorary Police Complaints and Discipline Procedure) (Amendment No.2)(Jersey) Regulations 200-

The Panel raised concerns about Draft Criminal Justice (Community

Service  Orders)(Amendment)(Jersey)  Law  200- (P.110/2007)  and WM requested that potential questions be drafted and circulated to it.

The Panel requested the Officers to research and report back to the

Panel regarding its question relating to the original Police (Honorary WM/TO Police  Complaints  and  Discipline  Procedure)  (Jersey)  Regulations

2000.

  1. Questions to Ministers

The Panel noted that the Minister for Social Security and the Chief

Minister would answer questions without notice at the States sitting of

11th September 2007.

It also noted the question submitted by Deputy G C L Baudains of St Clement to the Minister for Home Affairs regarding TASER stun guns. The Minister was due to table an answer at the States sitting on 11th September 2007.

The Panel further noted that the Minister for Home Affairs would answer

questions without notice at the States sitting of 25th September 2007. [04/09/07, 9. Rôle of the Centenier in the Magistrate's Court Item 4] The Panel recalled its previous decision that Cooper Opinion was to be published following the presentation of the Panel's report. The Panel

agreed to write to Mr Jonathan Cooper to advise him of its decision to WM insert a comment into the section of his Opinion regarding Parish Hall Enquiries.

10. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that it would next meet at 9:15am on Friday 14th September 2007 in Le Capelain Room, States Building, to interview candidates for the position of Early Years expert adviser to the Panel during the course of its Review.

The Panel agreed to meet at 9am on Monday 17th September at La Petite Ecole Fort Regent Day Nursery for a pre-arranged site visit of the facility, prior to a site visit of The Bridge at 10:30am. The site visits would be followed by a Panel meeting in Le Capelain Room, States Building, at 2pm.

Signed Date: .. Chairman, Education & Home Affairs Panel