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Education & Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting
Date: 14th May 2007 Meeting 24
Present Deputy F.J. Hill ,BEM, Chairman
Deputy D.W. Mezbourian , Vice-Chairman Deputy S. Pitman
Deputy J. Gallichan
Apologies
Absent
In attendance Senator F.H. Walker , Chief Minister [Item 2]
Mrs. J. Marshall, Strategic Planning Manager – Chief Minister's Department [Item 2]
Mr. W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer Mr. T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter Action | |
| 1. Records of Previous Meetings The Panel approved and signed the records of its meetings of 2nd April, 16th April (with one minor correction), 23rd April and 30th April 2007. The Panel considered notes made of its meetings (held on 30th April 2007) with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Senator M.E. Vibert , and the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator. W. Kinnard. Amendments were made and the Scrutiny Officers were requested to insert into the records the WM/TO respective question plans that had been prepared. The Panel agreed to distribute copies of the notes to the Ministers. | |
| 2. Meeting with the Chief Minister The Panel met the Chief Minister, Senator F.H. Walker , accompanied by Mrs. J. Marshall, Strategic Planning Manager. Consideration was given to the work of the Scrutiny function and to scrutiny of the 2008 Annual Business Plan. A separate record of the meeting was made. It was agreed that the Chief Minister would receive a copy of the record. | |
| 3. Social Policy Framework The Panel suspended its meeting in order to attend a presentation at St. Paul's Centre on A Social Policy Framework for Jersey. All Panel Members attended. | |
[30/04/07, Item 2] | 4. Early Years a) Requests for Information The Panel considered and approved a list of stakeholders whom would be invited to make a written submission. The Panel agreed it would also wish to invite submissions from registered child minders. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to establish the most convenient way in which such invitations could be made. | WM/TO |
WM/TO The Panel agreed to advise the Department of Education, Sport
and Culture of its intention to approach the head-teachers of all
primary schools for written submissions.
The Panel recalled its intention to develop a questionnaire in order that a survey of parents' views could be undertaken. It was advised that approval from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture had been required for a questionnaire undertaken in relation to the potential establishment of a bilingual nursery. It was noted that similar approval from the Department might need to be sought for the Panel's questionnaire. It was further noted that head-teachers could potentially be asked for assistance in distributing the questionnaire to parents.
The Panel considered and approved a draft request for information that would be despatched to stakeholders.
- Expert Advisor
The Panel considered a list of potential candidates to be WM/TO appointed as an external advisor. It identified three individuals
and requested the Scrutiny Officers to make preliminary enquiries regarding the availability of these individuals and the
potential cost of their engagement.
The Panel was advised that Financial Direction No. 5.1 – Engagement and Use of Consultants did not require competitive written quotations for engagements estimated to
cost less than £25,000 although it was recommended that price-testing occur for such engagements. It was noted that
such price-testing would occur for the appointment of an
advisor for the Early Years Review.
WM/TO
- Documentation
The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to circulate copies of
the PowerPoint presentation that it had received from Mr. M. WM/TO Lundy, Assistant Director – Schools and Colleges, on 18th April
2007.
The Scrutiny Officers were requested to circulate copies of the following documentation, received from Deputy S. Pitman, for inclusion in the Review file:
Response, dated 12th August 2004, by the former Deputy
J. Bridge to A Vision for the Future of Early Education and Childcare in Jersey (R.C.35/2004).
Extracts from www.jcct.org.je relating to the types of childcare in Jersey; the payment of childcare in Jersey; and the work of the Jersey Child Care Trust.
Written question to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture by the Connétable of St. Helier , dated 25th April 2006.
The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) Project: Findings from the Pre-School Period (October 2003).
The Panel recalled its agreement to remain in contact with the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. C. Swinson MBE. It was advised that no documents had yet been received from the Comptroller and Auditor General.
[11/05/07, 5. Centeniers in the Magistrate's Court
Item 1] The Panel was advised that correspondence was ready to be
sent to the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator W. Kinnard; H.M. Attorney General, Mr. W.J. Bailhache QC; Mr. I. Le Marquand, Magistrate; and Mr. I. Christmas, Assistant Magistrate. The Panel noted that requests would also be made for information on case figures.
The Panel noted that, during consideration of appointing a legal advisor, a suggestion had been made by Deputy J. Gallichan that further consideration be given to the appointment of local legal expertise.
The Panel requested that a timeline be placed as an appendix WM to its Scrutiny Report. It also identified quotes that it would
wish to have inserted in the final report.
6. Action Updates and Matters Arising
The Panel noted actions taken following requests made at its previous meetings.
The Panel noted that no response had been received to its request, dated 11th April 2007, to the President of the Chairmen's Committee regarding an update on progress of Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee.
The Panel noted receipt of briefing notes from the Chairmen's Committee meeting of 13th April 2007. The Scrutiny Officers WM/TO were requested to obtain further clarification regarding the Committee's approval of expenditure for the provision of a
media feed in the Scrutiny rooms. The Panel was advised that
the next Committee meeting would occur on 18th May 2007.
WM/TO The Panel agreed that a request would be made to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture for documentation
relating to the Citizenship curriculum.
The Panel received copies of A Conservation Statement for Fort Regent Jersey (September 2006) as prepared for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.
[30/04/07, 7. Orchid Communications
Item 3] The Panel noted that, on 13th April 2007, the Chairmen's
Committee had agreed that an interim review of the service provided by Orchid Communications would be conducted before the end of its current contract. It was advised that this review would not require Panels to meet representatives of Orchid Communications.
The Panel further noted that a questionnaire had been prepared by Orchid Communications with a view to the future of public engagement. It was noted that a request had been made by Orchid Communications to meet each of the Scrutiny Panels in order to discuss the questionnaire.
The Panel agreed to invite Orchid Communications to meet it
at 10:00am on 16th May 2007. The Scrutiny Officers were WM/TO requested to take the appropriate action.
- Code of Practice
The Panel considered a paper relating to the manner in which draft Scrutiny Reports were distributed for comment on their accuracy. The Panel noted the provision of Item 11.6 of Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee (P.101/2006):
"In order to ensure that the evidence received is fairly and accurately reported, the Panel will circulate relevant draft sections of the report to all witnesses for comment in advance of finalising the report. Normally these draft sections will be factual or descriptive passages and will not include the Panel's own findings and recommendations."
The Panel agreed that, in future, it would take a case-by-case approach to the question of whether draft Scrutiny Reports distributed for comment would include the Panel's findings and recommendations.
- Meeting Arrangements
The Panel was advised that, under Standing Order 138, a Scrutiny Panel comprising four Members had a quorum of two, provided that the Chairman of that Panel had informed the States that the Panel would consist of four Members.
The Panel considered the frequency of its meetings and whether it was necessary to continue to meet fortnightly. It was agreed that the Panel would not meet on 29th May 2007 unless there were a pressing need to do so. Apologies were received from Deputy J. Gallichan for any potential meeting that might be held on that date.
The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting was due to be held on 11th June 2007.
- Forthcoming Propositions
The Panel noted that no written confirmation had been given to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture of the Panel's decision not to review Student loans for higher education - introduction Education, Sport and Culture (P.52/2007). It was recalled that the Minister had been advised at the meeting on 30th April 2007.
The Panel agreed that it would not seek to undertake a Scrutiny Review of the following proposition:
Draft Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) (Jersey) Law 200- (P.56/2007)
WM/TO
It was agreed to write to the Minister for Home Affairs with advice of the Panel's decision in relation to P.56/2007.
- Ministerial Decisions
The Panel noted that the following decisions had been made by the Minister for Home Affairs:
Work Permit Policy (MD-HA-2007-0033) – 18th April 2007
Draft Export Control (Jersey) Law 200- to be sent to the Department for Constitutional Affairs for informal comment by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (MD- HA-2007-0036) – 30th April 2007
| 10. Questions to Ministers The Panel noted that the Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator T.A. Le Sueur , and the Chief Minister, Senator F.H. Walker , were due to answer questions without notice at the States sitting of 15th May 2007. |
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[16/04/07, Item 8] | 11. Scrutiny Meeting The Panel noted that the meeting of all Scrutiny Members was due to occur on 22nd May 2007. It was advised that the location for the meeting had not been finalised. It was further advised that the expectation remained that the Panel would make a presentation regarding its visit to Lambeth Council and Westminster. |
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| 12. Future Work Programme The Panel considered a paper regarding potential follow-up actions to its meetings on 30th April 2007 with the Ministers for Education, Sport and Culture and Home Affairs. The Panel agreed it would wish to undertake visits in relation to Critical Skills and Assessment for Learning and also to Haute Vallée School in connection to the pilot skills scheme in operation there. The Scrutiny Officers were requested to take appropriate action. The Panel requested the Scrutiny Officers to undertake research and liaise with the relevant Departments in connection to the following topic areas: Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Policing of Events Police Authority Customs and Immigration | WM/TO WM/TO |
Signed Date: ..
Chairman
Education & Home Affairs Panel