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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 5 March 2007

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Education & Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 5th March 2007 Meeting 16

Present Deputy F.J. Hill ,BEM, Chairman

Deputy D.W. Mezbourian , Vice-Chairman Deputy S. Pitman

Deputy J. Gallichan

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Mr W. Millow , Scrutiny Officer

Mr T. Oldham , Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

[01/03/07, Item 1]

1. GP-Out-Of-Hours Report

The Panel noted that comments on the factual accuracy of the report  had  been  received  on  5th  March  2007  from  the Department  of  Health  and  Social  Services. The  Panel considered  the  comments  and  agreed  to  some  of  the amendments suggested by the Department. The report was subsequently approved, as amended. The Panel agreed that correspondence would be sent to the Department to indicate which suggested amendments had been agreed and to advise that the report would now be printed for presentation.

The Panel agreed that the report would be presented to the States  on  8th  March  2007. It  was  agreed  that  States Members and the media would receive electronic copies of the report, under embargo, on 5th March 2007 (with hard copies to be despatched on 6th March 2007). The Panel further  agreed  to  hold  a  media  release  at  2:00pm  on  7th March 2007.

The Panel requested that a time-line be drawn up to show the occasions on which the draft report had been distributed for comment as well as the responses that had been received to this distribution.

WM WM WM

[19/02/07, Item 14e]

2. Records of Previous Meetings

The  Panel  requested  clarification  on  the  reference  to  the Youth  Action  Team  in  the  record  of  its  meeting  of  19th

February  2007.  The  Panel  discussed  and  agreed  further amendments. The amended record of the meeting would be presented for approval at the meeting on 2nd April 2007.

The  Panel  approved  the  record  of  its  meeting  of  22nd February 2007

WM

 

3. Action Updates and Matters Arising

The Panel noted the actions undertaken on requests that it had made at its previous meetings.

The Panel agreed that the Lieutenant-Governor would receive

 

a copy of all reports that it presented. WM/TO The Panel requested that the Scrutiny website was checked to

ensure  that  links  to  hearings  held  during  the  Centeniers WM/TO Review were working.

The Panel noted that the Chairman would be giving evidence [19/02/07, to  the  Privileges and  Procedures  Sub-Committee  that was

Item 10] undertaking a review of the first twelve months of Ministerial

Government.

  1. Panel Training

The Panel noted the proposed itinerary for its visit to the UK [19/02/07, Parliament. The Panel  agreed that it  would try to arrange

Item 3] further  appropriate  meetings  away  from  Parliament  to BH/TO

maximise its time in London. The Panel agreed that contact

would be made with Lambeth Council to seek a meeting.

The  Panel  discussed  travel  and  hotel  arrangements  and requested the Officers to make further enquiries. TO

  1. Annual Report

The Panel discussed and amended its draft submission to the [19/02/07, Annual Report. The Panel's contribution would be submitted WM Item 6] for inclusion once the agreed amendments had been made.

  1. Criminal Justice Policy

[19/02/07, The Panel noted receipt of Pillar 9 of the Criminal Justice

Item 14c] Policy and a request by the Minister for Home Affairs for its

initial comments to be received at the soonest opportunity.

The  Panel  agreed  that  Panel  Members  would  read  the BH/DM/JG/SP document prior to a meeting on 15th March 2007 at which time

it would be discussed further.

  1. Safer St Helier

The  Panel  noted  receipt  of A  Safer  St  Helier-  Report  to

Council  of  Ministers  (14th  December  2006)  from  the

Department of Home Affairs. The Panel agreed that it would

not seek to undertake a Review of the issue.

  1. Higher Education Funding

The Panel considered the merits of undertaking a Review on

the  issue  of  Higher  Education  Funding.  It  noted  that

[19/02/07, clarification was required from the Department of Education,

Item 5] Sport and Culture on certain issues including the potential re-

classification of Island students as Home Students and the

proposed interest rate for the student loans scheme.

The Panel agreed that it would not undertake a review of this

topic but that it would continue to monitor the development of

the  policy  on  Higher  Education  Funding  and  that  it  would JG/SP produce a statement on its position.

  1. Early Years

The Panel noted that the Minister for Education, Sport and [19/02/07, Culture would present an Early Years report to the Council of Item 7] Ministers on 1st March 2007 and instructed the Officers to WM/TO

contact the Minister to request a copy.

The Panel agreed to meet on Thursday 15th March to further consider the option of undertaking a review, with the benefit of

having had the opportunity to view the Early Years report presented to the Council of Ministers.

[19/02/07, Item 8]

10. Youth Service

The Panel discussed the merits of a possible review of the Youth  Service.  It  agreed  that   Deputy  Pitman  would  be appointed to work on a draft scoping document that would be

considered at the meeting on Thursday 15th March 2007.

SP/WM

 

11. Working Practices

The Panel agreed to place the item on the agenda for the

Panel meeting subsequent to that of 15th March 2007.

WM/TO

[19.02.07, Item 4]

12. Centeniers in the Magistrate's Court

The Panel agreed to delay discussion of the report until it had heard  back  from  the  Scrutiny  Manager  following  her consideration of the draft.

 

 

13. Code of Practice

The Panel discussed the current situation relating to the Draft Code of Practice. It agreed to write to the President of the Chairmen's Committee to request an update on the progress of the draft and express its belief of the importance for the draft to be presented to the States at the earliest opportunity. This draft should include the areas of legal advice and access to Council of Ministers and former Committee Part B' minutes.

WM/TO

 

14. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that it would next meet on 15th March 2007.

 

Signed Date: ..

Chairman

Education & Home Affairs Panel