The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel
Meeting 21
Date: 23rd May 2008
Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building
Present Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman
Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier
Deputy S. Power
Apologies Deputy A. Breckon, Chairman
Absent
In attendance Mr C Ahier , Scrutiny Officer
Mr M Orbell, Scrutiny Officer
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action | |
| 1. Minutes of previous meetings Minutes of the meeting of 6th May 2008 were approved and signed. |
| |
| 2. Matters arising Chairman and Panel Members' Actions The Panel noted that it would address actions under separate agenda items. |
| |
|
| ||
P60/2008/ Esplanade Quarter, St. Helier : Masterplan Council of Ministers 17th June 2008 P185/2007/ Draft Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 200- Minister for Treasury and Resources P185/2007/Amd. Draft Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 200- P185/2007/Amendments Minister for Treasury and Resources P185/2007/ Com. Draft Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 200- P185/2007/Comments Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel |
| ||
|
| ||
P67/2008/ Flu Pandemic Funding Minister for Treasury and Resources The Panel noted that Deputy Martin would not be in the Island for the States sitting of 3rd June. |
| ||
| 4. Questions to Ministers The Panel noted the forthcoming arrangements for questions without notice to Ministers. |
| |
| 5. Recent States Sittings The Panel received and noted a summary of issues raised at the States sitting of 13th May relevant to the Panel. The Panel further noted that the process of summarising was labour intensive. It was agreed to consider at a future meeting the merits of continuing with the summaries. |
| |
| CURRENT REVIEWS:
The Panel were informed that an Officer meeting had been arranged for Friday 30th May at which progress to date with the Sub-Panel's recommendations would be discussed.
The Panel were informed that the Sub-Panel had conducted a Public Hearing on Thursday 22nd May with members of the public and the Minister for Social Security. The Panel noted that the Minister had acknowledged that there were issues with the changes to Attendance Allowance under Income Support. It was further noted that the Minister had agreed to review the situation and report back to the States at their sitting of 3rd June 2008 with a proposed solution to alleviate the financial hardship inflicted upon recipients. The Panel noted that officers of the Social Security Department had confirmed that the next phase of Income Support involving negotiations with care homes and the agreement of a standard contract for care was due for completion by the end of 2008.
It was noted that a meeting between Scrutiny and Population Office officers was held on 14th May to discuss the proposed review of housing market conditions and activity. It was further noted that an additional meeting would take place between the Sub-Panel Chairman and the Housing Minister on Tuesday 10th |
| |
| June. The Panel noted that Sub-Panel members had already indicated their willingness to conduct a review over the summer subject to the Panel's decision whether or not to progress the review of New Directions'. The budget for such a review had already been approved and terms of reference would be completed once preliminary investigations had identified what support and information could be obtained from Departments and other sources.
The Panel considered the outcome of their meeting with the Minister for Health & Social Services. The Panel noted that the Council of Ministers would be considering the New Directions proposals on Thursday 12th June. It was further noted that should the document be approved on that date there was still uncertainty as to whether public consultation by the Department of Health & Social Services would commence prior to the election of the new Council of Ministers in December. The Panel agreed to defer a decision about the review until after the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday 12th June. In the interim the Panel agreed to cancel all public hearings prior to the 12th June.
The Panel considered progress with the review and agreed to make arrangements to visit Guernsey on Monday 9th June to gain a greater knowledge of their Social Insurance Scheme. It was noted that Deputy Martin would not be available for this visit. The Panel further considered arrangements for the proposed visit of their adviser on Friday 13th June and agreed the following actions:
| CA/MO CA/MO CA/MO CA/MO CA/MO | |
| 11. Annual Business Plan The Panel noted the information on the Capital Programme 2009- 2013 and agreed to consider the issue in more detail at their next | CA/MO | |
| meeting. |
| |
| 12. Pandemic Flu Vaccine The Panel received and noted P67/2008/ - Flu pandemic funding' lodged au Greffe on the 13th May 2008 by the Minister for Treasury & Resources with draft comments by the Scrutiny Office for their consideration. The Panel agreed to submit comments to the Scrutiny Office by Friday 30th May and subsequently to develop a set of questions for submission to the Minister for Health & Social Services. It was further agreed to invite the Minister for Health & Social Services to a Public Hearing on Thursday 19th June. Deputy Martin indicated that her availability was subject to arrangements for public hearings being made in respect of the Review into the proposed importation of bovine semen'. | CA/MO CA/MO | |
| 13. Social Security Statistics The Panel were informed that a request to the Social Security Department for updated statistics had been made and that the resulting data was being reviewed by the Department prior to its release to the Panel. The Panel noted that the Chairman had made an additional request to the Social Security Department for statistical information. |
| |
| 14. Future Meetings The Panel noted that the next meeting would be at 9:30am on Tuesday 10th June 2008 in the Le Capelain Room, States Building |
| |
Signed Date ..
Chairman, Health, Social Security and Housing Panel