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Social Security and Housing - Approved Panel Minutes - 5 February 2008

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Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel

Meeting 16

Date: 5th February 2008

Location: Le Capelain Room, States Building

Present   Deputy J.A. Martin, Vice Chairman

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier

Apologies   Deputy A. Breckon, Chairman

Deputy S. Power

Absent

In attendance  Mr C Ahier , Scrutiny Officer

Mr M Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Minutes of previous meetings

nd

a) Minutes of the meeting of 22 January 2008 were approved with minor amendments.

CA/MO

 

2. Matters arising

Chairman and Panel Members' Actions

The Panel noted that it would address these actions under separate agenda items.

 

 

3. Forthcoming Propositions

The Panel noted the following propositions lodged for debate in the States on 12th February 2008:

  • P198/2007 – Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee

Chairmen's Committee

  • P11/2008   Corporate  Management  Board:  access  to meetings and minutes

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement

  • P20/2008   Income  Support  Medical  Appeal  Tribunal: Appointment of Members

Minister for Social Security

 

 

4. Questions to Ministers

The Panel noted the forthcoming arrangements for questions without notice to Ministers.

 

 

CURRENT REVIEWS:

5. Telephone Mast Sub-Panel

The Sub-Panel awaits further information arising from the meeting between  the  JCRA,  Planning  and  Health  Protection  regarding progress against recommendations and the delivery of the website

 

 

before finalising its comments.

  1. Income Support Sub-Panel

The  first  meeting  of  the  Sub-Panel  with  new  membership had  taken  place.  The  Sub-Panel  had  been  approached  by  a number  of  members  of  the  public  with  concerns  about  the implementation of Income Support. A media statement had been released advising people to contact the Sub-Panel if they had any concerns. Family Nursing and Home Care had indicated that they had some misgivings over changes to their funding arrangements. It was noted that there may be a risk of the Sub-Panel becoming seen  as  an  alternative  Citizens'  Advice  Bureau'  when  public concerns should really be addressed to the Parishes. A call for evidence was to be launched at the end of the week under the general Scrutiny banner, rather than in the Sub-Panels name.

The Sub-Panel would meet once a month; there could be a need for an increased budget if radio advertising was required, but this was yet to be established.

  1. Housing Sub-Panel

There  was  some  discussion  of  the  proposed  involvement  of Housing Trusts in providing the Jersey Homebuy' shared equity scheme. Members expressed concerns that this would need to be very carefully researched and tightly regulated. There would be a need for the Sub-Panel to call for detailed figures and carry out a full review into the shared equity proposals. There was agreement that  the  Sub-Panel's  response  to  the  Over  55s'  rezoning consultation needed to be made public.

  1. Long Term Care

Arrangements were in hand to interview candidates for the adviser rôle  in  London  during  half  term  week  (w/c  18th  February).

Members queried whether there was a professional body with an overall coordinating function for Long term Care in the UK.

MO

CA/MO MO

CA/MO

 

FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME:

9. 2008 Departmental Business Plans

Provisional  arrangements  had  been  changed  to  meet  with  the relevant Ministers on the 25th February 2008 instead of the 20th as

previously proposed. The Vice Chairman confirmed that she would not be present for those meetings as she would still be off-Island; other members would be available. It was agreed that the Panel should hold a pre-meeting at 10.00am prior to the first hearing at 11.00am.  Officers  were  asked  to  prepare  a  provisional  set  of questions for the meetings.

CA/MO

 

 

10. Future Meetings

It was agreed that the meeting scheduled for 19th February 2008 would be cancelled owing to the number of members who would be away.

 

Signed  Date  ..

Chairman, Health, Social Security and Housing Panel