Income Support - Review of Benefit Levels - Approved Sub-Panel Minutes - 2 March 2010

Present

Deputy G.P. Southern , Chairman Deputy T. Vallois

Deputy D.J. De Sousa Connétable S.A. Yates Connétable D.W. Mezbourian

Apologies

Mr. E. Le Quesne

In attendance

C. Le Quesne, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Minutes

The Sub-Panel received and approved its minutes of the 26th January 2010.

Item 26.01.10

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2. Media  and Public Engagement

The  Sub-Panel  decided  that  it  would  wish to  undertake  the following -

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a) a re-run of its radio advertising;

b) a public engagement event to take place on the 20th March 2010 between CT Maine and Hamon's between 10.00 am and 2.00 p.m;

c)  subject to the event being success the Sub-Panel would consider a repeat of the public engagement event on the 27th March;

d) that AEA design be invited to prepare designs for two silk screens for the above events. It was noted that the screens would cost approximately £130 each plus artwork;

e) Connétable Mezbourian , Connétable Yates and Deputy Vallois would attend the event for the first two hours, Deputy Southern and Deputy De Sousa would attend the last two hours. Mr. Le Quesne would be invited to attend the afternoon session. Officer attendance was requested.

The officer was directed to make the necessary arrangements for the event.

3. Administration

The Sub-Panel noted the following -

1. That arrangements for a meeting with Age Concern had now  been  confirmed  and  would  form part  of  the next scheduled meeting on  16th March 2010 at St. Thomas Community Centre starting at 2.30 pm. Any administrative decisions required could be taken at a short meeting which would follow in the Welcome Centre;

2. The Chairman and Deputy De Sousa advised that they had met with a representative from the Welcome Centre at St. Thomas's  Church  in an  effort  to  increase  its  public engagement  and  reach  more  seldom-heard groups.  An agreement had been reached to circulate posters to widen the review's reach to those groups and some discussion had  taken  place  on  the  possibility of circulating  a  flyer about the review to the whole congregation with the regular church  newsletter.  Confirmation  would be  received  with regard  the  later  in  the  near  future.   Deputy  De  Sousa agreed to follow up on the circulation of the flyer;

3. The Sub-Panel  was  advised  that  a  delay  in  uploading videos  to Facebook  until  an  assessment  on  resource implications could be undertaken was recommended by the Scrutiny Office. The Sub Panel did not consider that the production or uploading of videos would have significant resource  implications  and  was  minded  to progress  the matter. The Chairman advised that he would discuss the issue with the Greffier of the States; and,

4. An outline document of all the public engagement activities and timescales to beusedbyotherPanelsas requested at the previous meeting.

4. The Room at the Bridge

The Sub-Panel agreed that it would reduce officer attendance to once a week on a Wednesday afternoon from 2.00 -5.00 pm. The Officer was directed to take the necessary action.

5. Statistics and interpretation

The Sub-Panel discussed its approach to interpreting the data from its survey and the data that was expected from the Social Security Department at the end of March. It recognised that its Advisor  Dr.  Martin  Evans  would  interpret the data from  Social Security and that it would retain the services of Dr. S. Harkness to assist with examining indications from its survey data.

The  Sub-Panel  noted  that  it  had  received  some  advice  on weighting from the Statistics Unit and expressed appreciation for that assistance. It also considered a report entitled Assessing the reliability of evidence' from The Comptroller and Auditor General,

where the issue of corroboration of evidence was raised. The Sub- Panel agreed that whilst much of the information it was currently receiving was anonymous or anonymised and kept confidential it had  previously  and  was  being corroborated  by  evidence  from professional organisations. In addition, many of the points raised in submissions were similar to issues addressed by States members when advocating for individuals. The Sub-Panel agreed that it was possible that further corroboration might be available subsequent to the survey data being interpreted and where possible assessed and validated against previous independent survey data.

As an added precaution the Sub-Panel agreed that it would seek the view of the Statistics Unit on any indicative trends it believed had been identified to ensure that it was correctly understanding the data.

6. Meeting dates

The Sub-Panel noted that the Chairman and Vice Chairman would attend a meeting with Methodist Leaders at 7.30 pm to discuss the review.

It noted the following meetings and arrangements -

The next meeting would be held on 16th March 2010, at 2.30 pm at St. Thomas Church, Community Centre where the Sub-Panel would meet with Age Concern, a short Sub-Panel meeting would follow at the Welcome Centre.

Sub-Panel members would attend a meeting on 17th March 2010 at 7.30 pm at Mont àl'Abbé School where it would meet with the Parents Association.

Sub-Panel members would attend a public engagement event on Saturday 20th March 2010 between 10 am-2.00 pm in King Street.