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Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 13th May 2016
Present | Deputy L. M. C. Doublet , Chairman Deputy J. M. Maçon, Vice-Chairman Deputy S. Y. Mezec |
Apologies | Deputy T. A. Vallois |
Absent |
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In attendance | Ms. V. Payne, Chairperson Jersey Early Years Association. (Item 9) Ms. B. Lewis , Vice-Chair, Jersey Early Years Association. (Item 9) Ms. T. Brint, Treasurer, Jersey Early Years Association. (Item 9) Ms. G. Sparrow, Secretary, Jersey Early Years Association. (Item 9) Mr. M. Farley, Committee Member, Jersey Early Years Association. (Item 9) Mr M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer. |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The minutes of the meetings held on 8th, 18th, 21st and 30th March and 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th April 2016 were approved and signed. | MR |
Item 2 11.04.16 | 2. Conflicts of Interest There were no conflicts of interest declared. |
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Item 5 07.12.15 | 3. Student Loans The Panel noted the report R51.2016, Higher Education Funding, which had been presented to the States by the Minister for Education on 10th May 2016. During consideration, the Panel noticed that the report did nothing to move the problems forward and offered no reasonable solutions. The Panel noted emails which had been sent to the Panel by members of the public requesting consideration of a review due to the adverse impact the lack of funding was having on the higher education of young people in the Island. Differing views were offered within the Panel but it was decided that a question should be formulated for the next quarterly public hearing with the Minister for Education. The Panel agreed that Deputy J. M. Maçon was to lead the watching brief and draft a question for the hearing. | JM/MR |
| 4. School Subsidies The Panel considered an email from a member of the public relating to reduction or withdrawal of subsidies to some schools in the Island. It was expected that this might appear in the Medium Term Financial Plan Addition, to be lodged au Greffe on 30th June 2016. A question was to be asked at the forthcoming quarterly public hearing. | MR |
| 5. Scrutiny Website The Panel noted that a request had been sent to it from the Greffier of the States to provide feedback on the Scrutiny Website. The required feedback was generally positive. | MR |
| 6. Ministerial Decisions |
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| The Panel noted three Ministerial Decisions by the Ministers within their remit and considered that no Scrutiny work was required. |
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Item 2 10.05.16 516/36 | 7. P15.2016 Draft Education (Amendment No.3) (Jersey) Law 201- The Panel considered draft comments in relation to the proposition and agreed some amendments. It was considered that there was a public interest that elected representatives were involved in decisions such as schools shutting down. This area was to be enhanced and the further draft considered. | MR |
Item 4 10.05.16 516/44 | 8. School Starting Age The Panel noted that the report from the advisor was to be provided by 20th May 2016. |
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Item 3 10.05.16 516/45 | 9. Nursery Education Funding The Panel considered a response from Jersey Child Care Trust to an invitation for their representatives to attend a public hearing. The Trust had outlined five reasons why they had declined the request for them to attend and insisted on providing a written submission instead. Whilst the Panel was not satisfied that any of the reasons provided were satisfactory, it decided that there was no time at that stage to address the matter due to the tight timeline for the review. The Panel discussed and made preparations for a public hearing with the Jersey Early Years Association. The Panel noted a string of emails relating to Nursery Education Funding, which had been generated as a result of a Freedom of Information request. The Panel recognised that the content had little to do with the subject matter and was focussed purely on the Ministers and how they had responded to the proposal. The Panel held a public hearing with committee members of the Jersey Early Years Association. The proceedings were recorded with the transcripts and pod cast being published on the Scrutiny Web Site. | MR MR |
Item 6 08.03.16 513/50 | 10. Medium Term Financial Plan Addition The Panel agreed that briefings would be required from the departments within its remit to provide a working knowledge of the Medium Term Financial Plan Addition as it was published. It recognised the timeline and intended to make arrangements to have Panel time set aside accordingly. | MR |
| 11. Future Meetings The next meeting was scheduled for 9.30am on Monday 6th June 2016 in the Le Capelain Room. | MR |