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Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 18th March 2016
Present | Deputy L. M. C. Doublet , Chairman Deputy T. A. Vallois Deputy S. Y. Mezec |
Apologies | Deputy J. M. Maçon, Vice-Chairman |
Absent |
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In attendance | Mr M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer. |
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Records of Meetings The minutes of the meetings held on 25th January 2016 (AM and PM), 1st, 15th, 22nd and 29th February 2016 were approved for signing. |
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Item 2 14.01.16 | 2. Conflicts of Interest There were no conflicts of interest declared. |
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Item 3 14.01.16 | 3. Building a Safer Society The Panel agreed to attend a briefing in relation to Building a Safer Society at 10am on Wednesday 4th May 2016 at Police Headquarters. | MR |
| 4. Scrutiny Protocol The Panel considered the draft Protocol for Engagement between Scrutiny Panels and the Executive.' The Panel identified that the document was one of four new documents, intended to replace the one current Code of Practice for Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in order to create rules of engagement between the Panels and the Executive. It was pointed out that Article 76 had previously contained a list outlining the course of actions available should the protocol be breached. That list was to be circulated to Members. The Panel agreed that there were significant problems with the contents of the section relating to legal advice. The Panel discussed whether it was appropriate to replace the one Code of Practice with four separate documents. It was agreed that the document should be clear, should tighten up on the current Code and should make the differences between Scrutiny and PAC clear. It was suggested that this could be achieved by a single document with appendices to outline those differences. The Panel aired various opinions on whether the Code of Practice should deal with the working practices of the Panel or should deal with engagement by the Executive, or both. The officer was to draft a response for the Chairmen's Committee and circulate it to the Panel for approval. | MR MR |
| 5. Annual Report The Panel approved the draft of the Annual Report subject to an amendment adding thanks to Deputy J.A. Martin for her assistance in being co-opted into the Special Education Needs Review. | MR |
Item 10 15.02.16 516/44 | 6. School Starting Age The Panel noted the current position of the review and discussed the questions for the public hearing with the Minister for Education on Monday 21st March 2016. It was noted that the advisor, Professor E. Wood was attending for the public hearing. It was agreed that the Panel was to make the best use of the time that the advisor was in Jersey by meeting an hour before, and then again after the public hearing to discuss the progress of the review. The Chairman suggested that the Panel should obtain the voice of the child' and might do this by contacting a named individual from a UK university for advice in that area. | MR MR |
| 7. Education (Jersey) Law 1999 The Panel deferred consideration of this matter to the next meeting. | MR |
| 8. Unlawful Public Entertainment In considering a submission by a member of the public to reconsider undertaking a review into Unlawful Public Entertainment, or at least aspects of the Licensing Law that deal with entertainment in licensed premises, the Panel noted that the Economic Development Department was re-examining the whole of the Licensing Law and was about to go out to public consultation. It was also understood that the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel was about to undertake a review into the work of the Department. The Panel would not undertake any work in that area if another Panel was dealing with the issues. | MR |
| 9. Police Complaints Authority. The Panel noted P.21/2016 Jersey Police Complaints Authority: Re- Appointment of Members which had been lodged au Greffe on 2nd March 2016. |
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| 10. Budget The Panel's spending during 2015 was noted. The Panel identified that all reviews undertaken had come in under budget. |
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| 11. Community and Constitutional Affairs Department Following a request to the Department, the Panel noted flow charts that demonstrated the management structure, leadership teams, finance and business support teams, policy groups and Department Management Board structures. |
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| 12. Ministerial Decisions The Panel noted all Ministerial Decisions published by the Education and Home Affairs Ministers since their last meeting. |
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| 13. Freedom For Life |
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| The Panel noted that an invitation to visit new premises obtained by Freedom For Life Ministries had been received. Deputy S. Y. Mezec volunteered to attend as the representative of the Panel. A date was to be arranged. | MR |
| 14. Cyber Bullying The Panel noted that Deputy J. M. Maçon and Deputy S. Y. Mezec had offered their services to assist the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel in a review into Cyber Bullying. The detail of their involvement was to be arranged at a later date. |
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Item 1 29.02.16 | 15. Quarterly Hearing with Education Minister The Panel noted that the preferred venues were not available for the quarterly hearing due to be held on 18th May. The Panel agreed it could be available on another date, perhaps 16th May. |
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| 16. Future Meetings The next meeting was scheduled for 9.30am on Monday 14th March 2016 in the Le Capelain Room. | MR |