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Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 11 May 2017

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Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date: 11th May 2017

 

Present

Deputy L. M. C. Doublet , Chairman Deputy J. M. Maçon

Deputy S. Y. Mezec

Apologies

Deputy T. A. Vallois, Vice-Chairman

Absent

 

In attendance

Mr A. Harris , Scrutiny Officer Mr M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1.  Minutes and Matters arising

The Panel noted that there were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

 

Item 2 10/04/17

2.  Conflict of Interest

The Panel was informed that Reform Jersey would be releasing its Higher Education Funding policy on 16th May, although no information from the Panel's report had been used. The Panel agreed that this would be considered in future reviews.

 

Item 3 10/04/17

3.  Draft Criminal Procedure (Bail) Law 201-

The Panel noted the upcoming legislation and agreed to organise a private  briefing  with  the  Community  and  Constitutional  Affairs Department in order to inform any potential review. The Panel tasked the Officers to organise accordingly.

AH/MR

 

4.  Quarterly Public Hearings

The Panel received a document detailing upcoming Quarterly Hearings with the Ministers within its remit. The Panel noted dates where Panel members  would  be  unable  to  attend  and  requested  that  these  be rearranged.

AH/MR

 

5.  Brexit

The Panel received a report by the House of Commons Education Committee titled Exiting the EU: Challenges and opportunities for higher education.'

The Panel requested the Officer to compile a briefing note explaining the potential risks posed to the Departments within their remit by Brexit.

MR/AH

Item 3 06/02/17

6.  Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 Reform

The Chairman advised the Panel that she had placed this item on the agenda for discussion at the next Chairman's Committee meeting and would report back to the Panel with the outcome. The Panel felt strongly that a review should be undertaken in this area and would support the formation of a sub-Panel to carry out a review.

 

 

Item4 10/04/17

7.  Visit to Police HQ

The Panel noted that the previous visit had been cancelled due to other Ministerial commitments and agreed to reorganise the visit for Monday 5th June. The Officer advised that this would be organised in due course.

 AH/MR

516/45

Item 5 10/04/17

8.  Nursery Education Funding

The Panel was provided with an update regarding the current relationship between the Education Department and private nursery providers, noting the relationship had not improved.

The Panel requested copies of the transcript from the hearings held with Jersey Early Years Association and the Officer explained these would be circulated in due course. The Panel agreed to follow up the review and tasked the Officer to organise a public hearing with the Minister for Education in order to question him on the progress made thus far.

MR/AH

AH/MR

516/43

Item 6 10/04/17

9.  Prison Board of Visitors

The Panel agreed that its review should be followed up and tasked the Officer to liaise with members in order to take the matter forward.

MR/AH SM/TV

516/44

Item 1 27/04/17

10.  School Starting Age

The Panel noted that there had been a positive response to its report from parents and nurseries and that the media coverage had been much more than anticipated. The Panel reflected on the process of the review and agreed that it had been a good piece of work with constructive recommendations, however it noted the substantial time it had taken to conclude the review.

The Chairman requested that a meeting be organised between herself and the Minister prior to the publication of the Ministerial Response in order to talk through the Panel's report. The Panel agreed to proceed with this and the Officer advised that this would be organised in due course.

AH/MR

516/46

Item 7 10/04/17

11.  Tertiary Education – Student Finance

The  Panel  discussed  the  response  received  from  the  Minister  for Education and agreed that it was a poor response. The Panel agreed to draft a written question for the next States sitting requesting the Chief Minister to update them on the Terms of Reference for the Student Finance sub-committee. It was noted that the Ministerial response from the Minister for Treasury and Resources and the Chief Minister remained outstanding, despite the deadline for the response having passed. The Officer advised that this would be followed up as a matter of urgency. The Chairman  wanted  it  placed  on  record  that  she  felt  the  review  was excellent with actionable recommendations.

AH/MR

MR/AH

 

12.  Communication with Unions

The Panel tasked the Officer to email relevant unions in order to keep the lines of communication open and offer such meetings to them as they see fit to keep the Panel aware of any issues. .

MR/AH

 

13.  Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

The Panel noted that a new President of the Chamber of Commerce had been appointed and had stated the importance of education with regards to local businesses. The Panel agreed to invite the President to meet the Panel for a discussion. The Officer advised that this would be arranged in due course.

MR/AH

 

14.  Future Meetings

The Panel noted that's its next scheduled meeting was due to take place at 9:30am on Monday 5th June in the Le Capelain Room, States Building.