Education and Home Affairs - Approved Panel Minutes - 13 July 2017

Present

Deputy L. M. C. Doublet , Chairman   Deputy T. A. Vallois  

Deputy S. Y. Mezec

Apologies

Deputy J. M. Maçon, Vice-Chairman

Absent

In attendance

Mr A. Harris , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1. Records of Meetings.

The Panel noted and approved the minutes of the meetings held on 22nd, 27th, 29th and 30th June 2017. The Chairman signed them accordingly.

Item 2 03/07/17

2. Conflict of Interest

The Panel agreed to maintain the item as a separate heading on the agenda in order to prompt discussion during meetings. The Panel wanted it noted that maintaining transparency was one of the key aims of the Panel in upholding its integrity.

Item 2 30/06/17

516/36/6

3. States of Jersey Police Force (Jersey) Law 2012 Amendment No.2

The Panel noted that its letter had been sent to the Minister for Home Affairs requesting that the legislation was deferred until the Assembly sitting on Tuesday 26th September, after concerns had been raised with the Panel by the States of Jersey Police Force Association about the proposed legislation.

The  Officer  explained  that  the  information  had  been  sent  to  the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department in order for answers to be obtained addressing the concerns. It was then noted that the Minister for Home Affairs had contacted Deputy T.A. Vallois to explain that the Department was addressing the concerns and would provide answers before the end of the day.

The Panel agreed to draft two versions of the comments paper, one maintaining the Panel's wish to defer the debate, the other presenting the information requested of the Department. The Officer explained that any comments would need to be approved prior to 12:00pm the following day, as any comments submitted after that time would need to be presented explaining the later submission. The Officer advised that these would be drafted and circulated immediately for Panel approval.

AH

Item 4 03/07/17

516/36/5

4. Draft Criminal Procedure (Bail) Law 201-

The Panel approved its comments on the Draft Criminal Procedure (Bail) Law 201-. These were to be presented to the States Assembly on Friday 14th July 2017.

Item 1

5. Digital Skills

29/06/17

The Officer informed the Panel that a meeting had taken place with Deputy J.M. Maçon, whereby it was agreed that the Panel would request an update on the recommendations of S.R.9/2014 Digital Skills' from the Minister for Education.

The Officer advised that the aforementioned report was presented by a Sub-Panel of the Economic Affairs Panel and that it was best practice to consider whether work was already being undertaken by that Panel. The Panel noted that the Economic Affairs Panel had requested further information  as  to  the  focus  of  the  work  that  the  Panel  wished  to undertake. The Officer would liaise with the Officer for the Economic Affairs Panel to make this information available.

AH

Item 8 03/07/17

6. Brexit

The Panel noted a briefing paper from the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel regarding the formation of a Brexit Review Panel. It was noted that the Panel had been requested to provide a member to sit on the Review Panel.

After discussion the Panel noted that Deputy J.M. Maçon had expressed an interest in sitting on the Review Panel. It was therefore agreed that Deputy J.M. Maçon would act as Panel representative.

JM

7. Independent Jersey Care Inquiry

The Panel noted that all members, with the exception of Deputy T.A. Vallois, had been invited by the Chief Minister to sit on an advisory group to inform policy decisions arising from the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI) report.

The Panel discussed the potential impact on Scrutiny should members agree to sit on this advisory group. It was agreed by the Panel that if members were to sit on the proposed advisory group this would present a conflict of interest.

The  Officer  presented  the  Panel  with  a  briefing  paper  from  the Chairman's Committee proposing the formation of a Sub-Panel to review any policy or legislation arising from the Inquiry's recommendations. The Panel agreed that a Review Panel would be more appropriate and noted that this was due to be discussed at the Chairman's Committee meeting on Friday 14th July 2017. The Chairman explained that she was unable to attend this meeting and Deputy J.M. Maçon was due to attend in her absence. The Panel agreed that as Deputy J.M. Maçon was not party to discussion held during the meeting, Deputy T.A. Vallois would attend the Chairman's Committee meeting as a representative of the Panel to discuss the formation of a Sub-Panel. The Officer advised that the Head of Scrutiny would be informed of the decision.

TV AH

Item 15 05/06/17

516/45

8. Nursery Education Fund

The Officer explained that a meeting had taken place with the Chairman and Deputy T.A. Vallois, where it was agreed that the Panel would bring a proposition to the States requesting the Minister for Education to bring forward proposals relating to the Nursery Education Fund.

The Panel requested the Officer to organise a briefing with the Early Years and Childcare Partnership in order to discuss the progress of a review that was underway with regards to the funding of Early Years Education. The Officer advised this would be arranged in due course, taking into account the summer recess and availability of members.

The Officer explained that a proposition would be drafted for Panel approval over the summer recess.

AH AH

Item 10 03/07/17

516/44

9. School Starting Age

The Panel noted that an updated Ministerial Response was due to be provided by Friday 21st July.

The Panel requested the Officer to liaise with the Education Department in  order  to  set  up  a  meeting  with  the  Minister  for  Education  on Wednesday 19th July during the Assembly lunch break. It was also requested that the Head of Scrutiny attend this meeting.

AH

Item 11 03/07/17

516/47

10. Tertiary Education: Vocational Education

The Panel was presented with a potential work programme detailing the reviews it had agreed to undertake.

After discussion, the Panel agreed not to undertake this review upon consideration of upcoming legislation and the prioritisation of work in respect of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.

Item 12 03/07/17

516/48

11. Tertiary Education: Departmental Funding

The Officer informed the Panel that a meeting had taken place with Deputy J.M. Maçon in order to identify the next steps of the review. The Officer was to liaise with the Treasury and Resources Department in order to gain more information prior to the launch of a review. An update would be provided to the Panel in due course.

AH

Item 13 03/07/17

516/46

12. Tertiary Education: Student Finance

The Panel noted that an oral question had been submitted to the Chief Minister regarding an update on the progress made by the Student Finance Sub-Committee. This was due to be answered on Tuesday 18th July in the States Assembly.

The Officer advised that a meeting was taking place with representatives of the Jersey Student Loans Support Group (JSLSG) on Monday 17th July. The Panel requested the Officer to inform JSLSG of the Panel's intentions to regularly follow up with questions in the States Assembly.

AH

14. Recommendations from reports

The Panel requested that the Officer provide a document detailing the recommendations made by the Panel during its term of office. The Panel further requested a document detailing the recommendations made by the previous Panel. The Officer advised that these would be compiled and distributed with the agenda for the next meeting.

AH

15. Future Meeting

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting was due to take place at 1:30pm on Monday 4th September 2017 in the Blampied Room, States

Building. Due to the availability of members, it was agreed that the meeting would be moved to 1:30pm on Monday 11th September 2017. The Officer advised that a meeting request would be circulated in due course.

AH