Scrutiny Weekly Activity Bulletin - 17 July 2020

Scrutiny Liaison Committee Weekly Bulletin of Panel/Committee Activity Week ending Friday 17th July 2020

Scrutiny Liaison Committee  

Although the Committee held its weekly liaison meeting with the Chief Minister on Monday 13th (focussed mostly on improving engagement with Panels in respect of fiscal stimulus plans), it was unbale to meet again due to an all-Member briefing on the future Hospital, the week-long States' meeting, and other scrutiny commitments as below.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

The Panel has mainly focused on its Covid-19 review and non-review work

• The Panel met with the SEB to discuss States of Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005 (in private) on Friday 10th July. Members of the One Gov Review Panel also joined. Related documents were received following the meeting.

• Updated tracking details on use of public finances to fund COVID-19 actions were received from Treasury (15th July).

• The Panel received papers from the Council of Ministers meetings held 7th, 8th and 13th July.

• The Panel continues to review its section of the Government Plan: 2020-2023 S.R.13/2019, highlighting impact and potential prioritisation following Covid-19.

• The Panel continues its Covid-19 Response and Recovery Review. A targeted call for evidence is being progressed. An Advisor Engagement Brief has been agreed and sent to potential advisors.

• The Panel published comment papers on P.74/2020 and P.70/2020 for the States Assembly on the 13th July 2020.

• A letter has been sent to the Chief Minister following analysis of Consultants: Reporting on their use by the Government of Jersey (P.59/2019).

Future meetings/briefings

• The Panel is holding weekly meetings to discuss COVID-19 and general business, this was cancelled following the continuation of the States Assembly.

• The Panel has weekly briefings with the Minister for Treasury and Resources (in private). These are scheduled for Wednesday afternoons. The briefing this week was cancelled following the continuation of the States Assembly.

• A private briefing for the Panel on Revenue Administration is being organised.

• A briefing Proposed Abolition of the Prior-Year Basis (PYB) of paying personal income tax is being scheduled.

• The Panel has a scheduled briefing with the Chief Operating Officer to discuss the Technology Transformation Programme (in private) on Tuesday 21st July at 11.30am.

Economic and International Affairs Panel

The Panel is mainly focussing on the work of the Minister for Economic Development and the support offered to the business community. The Panel is also focussed on the economic impacts of the outbreak.

• The Panel has been discussing the Government Plan in light of the Covid-19 Crisis. With the Government Plan due to be lodged in October, the Panel has decided to evaluate its proposals and consider the Government Plan's workstreams in view of the changing circumstances. At the Panel's meeting on 10 July, the Panel agreed it would begin to consider the RAG ratings that were attributed to the projects at the time of the previous Government Plan Review in view of the funding requirements, and the current circumstances and priorities regarding each project as part of the Government Plan Review. The Panel plans to do this over the following weeks with a view to deliberate further in August.

• The Panel has announced a joint review with the Corporates Services Scrutiny Panel on the Covid-19 recovery work. The Panel will work closely with the Corporate Services Panel on the review, particularly as remits crossover. As part of this work, the Panel has decided to present interim reports in relation to the economic stabilisation aspect as well as the economic recovery aspect of the Government response to the crisis. The Panel anticipates completing the first of its interim reports over the summer months of July and August. The Panel has started to contact stakeholders to gather evidence for its interim reports.

• The Panel has sent out a call for evidence' from businesses on their views of how the level two guidelines which form part of the Safe Exit Framework is being managed. The Panel has received submissions from several businesses relaying their views and experiences. The Panel will use the evidence it has gathered from stakeholders in its review of the Covid-19 crisis.  

• On Tuesday 23 June, the Panel joined the Corporates Services Scrutiny Panel for a briefing on Project Gulf. The Panel was briefed on the proposed business case in relation to the Government considering providing financial support to the airline Blue Islands as part of the economic recovery process. The Panel has received a confidential copy of the signed Ministerial Decision.

• The Panel has weekly catch-up meetings with the Minister for Economic Development (normally on a Thursday morning). The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 16th July.

• The Panel is due to hold a Public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for External Relations on Friday 17 July.

Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel

Briefings/Meetings arranged/work undertaken

• The Panel is considering undertaking a review regarding the Covid-19 crisis and response in relation to the impact of wellbeing on children'. Once discussions have been finalised regarding the potential review, the Panel will produce a Scoping Document and Terms of Reference. The Panel is having to review its work programme to accommodate this potential review within the required time frame. The Panel will decide how it intends to progress with regards to this review at its next scheduled meeting on Monday 27 July.

• In relation to Covid-19, the Panel is considering the Government Plan in light of the crisis. The Panel has decided to evaluate and consider the current Government Plan's projects in view of the changing circumstances.

• The Panel is keeping a watching brief on the Draft Covid-19 (Fixed Penalty Notices) (Jersey) Regulations 202- which is being considered in light of the Covid-19 response. The Panel has communicated Terms of Reference for a potential review to the Minister for Home Affairs and is planning to consult with additional stakeholders (including the Children's Commissioner) if the legislation is formally lodged. During a Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister for Home Affairs on Friday 10 July the Panel was informed that the Fixed Penalty Notice legislation had been placed on hold and that no further action would be taken regarding the legislation at this time.

• The Panel continues to have a weekly meeting, on a Monday, with the Minister for Education to remain informed around the Covid-19 response within her remit. The Panel will not be holding meetings with the Minister on Monday 3rd and Monday 10th August, however meetings will recommence from Monday 17th August.

Business as usual work

The Panel is commencing its business as usual work programme as Covid-19 related work begins to ease.

Briefings/Meetings arranged/work undertaken

• General work programme

The Panel has written to the three Ministers within its remit for an update on their priorities as Covid-19 work eases. This is expected by Friday 17th July and will inform the Panel's forward work programme respectively.

• Teacher Recruitment and Retention Review

The Panel is finalising its work on the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Review with the intention to present its report imminently once factual accuracy checking of the report has been completed by Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) and stakeholders. The Panel is in the process of finalising the Findings and Recommendations for the review.

• Government Plan

The Panel will be discussing the Projects comprised in the Government plan in relation to the RAG ratings it attributed to them during the previous Government Plan Review process, as well as any actions to follow. It is also due to consider the manner in which it will approach its scrutiny of the upcoming iteration of the Government Plan. The Panel will next discuss this at its meeting scheduled for Monday 27 July.

• Taser Proposition

The Panel is undertaking a review of the Deployment of Tasers by the States of Jersey Police Force Officers. A Scoping Document and Terms of References have been compiled for the Taser Proposition review. The Scoping Document and Terms of Reference (ToR) will be sent for approval by the Scrutiny Liaison Committee in due course.

• Police Complaints Law

The Panel is due to receive a briefing on the Police Complaints law on Monday 27 July.

• Public Quarterly Hearings

The Panel is due to hold hearings with the Minister for Education on Friday 25th September and with the Minister for Children on Friday 2nd October. The Panel is due to discuss the question areas for the hearing with the Minister for Education at its next Panel meeting on Monday 27th July.

Comments/Amendment/Publications  

The Panel has presented Comments on the following pieces of legislation since 20th March 2020:

• P.22/2020 – Draft Unlawful Public Entertainments (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• P.23/2020 – Marriage and Civil Status (Amendment of Law (Covid-19 - Temporary Amendment) Regulations 202-

• P.24/2020 – Draft Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 2018 (Appointed Day) (No.3) Act 202-

• P.30/2020 – Draft Covid-19 (Schools and Day Care of Children) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• P.36/2020 – Marriage and Civil Status (Amendment of Law No.2) (Covid-19 - Temporary Amendment) Regulations 202-

• The Panel has worked with the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel in order to develop the amendment to P.41/2020 Draft Covid-19 (Emergency Provisions – Courts) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• The Panel has contributed its views to the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel's comments on P.48/2020 Draft Covid-19 (Restricted Trading) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• P.60/2020 – Draft Covid-19 (Civil Partnerships and Marriage) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• P.77/2020 - Draft Covid-19 (Civil Partnership and Marriage No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations 202- Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel

The Panel has undertaken work and received briefings on the following matters Future briefings/legislative changes to consider:

• The Panel is due to meet on 21st July to consider the following items:

• Bridging Island Plan Review, including suggested amendments to the draft Terms of Reference and Scoping document, a draft Call for Evidence and responses from the Minister for the Environment to questions from the briefing on the 2nd July;
• Deputy Huelin's proposition on the establishment of a digital register of landlords and tenants [P.82/2020] and its relationship to the Minister for Children and Housing's P.106/2019 - Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations 201-. forthcoming proposition in September;
• Work Programme.

• The Panel has written to the Ministers for Children and Housing, and Infrastructure to request information on how they might reprioritise resources to deliver projects (responses were requested for 1st June, but all Ministers have asked for extra time)

• Responses from the Minister for the Environment have now been received and will be considered by the Panel at its next meeting on 21st July.

• The Panel has commenced work in preparation for the Government Plan (written questions to Ministers).

Health and Social Security Panel

The Panel has undertaken work and received briefings on the following matters:

• The Panel met privately on the 9th July to discuss its agenda, including matters such as the COVID-19 Review work, the Jersey Care Model Review and the Government Plan/Recovery Plan ahead of its public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Health and Social Services.

• The Panel received the Minister for Health and Social Services for a public Quarterly Hearing on 9th July.

• The Panel lodged its draft Comments on the Draft Covid-19 (Control of Testing) Regulations on the 9th July 2020.

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider:

• The Panel's fortnightly briefing on 16th July on the Public Health Strategy from the Minister for Health and Social Services was cancelled due to the States Assembly sitting and the Panel will receive a briefing on the 30th July.

Public Accounts Committee Activity Update

• The next PAC meeting has been delayed to 20th July 2020, due to the States sitting on 13th July and in-committee debate of 14th July. The PAC will meet in person in Blampied Room, States Buildings although the C&AG will attend from UK via videolink.

• Quarterly hearing with the Chief Executive and Treasurer of the States on July 27th will focus on questions on the C&AG's reviews on:

o Handling Complaints (C&AG Report published 8 July, Executive Response due 19th August)

o SoJDC (C&AG report published, Executive Response due 19 July 2020)

o Use of Enforcement Powers (Executive Response presented to States)

o Insurance (Executive Response presented to States)

o Covid-19 response (ongoing C&AG review)

o Estate Management Review (ongoing PAC review)

• Estate Management - the PAC has extended the length of the review to allow for the Covid- 19 response:

o Draft call for evidence being considered and stakeholders will shortly be invited to submit evidence on their experience with the Property Division and use of buildings in the Estate.

• The PAC will shortly present a Report on the Annual Report and Accounts 2019, findings and recommendations currently under consideration.

• The PAC will consider whether to undertake a review into Governance, with particular regard to the former C&AG's Thinkpiece report, at its next meeting.

• Executive Responses to the C&AG's recent reports on Insurance' and Use of Enforcement Powers' have been presented to the States, and the PAC will consider comments to follow.

• The Chair and officer continue to have weekly updates with the C&AG via videoconference (Monday mornings).