Scrutiny Weekly Activity Bulletin - 22 May 2020

Scrutiny Liaison Committee

Weekly Bulletin of Panel/Committee Activity

Week ending Friday 22nd May 2020 Scrutiny Liaison Committee

At the meeting held between the full SLC and the Chief Minister and Chief Executive on Wednesday 21st May issues covered were:

Concerns about Safe Distancing Regulations

• Enabling adequate time for scrutiny

• Commitments from Ministers to brief Scrutiny on matters of importance

• Scrutiny's call in' authority

• Issues controlling large groups of young people

Communications

• Frequency important but quality just as important

• Need some PR around P.61 in relation to vulnerable people, who feel left out by outcome

More testing rolling out - including States members

SLC to be provided with updates ASAP re: travel restrictions

• noted it was largely dependent on testing at ports

• trial starting soon with Blue Islands

The Committee was unable to meet daily due to the States meeting and other Panel commitments, but when it did (Monday and Friday) it continued to share thinking on: current and forward work planning; forthcoming States business; general information/issues/questions to be addressed by the relevant Panel/Committee; the challenges of engaging with stakeholders/legal and other experts within current curtailed review timeframes; a number of support-staff related matters.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel - Activity Update  

The Panel has mainly focused on ongoing Covid-19 actions and future public finances

• The Panel held a hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources (18th May), a video recording and transcript have been published. Additional questions which were missed due to time constraints have been sent to the Minister. A series of tweets have been drafted

• Updated tracking details on use of reserves to fund COVID-19 actions were received from Treasury (20th May)

• The Panel received items from the Emergencies Council's meeting on 14th May

• 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 is finalising a scoping document for a joint review with Economic and International Affairs Panel into COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Future meetings

• The Panel has weekly meetings to discuss COVID-19 and general business, scheduled on Wednesday morning's

• The Panel has weekly meetings with the Minister for Treasury and Resources, scheduled on Wednesday afternoons

• The Panel had scheduled a meeting with representatives from Jersey Water for Wednesday 20th May, this was postponed following the States Assembly continued sitting is being rescheduled

Economic and International Affairs Panel - Activity Update

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 is due to hold a Quarterly Hearing with the EDD Minister on Friday 22 May to primarily discuss the department's business as usual' areas, but questions on Covid-19 are also likely to be asked.

• The Panel has been discussing ways in which it can support businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19. The Panel has drafted a survey to gather information from the business community in relation to business owners' and self- employed people's views on the payroll scheme and its application process. The Panel notes that two other surveys have been undertaken by organisations on the same subject. In that regard, the Panel is due to discuss when to undertake its survey at its next meeting on 22nd May.

• 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. The Panel is conscious of the fact that the Government Plan is likely to be reconsidered in part and areas addressed where expenditure can be reduced, and savings can be made.

By reviewing the Government Plan, the Panel will find clarity on what was previously proposed, what projects could change, and areas of importance that should not change, in its view, will be highlighted. In doing so, the Panel will be prepared and will have considered its views in advance of when the Government Plan is addressed later in the year.

o  As part of this process, the Panel may hold meetings with the relevant Ministers to determine if and where cuts are being considered, additionally to express any concerns in advance of changes being made.

• The Panel has weekly catch-up meetings with the Minister for Economic Development (normally on a Thursday morning).

• The Panel is likely to hold further meetings/Hearings in due course. Witnesses identified include the Chamber of Commerce, Jersey Business and Jersey Hospitality Association. Dates to be confirmed.

Education and Home Affairs Panel

 Briefings/Meetings arranged/work undertaken

• The Panel is due to begin consultation with the States of Jersey Police and Chefs de Police in relation to the proposed Draft Covid-19 (Fixed Penalty Notices) (Jersey) Regulations 202-. The Panel has communicated its Terms of Reference 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. At present there is no certainty as to when the legislation will be lodged as it has yet to be approved by CoM.

• The Panel has continued its weekly catch up meetings with the Ministers in its remit (Education, Home Affairs and the Children's aspect of the Minister for Children and Housing). The Panel has updated its log of issues either raised by members of the public or stakeholders which it is using as the basis for discussion at these weekly meetings.

• The Panel is due to receive briefings on the following matters in the coming week:

i. Development of a new Multi-Agency Safeguarding Support Team

ii. Results of the joint survey between CYPES and the Children's Commissioner

iii. Plans for a safe phased return for schools

• The Panel continues to receive a weekly briefing from Officers in the Children's Service on its operation during the Covid-19 outbreak. Due to public hearings taking place the Panel has not held its weekly catch up meetings with the Ministers, however, these will pick back up in the coming week.

• The Panel has held the current hearings with Ministers as of 22nd May 2020:

1. Minister for Education – Friday 15th May – 10:00am – 11:30am
2. Minister for Children and Housing – Friday 22nd May – 10:00am – 11:30am

• The Panel has rearranged its public hearing with the Minister for Home Affairs to 3:30pm on Tuesday 26th May.

• The Panel has written to all teaching and emergency services unions in order to gather their views on the response to Covid-19. Thus far, it has received responses from the NEU, NASUWT and Fire and Rescue Service Association which it is following up with the respective Ministers where appropriate.

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider

The Panel is due to examine the following legislative changes:

• The Panel is due to receive a briefing on 20th May on plans to stand up a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team which would have oversight of safeguarding services across the Island (for both children and adult services).

• Further amendments are expected in relation to carrying out marriage and civil partnership ceremonies safely during the Covid-19 outbreak. The Panel is due to receive a briefing on these developments on Monday 25th May.

• Legislation is being considered around preventing unlawful gatherings' during Covid-19.

• Legislation is being considered around tackling riots as a result of Covid-19 matters. Again, this is currently in its infancy and would require significant changes to existing legislation.

The Panel will likely arrange briefings for all of these pieces of legislation and consult (where possible) with relevant stakeholders.

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-

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel Briefings/Meetings arranged

The Panel met on the 14th May 2020 to discuss:

• the Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations 201- (P.106/2019)

• the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 202-, Panel noted it would be progressed, however Chair to consider concern raised about zoonotic diseases in the light of Covid-19 and raise with Minister with Environment.

• potential Government Plan/Recovery Plan work - letters to be sent to Ministers asking for their views on impact

• Covid-19 impact on the Island Plan Review – Minister for Environment and Infrastructure to be invited to private briefings prior to public hearings

• Covid-19 impact on the Carbon Neutral Strategy – SLO officer asked

• Covid-19 impact on the Sustainable Transport Strategy – SLO officer asked

• Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Children and Housing – agreed for 4th June.

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider

• The Panel is due to receive the Minister for Children and Housing for a private briefing on the Covid-19 (Residential Tenancy) (Temporary Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 2020 (P.42/2020) and Tenancy Agreements on 27th May 2020.

Health and Social Security Panel – COVID-19 Response Update The Panel has undertaken work and received briefings on the following matters:

• The Panel received a joint briefing with the Economic and International Affairs Panel on the Draft Covid-19 (Workplace Restrictions) (Jersey) Regulations 202- on the 14th May 2020.

• The Panel received a briefing on the changes to the mental health and capacity laws in response to Covid-19 from the Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services which included external stakeholders such as Enable Jersey on the 14th May 2020.

• The Panel received a briefing from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the provision of mental health services following the outbreak of COVID-19 on 15th May 2020.

• The Panel received a briefing on the Greenfields Secure Care Unit and the Temporary Meadowfields Mental Health Care Facility from the Minister for Children and Housing and the Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services on 18th May 2020. The briefing included an overview of how patients could be kept physically distanced.

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider:

• The Panel has fortnightly briefings with the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department on the Public Health Strategy and weekly update meetings with the Minister for Health and Social Services on his response to Covid-19.

Public Accounts Committee Activity Update – COVID-19

The Committee is concentrating its efforts on only asking of the Chief Executive and Treasurer questions relating to the implementation of States decisions in respect of the Covid-19 outbreak and the Government's response to it.

• Following the public hearing with the Chief Executive and Treasurer on 11 May, the PAC has sent a list of clarification points to them (awaiting a response by 28 May 2020). Concerns have been centred on the cost of faster closing of accounts and the impact of Covid-19 on previous estimates of recovery of revenue and valuations of assets.  

• The Chair and officer have weekly updates with the C&AG (Monday mornings)

• GHE – the PAC is holding a private briefing with Director General of GHE on 1st June 2020, prior to a public hearing to be held two weeks later. (It has received a response to several questions relating to estate management during the Covid-19 outbreak, on 19th May).