Scrutiny Weekly Activity Bulletin - 31 July 2020

Scrutiny Liaison Committee

Weekly Bulletin of Panel/Committee Activity

Week ending 31st July 2020 Scrutiny Liaison Committee

The Committee previously agreed that it would now meet weekly as opposed to daily in order to continue its co-ordination of the work in relation to Covid-19. These weekly meetings are now scheduled to take place on Monday mornings.

The Committee and the Public Accounts Committee have submitted comments in relation to the  Comptroller  and  Auditor  General's  consultation  on  the  Code  of  Audit  practice  and proposed changes to the Comptroller and Auditor General (Jersey) Law 2014.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

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

• Updated tracking details on use of public finances to fund COVID-19 actions were received from Treasury (30th July) and a breakdown is being prepared

• The Panel continues to review its section of the Government Plan: 2020-23 S.R.13/2019, highlighting impact and potential prioritisation following Covid-19

• The Panel continues its Covid-19 Response and Recovery Review. An Advisor has been selected between the Panel and the Economic and International Affairs Panel (as the Panels will be jointly using the advisor), pending contract agreement. This follows a shortlisting process in which interviews were held with a shortlist of those who had applied

• The Panel noted a letter from the Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Panel to the Minster for Treasury and Resources requesting further information on the Project Gulf loan

• The Panel received papers from the Emergency Council meeting held 22nd July

• The Panel has sent letters to the Minister for Treasury and Resources requesting further information on Memorandum of Understanding between Government and States-owned entities; and the test and trace programme.

• The  Panel  received  a  letter  from  Minister  for  Treasury  and  Resources  with accompanying documents around Exit Interviews

Future meetings/briefings

• The next meeting of the Panel is scheduled for Tuesday 4th August at 9.30am. The  Panel  will  discuss  planned  briefings,  COVID-19  response  and  recovery review, work programme, government plan, Council of Minister papers, ministerial decisions, impending public hearings and lodged propositions/reports relevant to its work.

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

• A joint briefing with the Health and Social Security Panel is being scheduled on the Draft Community Costs Bonus (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• A briefing with the Chief Minister on Migration Policy is being scheduled

• A Public Hearing with the Chief Minister to discuss the Government Plan 2021-24 is being scheduled for October

• A Public Hearing with the Minister for Treasury and Resources to discuss the Government Plan 2021-24 is being scheduled for October

Economic and International Affairs Panel

Covid-19

• The Panel is undertaking 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 an interim report on the response to Covid-19 to date, which due to be completed during August. The Panel has started to contact stakeholders to gather evidence for its interim report.

• The Panel, alongside the Corporate Services Panel, agreed to appoint Mr Stuart Fair and Mr Jeffery Matsu, of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy as expert advisors for its review of the Covid-19 response and recovery review.

• 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.

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

Other reviews

• Review of CICRA – The Panel has requested submissions from a range of stakeholders. The deadline to receive submissions is 31st July.

• External Relations Processes – the Panel is currently discussing its draft report and intends to publish it within the next week or so.

• Government Plan - 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.

• P.129 Mandatory Disclosure Rules – The Panel called-in the legislation following a delay in receiving information from the Department. The Panel is due to undertake some work on proposition which is due to be debated in September.

Quarterly Hearings

• The Panel is due to hold a Public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Economic Development on Friday 7th August.

• The Panel is due to hold a Public Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for International Development on Friday 28th August.

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel  

The Panel met on 21st July to consider the following Scrutiny items on their Agenda:

• Bridging Island Plan Review – The Panel suggested amendments to the draft Terms of Reference and Scoping document, agreed the public Call for Evidence and noted the responses from the Minister for the Environment to questions from the briefing on the 2nd July;
• Investigation into the establishment of a digital register of landlords and tenants [P.82/2020] – the Panel is requesting a progress update from the Minister;
• Green lanes and quiet lanes: priority to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders [P.79/2020] -  the Panel will await the draft legislation proposals before commenting further
• Work Programme (including key dates for Government Plan).

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider

• The Panel will remind the Ministers for Children and Housing, Environment and Infrastructure to provide information on how they might reprioritise resources to deliver projects.

• The Panel has written to the Minister for the Environment to enquire as to what his next steps will be in light of the adoption of P.82/2019 and the requirement for him to investigate the possibility of a digital register for landlords and tenants before the debate on P.106/2019 - Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations 201-. which is due to take place in September 2020.

Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel

Briefings/Meetings arranged/work undertaken

• The Panel discussed the prospect of a potential review regarding the Covid-19 crisis and response in relation to the impact of wellbeing on children' at its Panel meeting on Monday 27 July. On considering its work Programme, the Panel decided that the review would not be manageable currently and the Panel would postpone this review for the time being.

• 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. 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. The Panel has received a response from the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Education and a response from the Minister for Children is pending.

• 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.

Factual accuracy checking of the report has been completed. The Panel has a meeting scheduled for Friday 31 July to finalise Findings and Recommendations for the review with the intention of publication during August 2020.

• 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. This work will be undertaken over the next couple of months.

• Taser Proposition

The Panel is undertaking a review of the Deployment of Tasers by the States of Jersey Police Force Officers which was lodged for debate by the Minister for Home Affairs on Tuesday 28th July. The Panel previously agreed that it would conduct a review of the proposals and approved the Scoping Document and Terms of References for the review at its meeting on Monday 27th July. A letter outlining the terms of reference for the review was sent to the Minister for Home Affairs on Tuesday 28 July and the Panel will be publishing further details of its review in due course.

• Updated Police Complaints Law

The Panel received a briefing on proposals to update the Police Complaints law on Monday 27 July which are due to be brought forward by the Minister for Home Affairs in due course. The Panel is considering its approach with regards to any work it will undertake concerning the above.

• Public Quarterly Hearings

The Panel is due to hold quarterly public hearings with the Minister for Education on Friday 25th September and with the Minister for Children and Housing on Friday 2nd October.

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-

Health and Social Security Panel

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

• The Panel met privately on 23rd July to discuss the items on its Agenda, including:

• Jersey Care Model Review;
• Government Plan/Recovery Plan;
• Quarterly Hearing with the Minister for Social Security.

Future briefings/legislative changes to consider:

• The Panel is due to receive a joint briefing with the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel on the Draft Community Costs Bonus (Jersey) Regulations 202- from the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department (TBC).

• The Panel is due to meet privately on 6th August to discuss its Agenda.

• The Panel is due to receive the Minister for Social Security for a Public Quarterly Hearing on 6th August.

• The Panel's fortnightly briefing on 30th July on the Public Health Strategy from the Minister for Health and Social Services was rescheduled for the 13th August.  

Public Accounts Committee  

• Public Hearings: The PAC held a public hearing with the Chief Executive, on 27 July, concentrating on issues relating to its review of Estate Management. It has requested another public hearing with him (24 August tbc) to discuss issues of performance. The next scheduled Quarterly Hearing with the Chief Executive and the Treasurer is on 21 September.  
• Estate Management Review – call for evidence - responses expected by 31 August 2020
• Reports - Report on the States Annual Report and Accounts 2019, published on Friday 24 July, Executive Response expected 4 September 2020.  

• C&AG: Executive Responses to the C&AG's recent reports on Insurance', Use of Enforcement Powers' and SOJDC' have been presented to the States, and the PAC is drafting comments to follow.  
• The C&AG Board of Governance needs to extend its duration of membership, officer is liaising with SPPP to prepare MD.
• The C&AG has extended consultation period for proposed revision of Code of Audit practice – comments from PAC and SLC to be combined and submitted by 31 July 2020.
• The Chair and officer continue to have weekly updates with the C&AG via videoconference (Monday mornings)