Information clampdown by States of Jersey...

One of the wonders of IT is that it is so easy to send information all over the world at little cost - just at the touch of a button.
It is truly amazing BUT it does not suit everybody.

The States of Jersey is, like governments everywhere putting more and more information on-line and that is all well and good so far as it goes. But of course WE the public have to have the right IT equipment and the ability to use it and that does not come cheap and the necessary skills are - for some - difficult to achieve.

It is becoming obvious that the States is on an Ozouf led economy drive and that the savings offered by putting stuff on-line rather than printing it on paper are initially attractive. But who does this really benefit? We have referred to the problem before on SSTAG and will continue to do so in future.

A recent example is detailed below regarding the Social Security Department and to our eternal sadness involves Senator Le Gresley who was until very recently the head of Jersey CAB where making information available is the name of the game.

To cut it short - we were recently told by the counter clerk at the SS office at La Motte that leaflets and booklets had been discontinued and once the current stock was gone there would be no  more printed.
We thought this must surely be a mistake - but when we wrote to Minister Le Gresley we duly received confirmation! The exchanged e-mails are attached to this posting.

Yet on BBC Radio Jersey this weekend - on the "phone-in where no phone calls are broadcast " Senator Le Gresely (appearing with Deputy Green the Minister for Housing) was heard to claim that anybody seeking more information could pop into La Motte HQ and pick up explanatory  printed leaflets!!!
Obviously  not correct Minister and we wonder if he even reads his own e-mails?

At the same time in the JEP (Monday 26 November) there appears an article promoting the wonders of on-line digital information and how the States can save "a great deal of money" according to a local IT expert with an obvious commercial interest. "This is the future of government as digital enables a leaner public sector" he says - and of course such claims are lapped up by Senator Ozo and his accountant friends.

On the other hand at a recent Scrutiny Panel hearing it was revealed that FOI (the long awaited Freedom of Information law) is bogged down in no-man's land and nobody knows when it will be funded or  implemented. So the actual ability of the public to access more and more information (bearing in mind that new policies and regulations are hitting the public from every angle on a daily basis) will become increasingly difficult because printed leaflets etc are already being scrapped.

We at SSTAG will do what little we can to fight for MORE printed information not LESS and we hope that just a few of our so called elected representatives will give us support.

The reply from Senator Le Gresley dated 23 November 2012 appears here with our initial e-mail following;

Thank you for your e-mail.

When leaflets have expired or need changing our approach is to consider what would now be appropriate and in what format. This has meant that some historic leaflets have been removed. It has also meant that some are now only available on-line – for example the contributions rate sheet for employers has been replaced by the on-line contributions calculator. The main income support benefit leaflet is currently being redrafted.

We have never produced leaflets in the Polish language and have no plans to do so. Historically there have been leaflets in Portuguese and French, relating to the reciprocal agreements between Jersey and these countries, but these are no longer available.

Yours sincerely

Senator Francis Le Gresley

Dear Senator/Minister,

Today I called into the La Motte offices to pick up any SS leaflets etc in the Polish language to assist somebody with relatively poor command of English.

To my amazement I discovered that your Department has introduced a policy to scrap written information published on paper  but now proposes that this will be available ONLY on-line for ALL persons.

The last printing of booklets/leaflets I was advised will not be replaced once the current - already depleted - stock is gone!

My amazement is enhanced in view of my previous recent communications to you regarding the inadequacy of so many aspects of "public hearings" and furthermore by the confusion over States employment vacancies.

So I really must protest that the creeping "non publication" policy of States Departments is just simply so unhelpful and discriminatory against so many.

This is all the more acute with Departments such as Social Security and Health where so many people needing access to vital infomation are sick, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged.

I am totally shocked and hope that there has been yet another mistake by your counter staff.

Surely this absurd alleged policy cannot be correct?

PS This a scanned leaflet picked up at the very same Social Security Department last week and unless my uncle is a Dutchman it is written in Polish

....no doubt Senator Le Gresley can explain further.

Here he does...

 

 

The leaflet you have found, printed in Polish, is produced by the Health and Safety Inspectorate who are an independent body, based in Philip Le Feuvre House, for which I have political responsibility. This leaflet is also available in English and Portuguese. Only the English version is available on-line.

http://www.gov.je/Industry/HealthSafetyWork/HSI/Legislation/LawRegulations/Pages/HealthSafetyLaw.aspx

Yours sincerely

Senator Francis Le Gresley

 

STOP THAT THIEF! Reform the Social Security Department.

As the leaflet above says (click on image to enlarge it) - this is a copy of an actual statement from the Social Security Department showing details of an Income Support claim award.

We have of course removed anything that might identify the claimant or the senior officer at the Income Support Unit that produced it.

WE have been asking for months that such  FULL statements should be produced by the Department in response to EVERY claim.

Without such full information it is impossible to know whether a claim decision is correct and without such information a claimant cannot know whether to seek a RECONSIDERATION or to make an Appeal against the decision.

Evenso, it is still very difficult to understand what the statement actually says. It is set out in a very confusing format and is a very strange way to present information to people with all sorts of illnesses and different levels of understanding and use of language.

As always, the Social Security Department  seems to be unable to present the most basic information in an easy to understand way and the claimant has had to ask and ask repeatedly for this statement to be produced.

As always too, we wonder just how many people are denied their full and proper benefits awards by the Social Security Department  because of the complexity of the process and do not know how to challenge decisions that have been made.

Indeed we do wonder who the "BENEFIT THIEVES" really are!?

In the UK an officer is appointed to ensure that applicants receive ALL the benefits that a claimant is entitled to without having to confront Social Security staff in a challenging way.

Of course, the confrontational attitude of the SS Department itself is everywhere.
Postal communications are endorsed with the "Benefits Thieves" message, posters are displayed and media artcicles are constantly labelling claimants as potential cheats or lazy crooks.
Every form or letter from the SS Department warns of prosecution and punishment for giving wrong information - claimants are made to feel like criminals just for making an application for benefits to which they are fully entitled.

The attitude of some staff towards claimants is not always helpful or polite yet it is the claimant who faces warning notices about bad behaviour.

The standard and accuracy of information given by this Department is dreadfully inadequate. WE at SSTAG are constantly hearing about lost files, missing data, conflicting advice, anynoymous staff who refuse to give their names, delays  and confusion.

For a Department that has to deal on a daily basis with people who are ill and stressed through  difficult personal circumstances, lack of language skills, inability to understand bureaucratic processes and so on we find that the service offered is so often just simply so unsympathetic and flawed.

Of course we understand that some staff do their best - but our members have been flagging up these problems for years and it seems that there is an institutional inability to reform or improve standards or attitudes.

This is especially sad since we had expected so much better from Senator Le Gresley as Minister for the Social Security Department in view of his background of many years with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

More Jersey Social Security appeal mysteries explained...

Social Security Appeals

We at SSTAG have posted before on the mysteries of the Social Security appeals process – mostly as it relates to income support applications.

Further enquiries are still proceeding and it is likely to be a long job but the ultimate aim would be for a guide book to the whole of the Social Security system written in plain language.

Of course it is patently wrong that income support appeals are initially dealt with anonymously by the same officers of the Social Security department that make the initial decisions. This cannot be considered to be a fair and impartial system and as we know only too well, the information actually given with decisions is often painfully inadequate.

Thus we hope that more applicants (YOU) will demand a fuller explanation of any decisions made and the supportive reasons, data or figures that have been used to support it.

Without this information it is often impossible for an applicant to know whether there are grounds to appeal at all. There are also time limits for making an appeal which can be impossible to satisfy if further explanations are sought by the applicant.

Unfortunately it is not unusual for Social Security staff to refuse to give their names over the counter, ‘phone or even on letters – so the applicant does not know who made an initial decision or whether a different person has reviewed it!

We have been asking questions about the appeals procedures. On a previous posting we explained that appeals from internal appeals of Social Security and Medical Board decisions are heard at special Appeals Panel Tribunal hearings run by the Employment Tribunal, 1st floor, Trinity House, Bath Street and are supposed to be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Unfortunately nobody except the appellants seem to know when they are taking place but we are hoping that changes will be made soon to publish details beforehand.

The responsibility for the administration of these appeals was taken over by the Judicial Greffe in 2010. Since then there have been a remarkably low number of appeals actually heard which suggests that either Social Security applicants are remarkably happy with the decisions made or do not know how to make an appeal….

This year (2012) there have been 22 appeal applications against Social Security decisions. Just 8 have so far resulted in hearings, 5 were resolved by Social Security, 3 withdrawn or rejected and 3 more are currently waiting for hearing dates.

We shall be asking for notice of those 3 or any other hearings that take place soon in order to attend and learn how they are conducted.

As a result of our enquiries so far we understand that the process of reviewing the procedures of the Appeals Panel is currently under way and the indexing of completed hearings is “one area that will be revised.”

This is especially necessary for any applicants trying to discover details of previous decisions appealed against and decisions made.

Of course, we at SSTAG do not expect to receive any acknowledgment or thanks from the Social Security Minister or Department for our efforts – but we are sure that improvements will be initiated soon in this archaic process. We shall keep on monitoring the position…

We have been assured that the procedures of the Appeal Panel are in line with a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on accessibility of Tribunals to the general public.

To demonstrate compliance with the ECHR we have been previously advised that a plaque will be placed outside the Tribunal Offices listing the individual Tribunals that sit there and to use the Website to advise of forthcoming hearings…

Snail Mail

CICRA (the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities) are proposing new quality of service targets for Jersey Post.Whilst it is admirable that CICRA want to ensure that 95% of local mail is delivered on the next working day, SSTAG believes that the actual time of the delivery is more important.

SSTAG has received many complaints about the late delivery of mail from the most vulnerable section of the community ie. those people whose only source of income is their weekly Social Security cheque. Pensioners and recipients of incapacity benefit have to survive on a very tight budget and even Mr. Micawber couldn't make their money stretch to an extra day because their cheque was not delivered until 3pm. These people are having to cancel medical appointments because it is impossible to guess what time of day their mail will arrive.

Any public service company must have contingency plans to cover staff sickness or any unforseen disruption to normal service. Unfortunately, Jersey Post has reduced staff levels to such a degree that their delivery service is no longer viable.

CICRA and Jersey Consumer Council are interested in views from the public on the service they receive from Jersey Post.

SSTAG would like to hear your comments and experiences with Snail Mail.

JT and IT and why so many in Jersey are being left behind

JT (Jersey Telephones) is supposed to be a publicly owned business run for the benefit of the Jersey public and the Social Security Department is supposed to be a department of the Jersey government run for the benefit of the very same public.

However it is becoming ever more obvious that there are many different views on what “benefit” actually means and the definition of the term “public” also seems to be obscure.

It seems that “profit” has now been substituted for benefit and consumer for public so far as these two entities are concerned…

The recent JT decision to switch off telephone system X and encourage the use of super powerful new fibre-optic options is all very well but the extra costs involved are being passed on to the public under the all embracing USER PAYS regime that now dominates every service provision – whether public or private.

Already one private Jersey user has launched a web-site or blog to address the costs implications because his IT bills have risen so steeply.

Imagine then the problems that are being caused to people on very low incomes, or without bank accounts – or no access to a telephone line of their own (yes – there are actually people who live in accommodation where a land line is not an option!) or having serious impairments etc etc.

Of course these tend to be people who as “consumers” will not generate much income or profit for JT and so they are not a priority sector.

Besides which, the cost of constantly up-dating or replacing IT equipment or learning new skills is beyond many people.

Yet IT and electronic communication is now an essential part of life. It is not a luxury to own a computer and more and more facilities and access to information can only be obtained “on-line.”

Listening to the likes of Treasury Minister Senator Ozouf with his enthusiasm for an all electronic IT future is especially worrying. He seems only to be able to consider the needs of business – the practical problems that arise for the general public do not seem to be “on his radar.”

Mobile phones, dongles and other cash paid up-front arrangements might be the preferred solutions for some with cash to spare and the ability to use them but for many these are neither accessible nor affordable.

As with the phasing out of cheque books, it seems that business efficiencies in pursuit of profit trump all other social needs or considerations.

We have contacted both JT and the Social Security Minister Senator Le Gresley and raised these problems but they have hardly responded with great enthusiasm or any offers to change the existing systems. Complacency seems to be the order of the day and we will next be contacting the JT Regulating body to see if anything might be done from there.

JT do offer reduced charges already for land-line use by some Pensioners. Why can’t these be extended to other users and for other services? Where is the social responsibility of JT?

As for the other States Members, as always, we would welcome any offers of help or suggestions about improving these matters.

For the record, we e-mailed Senator Le Gresley on 23 August and again on 18 September enclosing copies of our previous correspondence with JT;

“In view of the very poor general public take-up of the new enhanced Internet access options it is obvious that even people with ample cash and/or abilities are finding this not acceptable. I note that one consumer in this category has started some sort of on-line protest.

So far as those with very little cash, no bank accounts or limited IT knowledge are concerned, this ever increasing push for electronic communication is very worrying.

Senator Ozouf said at Scrutiny yesterday that he will be announcing a new push towards IT use soon but it will inevitably be intended primarily for businesses or people who have financial and other resources.

I repeat my previous concern that many people are being left behind and disadvantaged.

IT is no longer a luxury item – it is an integral part of everyday life and I suggest that your department must be prepared to assist those on Income Support etc to participate.

So what can you do about this?”

Senator Le Gresley, the former head of CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) in Jersey but now the Minister at the Social Security Department responded;

“The household component, with income support benefit, is the component that we would have to consider increasing. We have just increased this component by 3.5% so the next review will not take place until June 2013.

I will take into consideration this exchange of e-mails at that time.”

We at SSTAG do not consider this to be a sufficient response and as already indicated we will be contacting the Regulator with regard to JTs social obligations.

If anybody has any practical suggestions with regard to Senator Le Gresley we shall be pleased to receive them.

JERSEY BUS PASSES - do we need them?

Bus Passes – what next?

We asked Deputy James Reed for an interview about the Interim Scrutiny Report on Housing Transformation but he has not responded. So here are some thoughts on Bus Passes to consider instead. If you have any further information on existing or proposed policies – please make contact with SSTAG

When Connex are replaced by the new Bus operator next spring – what will happen to bus (aka travel) passes?

Currently persons who have paid 40 years or more of Social Security contributions can apply for a free “Senior Citizens Travel Pass” which permits free travel on scheduled services. In practice this policy says that men must be 63 or older and women 60.

All residents of 65 or over are also entitled to a pass.

It is not proposed to change this policy at the present time – but there are plans to make the minimum age to be 65 for men and women (whether retired or not) “in about six years or so.”

Clearly the current age difference is discriminatory.

There is a further element of discrimination by virtue of the 1974 Social Security Law and an Act of the old Defence Committee in the 1980s which gives a slightly different status to persons “born in Jersey”. This is also considered as not compliant with Human Rights standards but neither the

Social Security Department  

President Senator Francis Le Gresley tel 445505  f.legresley@gov.je

nor the

Transport & Technical Services Department (TTS)

President Deputy Kevin Lewis tel 85723 or O7797 717982  k.lewis@gov.je

are keen to broadcast the facts.

Some Health Insurance Exception (HIE) travel passes are also issued on an annual basis.

This scheme is now closed to new entrants.

Passes can be issued to persons who held an HIE travel card on 27 January 2007

BUT

If an HIE pass was allowed to expire before 27 January 2008 and not renewed, it will not now be re-issued.

This policy was made at the time when Income Support was introduced by the Social Security Department. It had been intended that a “transport component” should be part of Income Support after 2008 but this was rejected by the States.

It is possible that HIE passes will be withdrawn when the new bus operator takes over in April 2008.

This also seems to be a discriminatory policy.

Jersey public transport is also falling behind standards that apply in the UK and elsewhere where many stroke victims and/or disabled persons receive transport passes, as do ex-service personnel.

The continuation of the HIE bus passes scheme will have to be fought for in the States.

There are other oddities in the Jersey system which may be also need to be lobbied about.

For example, children only travel free up to the age of three years (four year olds must pay) but the age is five years in the UK and disabled children are not to be free of charge until they reach the age of 65. Surely this cannot be right?

Seems that we might need test cases to challenge the Jersey system on several issues.

Any volunteers?

Homeless or home more in Jersey? Charity or right? Power or Green at the edges?

Deputy Power was Housing Minister briefly two years ago and he had announced virtually all the proposed reforms that Deputy Green has subsequently outlined.

So the reforms had been kicking around for some time and even Deputy Le Main was singing a similar song before he was removed from this same office and he had been there for years and years….

What is surprising about all this is that whilst everybody who has been in charge of housing for so long claim to have identified the problems and have come up with virtually the same solutions – NOTHING ever actually happens.

Thus we now have Deputy Power speaking on behalf of the hundreds of “homeless” people in Jersey in the name of Shelter or the Sanctuary Trust. But why did he not promise to solve the problem when he was Minister and why are his demands apparently different now from those of Deputy Green? Are they any different in fact?

When the Draft new Island Plan was being reviewed by the two UK Inspectors – Deputy Power was asking for the Housing Policy part to be removed until the Census statistics had been properly assessed. His request (and I asked for the whole Draft Plan to be withheld) was ignored and we are now stuck with an Island Plan that will never ever solve Jersey’s immense housing problems.

That cows are more deserving of land than people is still the basis of the Island Plan.

The needs of the homeless will never be addressed under the Plan – these are just to be left to charitable whims as always in the traditional “Jersey way”. Deputy Power seems to support that charitable response.

Unlike other countries – there is no legal obligation to house anybody in Jersey.

The 1949 Housing Law actually exists to prevent people from occupying or buying housing accommodation. It is this perverse policy that has underwritten all others for emotional reasons based upon a bogus “Jersey born first” idea. But in practice it just serves to starve the natural housing market of funds and suppress new house building.

Yet 20,000 people with housing quals live outside Jersey – what does that say about 60 years of the Housing Law in “action”?

Cows rule OK!

Deputy Power now complains that one of the reasons for so much homelessness is the high cost of homes to rent. So nothing very new there – yet the whole basis of the absurd revised Housing plan proposed by Le Main or Power or now by Green is to RAISE so called social housing rents to be as near as possible the same as already absurdly inflated “private rents”.

This problem does not just affect the homeless of course. It affects everybody who has to rent accommodation and it is now officially accepted that there is no such thing in Jersey as AFFORDABLE property to buy.

How on earth have we got into such a mess and why are our elected reps so incapable, decade after decade, of solving the problem?

It is not just the cost of property either. The standard of much States “social” housing is poor and it is part of the declared new plan to “regulate” to improve this. But MOST housing is in the private sector where rents are highest and standards often lowest besides which petty restriction are sill imposed against children or pets and there is lack of security of tenure for many.

WHY are we the public still waiting for basic reforms in these areas and why do we no longer have a Rent Control Tribunal?

Deputy Green keeps telling us that his Housing White Paper will appear soon.

It will no doubt be yet another PR opportunity for Senator Ozouf et al to say how well off we all are etc (whilst he continues to extract over £20 millions of “social” rents each year to squander at Lime Grove, Ogley’s pay off and suchlike) but it will certainly NOT offer any escape from Jersey’s housing problems for most residents of Jersey.

Make no mistake we are gripped by a User Pays, cost cutting obsessed government that has no motivation to house the whole population properly.

SSTAG will be continuing to investigate all these matters and more in the coming months. So stay tuned but most of all JOIN US! Give us your support and spread the word that such unfairness can and must be challenged.

SOCIAL SECURITY FOOD COSTS BONUS 2012 explained

The application form from the Social Security Department for the FOOD COSTS BONUS and/or COLD WEATHER BONUS for 2012 explains that it is an annual fixed payment of £218.36p which is payable to HOUSEHOLDS who satisfy certain conditions. The rules from the Income Support Law are used to decide who is included in a household.....

The form lays down WHO CAN CLAIM
a.....
b....
c The household is NOT RECEIVING INCOME SUPPORT.....
   OR
   The household IS RECEIVING A TRANSITIONAL INCOME SUPPORT PAYMENT.....

We at SSTAG thought this meant that households who receive a TRANSITIONAL payment (therefore are qualified for the BONUS payment)  would most likely also be receiving INCOME SUPPORT so would  NOT be qualified  for the same BONUS.
BUT we were confused - what does it really mean?

Senator Francis Le Gresley, the SOCIAL SECURITY  MINISTER has responded to our questions and responded as follows;

"The words have remained unchanged since the GST Food Costs Bonus was introduced in 2008.

Transitional Income Support is payable where a person is entitled to receive a protected payment of one of the previous States' funded benefits, for example Disabled Transport Allowance or Housing Rebate when Income Support was introduced in 2008.
These payments have not been increased by the rate of GST therefore anyone receiving a transitional Income Support payment can receive a Food Costs Bonus.

However where a person is receiving Income Support without a transitional adjustment their payment has been increased in line with the GST percentage and are therefore NOT entitled to a Food Costs Bonus.

Persons who are receiving a transitional Income Support payment will find this information in their Award Letter issued by the Social Security Department."

We at SSTAG suggest that if in doubt you 'phone the SS Department on 445505 but since that Department must know everybody who qualifies for this Bonus payment already from existing information on their files then they should just award the payment automatically. Why send out yet more forms to fill out and cause worry to people who read in the JEP that Francis Le Gresley is determined to prosecute everybody who commits fraud etc?
Once again the Form carries the usual WARNING:
"Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or false representation commits a crime for which they may be prosecuted and they may also be required to repay any amount of benefit overpaid."

BUT how many people are frightened off by such warnings and outbursts from the Minister so that they do not even bother to claim for payments and awards to which they are fully entitled? Why does every communication from the Social Department have to be laced with dire warnings and threats of prosecution?

Surely it is time for the Social Security Minister to come clean and publish details of ALL payments that are knowingly not being claimed  and what he proposes to do about it? And why does so much information published by his Department have be so difficult to understand - even by those for whom English is a first language?

If you have trouble with this Bonus or any other aspects of Social Security administration please let us know at SSTAG.

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL HEARINGS ARE PUBLIC

Following enquries made to the Social Security Department we have received the following important guidance regardings Appeal Hearings - they are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This also applies to Medical Appeal Hearings and follows on from efforts to let the public know when INQUESTS are being held and that they too are usually OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Click on image of letter to enlarge.



Full details of how the States will let the public know when these most important hearings are taking place is not yet clear.
Inquest hearing dates are still only published on the "TV" screen within the lobby to the main States/Court building in the Royal Square. Of course, they should all be on-line and published in the "Gazette" in an ideal world but Jersey is only just waking up to the realities of its Human Rights obligations.

That there might be a list of previous decisions made of these various hearings is most important but of course, unless there is an index with details of the subject matters decided upon, they might not yet be of much use.
The same problem arises with Complaints Boards aka Review Board decisions. There is no proper archive or index of all cases heard to date but PRECEDENT is the very soul of a proper legal system and ADMINISTRATION by government departments should be fully transparent and accessible too to everybody.

THIS IS A START. If you contact any of these Departments seeking information about hearings from the past or in the future - please let us know how you get on.

We are also asking questions about the strange words and phrases used by the Social Security Department and whether they have any meaning in law and also about the supposed "time limits" for making appeals, the repayment of "overpayments" and the reimbursement of "underpayments" etc.

If you have any details from past experience - please contact us at SSTAG......


UPDATE and FURTHER INFORMATION on the Appeals process (8 August)
We have received a further response from Caroline Coleman at the Judicial Greffe on behalf of the Registrar (Mrs Cave) at the Jersey Employment Tribunal (which handles Social Security appeals).

She advises that there is no mailing list to advise the public of future hearings and there is no plan to start one. Anybody interested in attending a future hearing must contact the Registrar and enquire.

How they might be supposed to know how a hearing is imminent is not obvious! We have asked to be notified of any hearings due over the next 6 weeks.

She also advises that during the past 2 years or so there has not been an appeal where the Social Security Department's internal appeals procedure, their calculation methods or the meaning and interpretation of words has been challenged.

Obviously it is about time that such challenges took place but we have now asked about the authority of human rights arguments in the appeals process and how fairness might be achieved if details of previous appeals decisions are not adequately archived and indexed. We will keep you informed HERE.

Keep your queries coming in please - we don't publish any details that might identify you without your specific permission.

Senator Le Gresley's Transformation and other worries...

DO SCRUTINY HEARINGS EXIST IF NOBODY ATTENDS TO OBSERVE?

This week there are some very important Scrutiny Hearings before the Health, Social Security and Housing Panel (or sub-panel).

Today (Monday 2 July), the Housing Transformation White Paper was being considered. This is the proposal to totally change the structure of the Housing provision, regulation and so on under the “Achieving Decent Homes…” banner.

The first witness today was supposed to be Colin Russell, Chairman of the Housing Tenants Forum Panel but he cancelled at short notice due to illness. No revised date had been published yet.

Next, Senator Francis Le Gresley and his Social Security team appeared before Deputies Moore, Reed and Senator Breckon for 1½ hours of polite interrogation but it was soon apparent just how little these people understand of the practical implications of housing provision and finance in Jersey with particular reference to “Income Support”.

This was especially surprising in view of Francis Le Gresley’s many years at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau – but there was a distinct feeling that nobody here had ever rented a home in their lives and certainly not in the “social” sector (whatever “social” means).

In fact it was soon explained that the Social Security priority was in trying to make some sense of the “private” sector only and there were some amazing attempts to justify why this was more expensive than “social” housing provided by the States or Housing Trusts.

Equally obscure was the need to increase “social rents” to be at least 90% of private ones and why this had failed (as the Fair Rents scheme) to be achieved although it already had been States policy for many years. Nobody knew how many years – but the policy was clearly already a failure – and there was no supporting evidence to justify its revival now.

It was typical of the ignorance and lack of data that lay behind the whole sham housing/Income support business and how the money was circulated between the various departments through the Treasury for no good reason except that it ensured complexity and obscurity.

Of course the whole reform plan is inspired by Senator Ozouf’s Treasury as an integral part of the USER PAYS policy – although the expression is rarely used in public.

Deputy Reed did mention the fatal words and how he agreed in principle with the “user pays” concept but he protested “these are people on income support who cannot afford to house themselves etc”.

The need for undue haste was also apparent. The whole thing – along with vast Health and Social Security reforms and new Population Office controls - is needed to be agreed by the States for November. But poorly briefed Senator Le Gresley and his team were not even sure which of their laws or regulations would have to be revised when their necessary proposition came before the Assembly…

…And so it went on with just two members of the long suffering public (one social and one private sector tenant) and no members of the “accredited press” present to hear or report on the discussion.

Evidently Francis Le Gresley has undergone a personal “Transformation” since becoming the Minister at Social Security and he is a self-confessed convert to the user pays philosophy and the obsession with the annual £90 millions “income support” bill.

If anybody wants evidence of Jersey’s divided and unfair society then attendance at such a Scrutiny meeting would serve as a good starting point - but for more practical reasons the public should take the opportunity to sit in to discover just what is being planned in 2012 by “our elected representatives.”

Tomorrow – Tuesday 3 July the Health Minister will be questioned from 2.30pm on her Health White Paper proposals.

On Thursday at 9.30am Malcolm Ferey the new chief of the CAB will be questioned about the Housing Transformation plans as will Peter Seymour of the “Mortgage Shop” from 1.30pm.

Senator Ozouf will be in the “hot” seat on Friday the 6^th  from 12.45 pm to answer regarding the Health White Paper and Francis Le Gresley will appear again in the afternoon from 2.30pm to respond to the same Health proposals which have been outlined under the “Caring for each other – Caring for ourselves” banner.

All hearing are in the Blampied or Le Capelain rooms of the States Building.

These are hugely important proposals and any members of the public are urged to attend if and when possible.

This writer cannot attend after Tuesday so it is unlikely that you will receive much more information here….

ALSO through the letter box the Housing Department has circulated that the “Customer Service Team” is being removed from the useless provision at Cyril Le Marquand House (one of Bill Ogley’s failed brainwaves we suspect) and returns to the ground floor at Jubilee Wharf, 24 The Esplanade as “a one stop shop.”

In fact, this must be on one of the coldest and most exposed corners in town and has no handy car parking facility (the car park opposite is always full during the opening hours of 9am to 5pm) and has traditionally been about as accessible as Fort Knox and as unfriendly as the tiger’s cage in a zoo….

No doubt this will all be changed…but shall the new housing information service be as welcoming as a “private estate agent’s shop,” shall it only cater for “social housing” applicants and enquiries, why cannot rents be paid here and will all interviews be conducted in comfortable and private offices – and how long before it is all moved yet again when the Housing Department ceases to exist next year?

If interested in any answers to these or other Housing questions SSTAG suggests phoning Mike Porter, Housing Director of Operations on 445510 or any of the 51 elected States Members who represent us.

Please keep SSTAG informed of any responses….

REPORT BACK - 14 June meeting

SSTAG's second public meeting at the Eastern Cood Companions Club was a great success although the time and location did not suit everybody. We cannot please everybody etc....but will continue with meetings in other parishes and locations in the future.
The lounge at Le Marais suited this particular meeting extremely well and encouraged a more relaxed atmosphere to discuss what turned out to be the main item on the agenda.

It was good to hear from the three States Members present and several had apologised in advance with prior engagements so we are confident that SSTAG is progressing and gaining in credibility. Rome was not built in a day etc and several new public members signed up so we are very optimistic.

The first part of the meeting was devoted to an introduction to SSTAG because most faces were new and it was especially good to hear from the founder of a Housing Association from another States complex and to discuss mutual housing and social concerns.
We are not in competion with other groups and are keen to make working contacts.
We stressed again that SSTAG has been formed in response to changes that have already taken place and the huge reforms that are planned within the next year by the States in the provision of housing, social security and health besides all the other things - such as a new bus service contractor - which will affect ALL of us.

During such public discussions it is always interesting to hear about practical problems such as windows falling out from 14th floor States' flats as well as concerns about immigration and population controls.
SSTAG needs just this sort of feedback to build up knowledge and to be able to speak on the basis of certainty and we want States Members to hear the discussions at first hand too.

A future meeting will include a discussion on immigration matters and suggestions are invited.
Coincidentally, we introduced a Romanian couple to Chief Minister Gorst for a chance discussion in the Royal Square and it's a pity that the video camera was not to hand. Even in that ten minutes encounter a great deal of useful information was exchanged and we hope that "immigrants" are being fully consulted in the official discussions currently taking place. They have a great deal of knowledge - and understanding - of the problems and their "wider view" needs to be heard.

As this piece is being written, the discussion about the safe housing of convicted sex offenders is still taking place on BBC Radio and it is quite incredible how much attention has been given to the subject by the "accredited media". Obviously we are very pleased to have brought this matter to a general public attention and that an official review is to be undertaken to find out what went wrong etc. For SSTAG this is a very real and significant result and hopefully demonstrates that we are a serious group with realistic aims and objectives. We wish that the media would take as much interest in the rest of our agenda but we appreciate that this was a simple single issue with strong emotive elements - so ideal to report upon.

We devoted about one hour to this discussion following an explanation from (Probation Officer) Mike Cutland regarding the workings of "JMAPPA." He took some flack during a "lively" exchange which was useful and informative all round but of course the underlying problems are yet to be examined.

We don't propose to write at length here about this discussion but if anybody who was present would like to submit a summary or a view we shall be pleased to publish it. The media were present and have already published much information on the matter which is - as we have tried to stress - just an aspect of SSTAG's wide terms of reference. We don't want to devote  much more time to this single issue at the moment - We have done our bit!

We shall announce soon the date and venue for our next public meeting and as always are keen to hear of suitable and accessible places that can be used at little or no cost.

If you are reading this and have not yet joined - membership of SSTAG is free to the unwaged and just £5  per annum for the waged and we welcome any financial contributions......

SSTAG next meeting and agenda

As posted previously our next meeting is from 3pm on Thursday 14 June 2012
The place is the lounge at the Eastern Good Companions Club
Le Marais
St Clement
There is car parking and ALL are welcome to attend.

We did try to post a picture here of a notice that has been appearing in States housing blocks in the Le Marais area but for technical reasons this has had to be witheld.
This notice claims that a convicted sex offender has moved into the area and names the person etc.

We think that this raises particular matters of concern that might be discussed at our next meeting especially since it relates speifically to the Le Marais area.

Before the next meeting on 14 June we will try to contact Housing Minister Deputy Green to find out what is the official policy regarding housing such persons in areas where there are children and we will also try to obtain the comments of Senator Le Marquand, the Minister at the Home Affairs Department and the Law Officers regarding the legal aspects of displying such notices etc.

SSTAG has not formed any policy on this matter but at this stage is simply making enquiries to discover information  and we will be interested to receive any comments on this or suggestions for other matters to be discussed in future.

WE hope to invite specialist speakers from the Housing, Health and Social Security Department to answer questions during the next few months so please let us know which issues concern you most - and don't forget to join SSTAG if you want to be an active participant .
Membership is only £5 if you are working and FREE if not.

Unsocial insecurity in May 2012

Previous interviews with Sam Lally will be found on tomgruchy.blogspot.com
We publish this update so that he can express his views on the priorities of life for him in Jersey and offer no further comments or observations here.

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We have been asked about progress and our first public meeting two days ago. Patience!
We had a successful inaugural AGM and appointed a Secretary so that we should be able to function properly over the coming months. We now have a full Committee and it was agreed that our plan will be to appoint people - States Members where available or appropriate - to lead in specific areas of concern such as Income Support, or Housing issues, or to ask questions in the States or put forward views there.
But we agreed that we prefer States Members to be more in the role of consultants and advisers and not on the Committee. We shall see what happens - because we as tenants or welfare/health  users and suchlike also need active involvement from them and we want to be effective as a lobby group - just as lawyers, estate agents, accountants, doctors and dentists atc all have their own effective voice.

The general discussion part of the meeting was extremenly good inspite of a poor public attendance (about a dozen for the benefit of those who have asked).
Six States members attended - including three Constables - so perhaps Senator Bailhache has the right idea after all. We aren't proposing to join that particular discussion but it made us think about how we shall have to extend the scope of our work into the country parishes too. An informal suggestion was made that perhaps the Constables Committee might be better used in this respect.

As we expected, several people had specific matters to raise about their own circumstances or experiences and it is always  useful to be reminded how tough life can be for those who have to rely upon "social housing" and other public or even charitable provision to survive.
We want to provide a  more suitable forum for such discussions at future meetimgs and we also want to spread knowledge around more.
After all - what is the point of gaining a favourable policy decision (such as a back dated payment) if others with the same needs do not know of it?

We discussed many other things such as the whole question of making complaints against the "system" in Jersey and how things are going to get so difficult once the major reforms planned in Health, Housing and Social Security are implemented. So, if you are interested in such matters you had better make the effort to join in. Fill out a form (£5 membership for the waged - Free to the unwaged) and participate in whatever way you can manage.

The six States Members present were refreshingly supportive - did your representatives attend? We could publish their names here but  would hope that you might contact your own Deputy, Constable or any of the Senators to check it out for yourself and so spread the word.

We are up and running and our next meeting is AS BELOW on Thursday 14 June. The format be different. Keep watching this space for any news and make contact if you want to give or receive help.
You do not have to wait until the 14th to get involved.

                                                          NEXT MEETING
                                                                      is

                                                3pm on THURSDAY 14 JUNE
                                                                      at
                                       EASTERN GOOD COMPANIONS CLUB
                                                                 Le Marais
                                                                St Clement

It would be helpful if any people who know that they will attend could make contact ASAP with SSTAG so that we do not  waste resources on adverts etc and they might like to offer ANY assistance.
We would appreciate any suggestions for a central venue at minimal cost that is wheelchair (and people) friendly and whether a daytime or evening time is better.
This next meeting will be in the lounge. There is car parking.


                                                        ALL ARE WELCOME

SSTAG and YOU and Thursday 10 May 2012

SSTAG Social Security and Tenants’ Action Group

SSTAG is a new and improved STAG (the former States Tenants’ Action Group)

but with much wider terms of reference and interests.

SSTAG is now concerned with ;

SOCIAL SECURITY issues for ALL claimants, employees or pensioners

ALL TENANTS – whether in public or private accommodation and lodgings

HEALTH related welfare issues

We are a self help and lobbying group set up to challenge such policies as ;

The 20% - 40% rent increases of the States Housing Department

The devaluing of retirement pensions

Ever increasing doctors and dental charges

A witch-hunt against income support claimants

We support a fairer society where welfare support is available to those in need - as of right - not on a charitable, discretionary basis.

We believe that the dignity of ALL people in Jersey should be respected

This year (2012), immense changes are planned in Jersey to control housing, work and immigration opportunities.

A Population Register will be compiled in December this year and Identity (ID) Cards with details of work and housing status for ALL residents will be issued.

These new and far reaching controls will be administered by a new section under the Chief Minister’s control. The Housing Department will be replaced by an Association.

Employment opportunities for some existing and potential residents will be restricted.

At the same time, anti-discrimination laws are promised to be approved this year so that greater equality of opportunity can be achieved for ALL residents of Jersey.

SSTAG will seek to monitor the new policies as they develop, to publish information and lobby if and when changes are seen to be necessary.

Contacts :

Denise Carroll MBE (Acting Chair) 15 Le Clos St Andre, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3JH  tel 01534 876727

Mike Dun (Information Officer) 208 Le Marais, St Clement JE2 6GG                           tel 01534 862929

e-mail mikedunjersey@gmail.com                                    

Temporary blogsite SSTAG sstagjsyblogspot.com/               SSTAG website is under construction

JOIN US on Thursday 10 May at St Paul’s Centre, St Helier at 6.45pm to elect a committee then for a general discussion at 7.00pm.  ALL WELCOME  -  we need your ideas and support

SSTAG meetings

       SSTAG will be holding a meeting on THURSDAY 10th MAY 2012
       at ST PAUL'S CENTRE 6.45pm to elect committee  7pm open meeting.

      If you are keen to become involved find out more by joining us or contact
                           Telephone 01534 862929 or 876727
                   
                           

INTRODUCTION TO SSTAG

SSTAG is the newly formed Social Security and Tenants' Action Group.

It is picking up where STAG (States Tenants' Action Group for Jersey) left off and will soon be appointing a Committee under a totally new Constitution.

This is our temporary blog site until a proper Website can be established.

SSTAG has been formed to deal with Social Security and Health/welfare issues  besides ALL tenants - whether in States or private housing or lodgings - and will be researching,lobbying,publishing information and advising on a very wide range of matters.

The Jersey government is planning major reforms in all areas based upon the central CSR (Comprehensive Spending Review) cuts which are seeking to reduce States spending by £65millions and more.

Social Security,Housing and Health are being especially targetted by the government to be reformed. Everybody in Jersey will be affected but the burden will fall upon the least well off and those with long term sickness or disabilities.

But we stress that EVERYBODY will be affected so we expect to be lobbying and advising on such matters as pensions or dental care and doctors' charges too because these are all interlinked with our primary SSTAG remit.

All these matters are evermore complicated. It is no longer,for example,just about Rent Rebates or dealing with one Housing Department.
Now individuals have to seek Income Support through Social Security with a myriad of component parts based upon the concept of "the household".

There is now a common "gateway" system in operation for all applicants seeking to be housed by the States,Trusts or the Parishes but who knows how it works or whether it is fair?

Later this year, far reaching new laws will be introduced to Jersey to control all housing and job opportunities in conjunction with ID cards and a Register of ALL people in the Island.
It is planned to scrap the Housing Department and form new agencies to deal with the provision and management of all so called 'social housing'.
It  is proposed to increase States rents by up to 40% over a period of years.

It is already often difficult to discover what benefits might be claimed or what tenancy rights exist or how a "means test" shall be applied.
SSTAG will attempt to address all such issues and call upon people (including States Members) who have specialist knowledge and understanding to advise and help.

We are not just here to complain.We are a self-help and lobbying group and will offer a service that does not exist at the present time.

We need YOUR support and participation and we shall also need practical and financial assistance.

You can contact us by leaving a comment here
Acting Chair Denise Carroll on 01534 876727 email. dcarroll@localdial.com
or
Mike Dun (Information Officer) on 01534 86292   email: mikedunjersey@gmail.com

Two interviews above with Deputy Green, the Jersey Housing Minister following the launch of the White
Paper
"Achieving Decent Homes: An Affordable Housing Framework for the Future" April 2012
R47
Thanks Ian for help with spacing!