Diversity Forum PPC Sub-Committee

28

Diversity Forum PPC Sub-Committee (6th Meeting)

19th March 2026

Part A (Non-Exempt)

All members were present, with the exception of Deputies M.R. Ferey , R.S. Kovacs and P.F.C. Ozouf all of St. Saviour and Connétable M.O'D Troy of St. Clement , from whom apologies had been received.

Deputy L.K.F Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter , Chair Deputy H.L. Jeune of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity , Vice Chair (for a time)

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour, Vice Chair

Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier North

Deputy H.M. Miles of St. Brelade

In attendance -

T. Oldham , Assistant Greffier of the States, Committees and Panels

E. Patterson, Secretariat Officer, Specialist Secretariat, States Greffe

Note:  The Minutes of this meeting comprise Part A only.

Minutes.  A1. The Minutes of the meetings held on 15th January and 17th February 2026,

having previously been circulated, were taken as read and were confirmed.

Accessibility  A2. The Sub-Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A4 of 15th January 2026, of the States  welcomed  Mr.  L.  Richardson,  Property  Maintenance  Officer,  Jersey  Property Building.  Holdings (JPH), in connexion with the accessibility of the States Building.

It was recalled that Mr. Richardson had met representatives of the JPH Design Team, Jersey Heritage Trust and the Environment Department on 8th January 2026, to discuss recommendations arising from the 2020 and 2021 Accessibility Audits of the States Building. The Environment Department had recommended that pre- application advice be sought in respect of certain proposed works but that other elements, including the provision of accessible lifts and toilets, could likely be carried out without the need for planning permission. The Sub-Committee had requested that further information be sought in relation to the timeline for the intended  works and  recommendations arising from the audits which were not considered feasible.

Mr. Richardson advised that several recommendations arising from the 2020 and 2021 Accessibility Audits of the States Building were scheduled for implementation by September 2026, as follows –

- a full lighting refurbishment;

- adding brass nosing to stairs for enhanced safety;

- upgrades to the toilet facilities and lifts;

- installing automatic doors on the ground floor and push bars on doors;

- ensuring smooth transitions between doors for wheelchair users by installing door threshold strips; and

19.03.2026

- providing hearing loops in the States Chamber.

It was noted that lift access to the public gallery was not viable given the Grade One Listed status of the building. Moreover, it was acknowledged that adaption of the building to full accessibility would prove challenging due to its historic significance and structural constraints. Mr. Richardson informed the Sub-Committee that upon receipt of pre-application advice, a clear timeline for works requiring planning permission would be developed.

The Sub-Committee proposed that Members' views be sought on the accessibility of the building after the public election to identify areas for improvement. It was also agreed that engagement between States Members and the Building Users Steering Group (BUSG), which oversaw general maintenance, should be improved. It was agreed that better communication between the parties would ensure the voices of the primary building users were heard. The Assistant Greffier, Committees and Panels, undertook to discuss the above with the Assistant Greffier of the States, Chamber and Members Resources.

It was agreed that the following should be included in the Sub-Committee's Legacy Report (Minute No. A3 of the extant meeting refers) -

- future iterations of the Sub-Committee to be regularly apprised of ongoing work in the States Building by the BUSG and to receive regular updates from Jersey Property Holdings;

- following the 2026 public election, all Members to be surveyed regarding the accessibility of the building; and

- the investigation of potential funding opportunities from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in order to conduct an updated accessibility audit of the building.

The Sub-Committee thanked Mr. Richardson for his work and engagement with the Sub-Committee to date, and he withdrew from the meeting.

2026 Legacy  A3. The Sub-Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A7 of 15th January 2026, report.  received and noted drafted text for inclusion in the overarching 2026 Privileges and

Procedures Committee (PPC) Legacy Report.

It was recalled that the Sub-Committee had previously produced a standalone Legacy Report. PPC had agreed that a single Legacy Report should be produced by the main Committee with contributions from the various Sub-Committees. This ensured a streamlined approach and a single cohesive record of the work undertaken

30

6th Meeting 19.03.2026

by the PPC and its Sub-Committees.

Upon consideration of the document, the Sub-Committee suggested various minor amendments, which Officers undertook to action. It was agreed that a final version of the document would be circulated for approval via electronic mail, with PPC being requested to approve the Legacy Report for presentation at its next scheduled meeting.

Women's  A4. The Sub-Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A3 of 15th January 2026, Parliamentary  received and noted a report entitled Jersey Women's Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Caucus.  – Inaugural Event' and heard from Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen

and St. Peter , Chair in connexion with the WPC launch event held on 5th March 2026.

It was recalled that the following approval of the WPC's terms of reference by the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) on 10th November 2025, the Sub- Committee had secured funding in the sum of £4,850 from the Commonwealth Women's Parliamentarians' (CWP) Gender Strengthening Fund to fund an event to formally launch the WPC.

It was noted that the event had been a success, with over 60 women gathered in the States Chamber, including past and present States Members, women from the local community and those considering standing for election in June 2026. Members of the public had also been invited to observe via Microsoft Teams. The event featured 2 guest speakers, Mesdames J. Watson, Senedd Regional Member, who spoke in her capacity as Chair of the Welsh Women's Caucus and A. Whitehouse, author and campaigner for flexible working. There had been an opportunity to ask the speakers questions and participate in an informal networking session following the event. Deputy Stephenson stated that feedback had been overwhelmingly positive and there was a desire to progress the work of the WPC after the public election.

The Sub-Committee requested that local media coverage of the event be included in the  report,  which  would  be  shared  with  the  Commonwealth  Parliamentary Association (CPA) in due course. It was also suggested that Deputy Stephenson could lead a session on the WPC for all States Members during the post-election induction period and the Assistant Greffier, Committees and Panels, undertook to make the necessary arrangements.

LGBTQ+  A5. The Sub-Committee, with reference to its Minute No. A5 of 15th January 2026, Parliament-  received an oral update from Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour , Vice Chair, in

31 6th Meeting 19.03.2026

arians'  connexion with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's (CPA) British Network.  Island and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and

Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Parliamentarians' Network.

It was recalled that Deputy Doublet was a Member of the Network's Committee and had agreed to provide the Sub-Committee with relevant updates as a standing item.

It was noted that all States Members had received an invitation to attend an online seminar hosted by the Network on 23rd March 2026 at 7.00 pm. The seminar would focus on LGBTQ+ Caucuses and parliamentary networks across the Commonwealth and  would  present  opportunities  for  exchanges  of  ideas,  shared  learning  and reflections on how parliaments could better support LGBTQ+ inclusion. It was advised that whilst the membership of the Network was limited to those who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ Community, all Members of CPA BIMR Branches were welcome to attend events.

The Sub-Committee thanked Deputy Doublet for the update.

Final meeting.  A6. Having noted that this was the final meeting before the 2026 public election, the

Chair  expressed  her appreciation for the work undertaken by Members and the commitment shown during the current term of office.