Deputy Steve Luce, St Martin (Planning Minister)
My first priority as a Member of the Council of Ministers was to help develop and agree our Strategic Plan.
This plan sets out our priorities for this term of office, and includes the ‘Future St Helier’ project. Working with other ministers, and the Constable of St Helier, I am leading this initiative for the regeneration of St Helier.
The recently approved States Medium Term Financial Plan means that, as a department, we are now ensuring that we prioritise activities and carry out service reviews to meet the agreed department budget cuts while maintaining and improving essential services.
- We are making it easier for small building works to go ahead.
- We are implementing the new merits-based appeals process.
- We are improving (again) the energy efficiency standards in homes.
- We are reviewing the Rural Economy Strategy.
- We are reviewing planning obligation agreements.
- We are developing a climate change adaptation plan for Jersey.
- We are developing a water management plan for Jersey.
- We are engaging with stakeholders on the future of the planning system.
- We will be implementing measures to reduce nitrates in water.
- We are continuing the work to streamline our planning application process.
- We continue to work to safeguard the sustainability of our marine resource.
- We will be reviewing measures to protect our agricultural land.
Deputy David Johnson, St Mary
In seeking to carry out my election objective ‘to bring competent and ethical government to the States’, I considered my 40 years’ experience as a lawyer would be best applied to Scrutiny matters. I am therefore pleased to have been appointed vice-chairman of two such panels, being those of Economic Affairs and Environment, Housing and Transport and Technical Services.
Deputies Tracey Vallois (St John), Richard Renouf (St Ouen) and Simon Brée did not respond.
In relation to Economic Affairs, one major project was its review on the incorporation of Ports and Harbours. The panel’s final report was welcomed as amongst the most thorough ever conducted and this fairly reflects the amount of work carried out by the individual members in terms of both meetings and review of documentation.
For its part, the EHTS Panel has reviewed and presented reports on the supply of housing and the States’ environmental strategy.
Scrutiny is an essential part of government and, apart from specific reviews, involves regular meetings, presentations and public hearings (with ministers and departmental officers) on issues within their remit. Whilst this work takes up the bulk of my time, it is not such as to affect my attendance at States sittings and other meetings in which I am thus able to take a full part.
Deputy Susie Pinel, St Clement (Social Security Minister)
Combining the roles of Deputy for St Clement and Minister for Social Security has certainly been a challenge. However, the roles are symbiotic, as elements frequently overlap.
I am grateful to Graham Truscott, my Assistant Minister, and the excellent team at Social Security for all their support over the last year. Together we have achieved much. 2015 started with a change to the employment law to support local businesses and improvements to maternity allowance, providing better support for working mothers
I am especially proud of the major changes in September, with family-friendly measures added to the employment law and complex regulations covering sex discrimination introduced.
Support for business also included undertaking a thorough review of the Health and Safety Regulations for the construction industry during 2015, to ensure they are fit for purpose and provide adequate protection for construction workers.
The increasing impact of an ageing population and a harsh financial environment have led to taking difficult decisions. In order to provide much-needed investment in health and education, changes to benefits had to be made. These were recently agreed as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan and savings will contribute £10 million over the next four years.
Deputy Carolyn Labey, Grouville
I was relieved to gain the support of the States to stop the Planning Minister taking my constituent to court again over the Keppel Tower development.
There have only been five successful backbencher propositions against this Council of Ministers and I’ve won two of them. My other was extending Freedom of Information legislation to include the States Development Company, Andium and other bodies.
I challenged for Planning Minister to eke out the Chief Minister’s chosen candidate’s policies but also to publicly object to Fisheries being lumped with the Planning portfolio. I also challenged the CoM Strategic Plan on the grounds of it not having enough long-term vision. I stick by that.
I was extremely happy to accept the appointment as chair of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. This is something the Island does really well and can be proud of. Jersey’s contribution ensures we meet our humanitarian obligations and allows us to conduct business on the international stage. We’re opening an office very soon to make our work more accessible.
In the parish I was part of the organising committee for Grouville’s Liberation party on Gorey Common. My community support group continues to grow in volunteers and help parishioners in their daily lives.
Deputy Kristina Moore, St Peter (Home Affairs Minister)
A year of transition, from scrutiny of health, social security and housing to accepting ministerial responsibility for Home Affairs.
Public-sector reform started by merging departments, with the newly integrated Community and Constitutional Affairs team now serving four ministers and two assistant ministers. Policy officers now work flexibly, from the same office, supporting more than one minister and operating as a single team to ensure that everything is joined up more effectively.
Achieving sustainable savings that maintain the high level of public safety that we all enjoy is core work; by changing the way front-line staff use technology we will free up more time to focus on protecting the public.
In legislation, the first year is always about setting direction, and my focus has been on enhancing border security, updating the sexual offences law and ensuring that vulnerable people are better protected. I’m also pleased to lead the Chief Minister’s commitment to the Early Years Task Force, which will ensure a better start to every child through the crucial stages of development from conception to age two.
In the parish I continue to support my constituents and it is particularly pleasing to see the community support team going from strength to strength.
Deputy Anne Pryke, Trinity (Housing Minister)
Over the last year, my focus has been on setting the strategic direction for housing in Jersey.
I have published a draft housing strategy, which provides a plan to build more housing, create good-quality homes and build strong communities.
We have outlined 18 initiatives to help achieve this, including developing new home-ownership initiatives; using States land to support more homes; and improving the standard of rental accommodation.
We have made good progress in delivering more than 1,000 new affordable homes. In May, Ann Court was transferred to Andium Homes, which will provide 140 new homes, and we are working with all affordable housing providers to build more over the coming years.
This will also support our priority to regenerate St Helier, with ministers working on plans to make town a better place to live, work and visit. The rental sector has also been an active area of work.
At the start of November our tenancy deposit scheme, mydeposits Jersey, went live, and we hope to launch a landlord accreditation scheme early next year to improve rental standards.
Finally, an important law is being developed to set standards that tenants of social-housing providers should expect from their homes.
Deputy Eddie Noel, St Lawrence
As Transport Minister: My department is making good progress on government’s priority areas. A significant amount has been done on transport over the last year: an amended law on electric bikes; a plan for improvements to the taxi industry; a death-by-careless driving law; 12 new bus shelters by the end of this year; a new type of road surface trialled at Mont Mado; and work on a pedestrian and cycle path in St Peter’s Valley started this month.
In waste management we have been working on the new sewage treatment plant; we’ve entered the tendering process for the disposal of Guernsey waste; shipped off the last of the legacy fly ash from La Collette; and we are laying a surface water drainage system at Ann Court.
As Assistant Treasury Minister with responsibility for property: The opening of the refurbished St James Church by the Princess Royal highlighted how government can breathe life into old buildings, provide high-quality facilities and regenerate an area. The new St Martin’s School is part of a programme of remodelling to provide buildings that are fit for future primary education.
The new police station is progressing on time and on budget. It will provide a much-needed facility and release land at Summerland for affordable housing.
We are working with our arms’-length bodies – Andium and Jersey Development Company – to provide new homes at Ann Court and the former JCG site, meeting the objectives agreed in the Strategic Plan.
Deputy John Le Fondré, St Lawrence
Chairman Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel. Reviews:
i) Strategic Plan – amendments lodged.
ii) MTFP – amendments lodged.
iii) Public Finances Law – amendment lodged.
iv) Transfer of Functions.
v) Jersey International Finance Centre.
vi) Budget.
v) Pensions.
Vice-chairman of Future Hospital Sub-Panel (Sub Panel of HSSP), president Chairmen’s Committee, Jersey representative British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (‘BIPA’) – (Member of Committee C and also preparing for a presentation to BIPA on Jersey and the Crown Dependencies), vice-president Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (‘APF’) – Jersey Branch – Jersey hosted the 28th regional conference very recently.
