Currently Islanders pay no charges on any waste but under new plans put forward by the Infrastructure Department, from next year businesses, community groups and even some charities would pay a waste-water charge of £2.27 per cubic meter.
During a public hearing this week, the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny panel accused the department of not having a clear plan for the new charge.
St Saviour Constable Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard told Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel: ‘I feel there is still an awful lot of work that needs to be done on this.
‘You don’t seem to be coming out with anything concrete other than there will be a charge. There doesn’t seem to be any black and white plans but a lot of grey areas.’
Deputy Noel replied: ‘I don’t think it has been rushed and the average man and woman is currently subsidising businesses through general taxation.’
Issues were also raised on behalf of the tourism industry which is worried that the charges could significantly affect businesses, some of which could pay tens of thousands of pounds under the new system. Panel member Deputy Montfort Tadier also raised questions about charities having to pay the charge.
Deputy Noel said he would look at charities on a case-by-case basis and some would be exempt.
He said: ‘I think it’s right that Jersey Hospice and places like Les Amis would be exempt from paying the charges because they provide a home to people, so they could be seen as a household residency. But a parish football club is a charity – they do not provide a home so they would not be exempt from paying the charge.’
