Les Pas: States to hear legal issues

Les Pas: States to hear legal issues

The Les Pas deal will be debated in secret with the States sitting as a committee of the whole House and Policy and Resources Committee president Senator Frank Walker will talk to Members about the legal issues that have persuaded his committee to propose a deal.It is expected that Senator Walker and the Solicitor General Stephanie Nicolle will be the lead players in the Les Pas drama this coming week.However, seven days later, on Tuesday 23 September, a debate will be held in public when Members will finally have the chance to vote on whether to accept or reject the proposed deal that will see Les Pas given a £10m prime waterfront site in return for dropping its legal claim to the St Helier foreshore.The only other item of public business on Tuesday is the States Resource Plan proposed by the Policy and Resources Committee.

At the heart of the proposals is a slowdown in the allowable growth in public spending to three per cent over the next five years.Amendments have been filed by the Harbours and Airport Committee and the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft.Harbours and Airport are seeking a change in priorities to allow essential works to be budgeted to take place at the Airport and the committee has already warned that the Airport may not be able to operate unless a programme of upgrades is carried out.Mr Crowcroft is seeking a reduction in the amount spent on States employment but it is understood P & R will question whether it is possible realistically to achieve the objectives set.Question-time this week moves away from Les Pas.

St John Deputy Phil Rondel will ask the president of the Harbours and Airport Committee, Senator Len Norman, whether there is a service level agreement in place with Condor Ferries in respect of the Jersey to St Malo sea route.He wants to know if the committee was aware when it granted a licence to Condor that some services would go to St Malo via Guernsey.

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