David Cabeldu, co-ordinator and researcher for Save Our Shoreline Jersey, has warned that the new ‘super-department’ – which was created when Charlie Parker merged the Environment and Infrastructure Department – is conflicted and cannot continue in its current form.
It follows comments made by Environment Minister John Young during a Scrutiny panel hearing last year, when he said that GHE essentially ‘regulated itself’ in some areas and that its structure may put subtle pressure on some aspects of the department, such as the planning decision process.
Mr Cabeldu said: ‘Just as Philip Staddon comes over as an independent adjudicator for planning, we could have someone come over like that to act as a regulator – that is a possibility.
‘Or with the former Comptroller and Auditor General, Chris Swinson, the States used to bring him over on secondment for months at a time. We have an independent regulator for finance and all sorts of other things but the bottom line is we do not have one where it really matters – for our environment.
‘I do not know if they have one in other jurisdictions but I do not think they would have their environment and infrastructure departments in some sort of incestuous relationship. Jersey cannot afford to be labelled as an environmentally unsound place, but it is starting to be labelled as that.’
However, Mr Cabeldu added that an independent regulator may not be needed if the two departments were split up.
‘It is possible that if the departments were devolved [Environment and Infrastructure] and a proper regulatory agreement is drawn up, an independent regulator might not be necessary,’ he said.
‘The States think it is OK to bring in consultants left, right and centre so to bring in someone to act as a regulator on a limited basis, I do not think would put a great load on the economy.
‘Or maybe we could have someone retired who has the relevant qualifications doing it on an honorary basis, similar to Jurats. Something must happen and [if a regulator is appointed] they must be independent.’
