PARISHES offer “value for money” with rates covering vital services, the senior Constable has said as he defended some charges rising by more than 50% in the last five years.
Constable Mike Jackson, whose St Brelade parish is one of those posting a 50% hike between 2020 and this year, chairs the Constables’ Committee.
He said that the parishes always tried to keep the rate – which funds parochial services – as low as possible, but many had to maintain aging buildings and faced increasing costs, especially for construction work and fuel. He added that the costs would be higher were it to fall on the government to provide those services.
At this time of year, parishioners across the Island approve the rate for the current year at a special assembly and then bills are posted out to households and businesses, although two parishes are yet to do so set their 2025 rate.
Three parishes’ rates have increased by 50% since 2020 – St Brelade, St Saviour and Grouville. The cost-of-living rise over the same period [RPI, March 2020 – March 2025] was 30.2%. The average for the ten parishes which have set rates this year is 31%.
Accounting for his parish’s increase, Mr Jackson said: “We had Covid to deal with at the beginning, when we held the rate as low as we could. Since then, we’ve had to work on the Parish Hall and rectory roof, we’re also upgrading the Elephant Park and we’ve had a couple of road projects to deal with.
“In the last financial year, many parishes budgeted for Liberation 80 celebrations too, which I think everyone agrees was a great success.”
He added: “The rate will always fluctuate depending on the demands of the day. It is always nice to keep the rate down but, equally, you cannot ignore the big projects. And, at the end of the day, it is a democratic decision made by those at the Rates Assembly.”
Mr Jackson said that he strongly believed that the parishes were value for money.
“If Government took on our responsibilities, it would be five times more expensive. We’re also a fraction of what local governments spend for the same services in the UK,” he said.
The relationship between the parishes and the Government is currently being reviewed by an Scrutiny review panel chaired by Deputy Helen Miles.
Mr Jackson said he welcomed the review and recognised parishes always had to evolve, although, he added that the maxim ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ had to be considered.
Accounting for his parish’s rise, St Saviour Constable Kevin Lewis said: “I think the rate was keep artificially low for a very long time, and we have faced a number of rising costs, including fuel for our refuge trucks and paying our staff a Living Wage. We are the second most populous parish and we have a lot of residents to look after.
“We are very cognisant that people are feeling the pinch so we are constantly looking at keeping costs down.”
He added: “The parishes remain value for money and, remember, many people involved in parish life, including the roads inspectors, rates assessors, Procureurs and honorary police, are all volunteers. And I am not paid by the parish, either.”
