A BID to temporarily halt controversial plans to restructure the planning and environment ministries has been put forward by a backbencher – amid concerns that the effects of the shake-up have not been made clear.
In the report accompanying his proposition, Deputy Tom Coles stated that there were unanswered questions around the “financial implications, staffing requirements, and operational impact” of Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham’s intended creation of a Planning and Regulation Minister post.
This would split the planning and environment portfolio, currently looked after by the Environment Minister.
The new position can be created by Senator Farnham via a ministerial order, with the election for the Planning and Regulation Minister set to take place on Tuesday.
Senator Sir Mark Boleat has been put forward as the preferred candidate and is currently serving as an Assistant Environment Minister with delegated planning powers pending the formal creation of the role.
But Deputy Coles has proposed that “no action” be taken to implement the plan until a number of criteria are satisfied, including the presentation of a report by Senator Farnham to the States Assembly.
This would encompass details of any additional costs and staffing implications incurred by establishing the role, as well as clarification regarding officer accountability, the reasoning behind the transfer of responsibilities and “details of any consideration the Chief Minister gave to merging other ministerial roles” before seeking the change.
Deputy Coles also asks that the Assembly debates and votes on the creation of the Planning and Regulation role after the information is provided.
The St Helier representative said: “While the creation of a new Minister for Planning and Regulation may be within the powers afforded to the Chief Minister by the law, it is essential that this introduction is supported by thorough assessment and clear justification.
“At present, questions remain around the financial implications, staffing requirements, and operational impact.”
Deputy Coles contended that, without “clear evidence that these considerations have been addressed”, there was a risk that the proposed changes could “complicate lines of responsibility” and weaken effective governance.
He added: “Therefore, this proposition seeks to ensure that all viable options have been properly evaluated, and that any decision to create a new ministerial role is made with full transparency, robust analysis, and a clear rationale that serves the best interests of the Island.”
Deputy Coles’ proposal was published shortly after Deputy Hilary Jeune – chair of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel – stated that she “would want more time to scrutinise how the split would work”.
She cited a lack of “complete clarity” over which laws would fall under which remit and also raised the matter of funding requirements and officer resources.
Campaign groups, including Friends of the Earth Jersey, have called for a pause until scrutiny panels have reviewed the proposed split. The group has lodged a complaint with the Commissioner for Standards Commissioner, which asks whether Senator Farnham’s “conduct, acts or omissions may breach the Members’ Code of Conduct”.
The letter to the Commissioner for Standards states: “My complaint is that the Chief Minister appears to be asking the States Assembly to approve this restructuring before the relevant Scrutiny panels have been fully formed, properly resourced and given time to examine the proposal. This risks bypassing the scrutiny safeguards created when ministerial government was introduced in 2005.”
In a letter published in Wednesday’s JEP, members of ‘Passion for Jersey’ also requested that “a debate on the substance of this change take place”.
Senator Farnham has been approached for comment.
