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WQ.11/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY M.R. SCOTT OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 23rd JANUARY 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 30th JANUARY 2023
Question
“Will the Minister provide details of the number of planning officers and planning policy officers, if any, who commute to the Island to perform their duties, and of any travel, accommodation or additional costs to the Government of Jersey in supplement to any salary payments incurred in this respect?”
Answer
Within the Regulation Directorate of Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department, the planning application team deals with all aspects of planning applications from pre-application advice to determining applications under delegated powers, presenting applications to Planning Committee and, afterwards, in discharging conditions, minor amendments and appeals. In this team there is a total of 18 permanent posts comprising: one Planning Applications Manager, seven Senior Planning Officers, five Planning Officers (two vacancies as at 25 January 2023) and five Trainee Planners (two vacancies as at 25 January 2023). All 18 permanent staff reside in Jersey and there are no costs in addition to their salary payments for travel.
In 2022, the planning applications team had a backlog of applications arising from reduced activities during the pandemic period, the new Bridging Island Plan coming into force and a change in Government reducing the capacity of the Planning Committee to make determinations. The team also had vacancies and therefore the decision was made to employ consultant planners from the UK to assess applications in order to clear the backlog. These consultant planners were employed through a commercial contractual arrangement for planning professional services and were not employed by the Government of Jersey as employees. They therefore resided in the UK and undertook planning assessments supervised by the Planning Manager. The final decisions were taken by permanent Senior Planning Officers. In 2023 the team currently retains two consultant planners through a commercial contractual arrangement due to remaining vacancies. Recruitment is underway to these two posts.
The Place and Spatial Planning Team, which forms part of the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance division in the Cabinet Office, currently has three vacancies. While these posts are being recruited, a consultant planner has been engaged on a short-term contract, through a commercial contractual arrangement for planning professional services, to specifically assist with the historic environment aspects of the Place and Spatial Planning Team’s work. This consultant planner is based in the UK and works remotely, visiting the island on a two-weekly basis to undertake site visits and meetings. The contract covers the cost of the professional services provided. There are no additional costs incurred by the Government of Jersey in relation to additional costs that might be associated with travel and accommodation.