Scrutiny panel concerned about funding challenges facing the Minister for the Environment
Scrutiny
12 June 2024
The Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (the Panel) has carried out its first quarterly hearing with the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce. The Panel sought to get clarification over the Minister’s main priorities for the rest of his term in office. Deputy Luce told the Panel that developing a water strategy was his primary priority, though it was not included in the Government’s Common Strategic Policy. He said, it would still be the main focus of his department and policy areas under the Carbon Neutral Roadmap had been delayed to accommodate for this priority.
Deputy Luce was asked about the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on Critical Infrastructure Resilience – Energy. The Minister said that he was looking at how they could build up internal resources to look at energy and infrastructure planning, but with its importance for the Island, there may be the need for an Energy Minister in future. However, he has ruled out developing an energy strategy.
Deputy Hilary Jeune, Chair of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel, said: ‘The importance of energy resilience cannot be overlooked and so we will continue to seek further information on how this will be prioritised. We are also concerned about the omission of a water strategy in the Common Strategic Plan, which while the Minister has reiterated it is his priority, could have an impact on resourcing for the department.’
The Panel also heard that:
- A review of Building Bye-Laws would be carried out to bring technical guidance up to current best practice and was likely to take a year to 18 months to complete.
- The intention to ban all new oil and gas boilers in favour of low carbon alternatives, by 2026, had been put on hold, as too had the introduction of legislation for Energy Performance Certificates for properties.
- The Code of Practice which accompanies the Rented Dwelling Licensing scheme will be updated following stakeholder engagement and relaunched in Q3. The Panel remained concerned about the low number of people – just 8 applicants out of the 3,000 to whom Rented Dwelling Licences had been issued – who had applied for a refund due to their registration under the Rent Safe Scheme.
- There will be a further delay to the publication of the proposed Marine Spatial Plan due to further information being gathered on the economic impact.
- The full implementation of the Government’s improved IT system for Planning was not anticipated until the end of 2024. The Panel noted that there was a lack of clarity over the reason for and length of delays for implementation of the scheme.
- Jersey Water had plans to increase the water production capacity at La Rosière desalination plant by 50% but that longer term solutions would need to be found to ensure that there was sufficient future capacity.
- An investigation was still underway into other contributing factors for the Grève de Lecq water pollution incident. The Panel also heard that more testing of sea water, due to all-year-round swimming, was being considered.
You can watch a full recording of the hearing.
