Strategic Plan 2006 to 2011 (P.40-2006) - 9th amendments

STATES OF JERSEY

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STRATEGIC PLAN 2006 TO 2011 (P.40/2006): NINTH AMENDMENTS

Lodged au Greffe on 2nd June 2006 by the Connétable of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

STRATEGIC PLAN 2006 TO 2011 (P.40/2006): NINTH AMENDMENTS ____________

After the word "Appendix" insert the words –

", except that,

1. in the Council'sTop Priorities onpages14 to 15,afterNewPriority 8 insert the following new Priority –

" 9 . P u rsue improved protection for Jersey in respect of the various nuclear activities being carried out on the Cotentin peninsular."

an d r enumber accordingly;

2. in CommitmentThree,Outcome3.4 –

(a ) in 3.4 delete the word "frontier";

(b ) af t er the existing indicators, insert the following additional indicators –

" E f f e ctive channels of communication with the French authorities in respect of the nuclear activities being carried out on the Cotentin peninsular are established

• A p p ropriate arrangements are put in place for compensation to be paid to the Island following any nuclear accident or incident which proves harmful to the health of Islanders or to the Island's economy or environment

• A cc u rate, timely and independent information is provided to the public of Jersey about the French nuclear activities";

(c ) af t er Action 3.4.2 insert the following action –

" 3 . 4 .3 I n 2006 engage the relevant authorities in France, through appropriate channels, in discussions and, in 2007 or earlier, bring forward measures to provide improved communication in relation to the nuclear activities on the Cotentin peninsula and compensation arrangements in the event of a nuclear incident (CM)." ".

CONNÉTABLE OF ST. HELIER

REPORT

It is surprising, given the fact that there is a large nuclear reprocessing and power generation industry on our doorstep, that the word nuclear' does not appear at all in the Strategic Plan. This amendment seeks to ensure that as one of its Top Priorities and as part of its third Commitment the Council of Ministers engages in appropriate negotiations to ensure that any incident at the various nuclear installations on the Cotentin Peninsular is met with appropriate action and compensation.

The Council of Ministers also needs to ensure that the public of Jersey are provided with timely, accurate and impartial advice on the development of nuclear installations in Normandy. This is certainly not the case at present, as the recent confusion over the proposed new reactor at Flamanville illustrates.

The financial and manpower implications of this amendment, were it to be successful, would require more administrative resources to be devoted to developing our channels of communication with the appropriate authorities in France and the United Kingdom. I would argue that this can be achieved by a proportionate reduction in administrative posts in the lower priority activities being carried out by the States, on the direction of the Council of Ministers, and that the implications are, therefore, neutral.

_______________________________________________________________ Re-issue Note

This amendment has been re-issued as the wording of the proposed new Action  3.4.3 has been revised to make it clearer, when it is inserted into the text of the Plan, that this new Action relates to nuclear matters.