Composition of the States - revised structure and referendum (P.75-2007) – amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

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COMPOSITION OF THE STATES: REVISED STRUCTURE AND REFERENDUM (P.75/2007) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 5th June 2007

by Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement

STATES GREFFE

COMPOSITION OF THE STATES: REVISED STRUCTURE AND REFERENDUM (P.75/2007) – AMENDMENT

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1. For sub-paragraph (a)(ii) substitute the following sub-paragraph –

"( i i)     3 6 Deputies elected as at present on a Parish or constituency basis;".

2. For sub-paragraph (d)(i) substitute the following sub-paragraph –

" (i ) " p roposals on the distribution of the 36 Deputies' seats to ensure an allocation of seats across the 12 Parishes that is as equitable as possible;".

DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

Note:  In accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 24 Deputy Baudains has notified the Privileges

and Procedures Committee that he is lodging this amendment.

2 4 A d ditional requirement for amending proposition

A p r o p o s it i o n which a member of the States wishes to lodge in his or her own right, and which is to

amend a proposition lodged by a body of which he or she is a member, cannot be lodged unless he or she has informed the body of his or her wish to lodge it.

T h e C ommittee is supportive of this amendment being brought forward so that States members are given

the opportunity to debate this alternative option to its own proposals.

REPORT

In order to address low turnout at elections the Privileges and Procedures Committee has researched possible changes to the constitution of the States Assembly.

There are many reasons people give for not voting, but finding a consensus has proved elusive. The Committee carried out extensive consultation and research and attempted to distil, from the many possible permutations, those changes that may find favour whilst at the same time being workable. There is clearly little merit in making changes that superficially seem attractive, but might actually deter voters by over-complicating the voting process.

The reasons behind each option are fully explained in the Committee's Report, so I shall not repeat them here. Suffice to say, a single election day appears to find favour with a reasonable percentage of the electorate. In order to achieve that in an orderly and workable manner, the possibilities boil down to 2 basic options: an Assembly of Connétable s and Deputies (elected as at present) or an Assembly of Connétable s and other members (possibly called Deputies) elected in districts created by dividing the Island into 5 or 6 fairly equal parts.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee as a whole is unable to propose 2 mutually exclusive options simultaneously, so voted on which of the 2 options for change they would progress. They have chosen the larger district option so I, as a member of that Committee, have decided, with the agreement of the Committee, to bring a minority proposition, in the form of an amendment to the Committee's proposition, to create choice.

There are effectively therefore 3  options on the table: the status quo, Connétable s plus other members elected in 5 or 6 Island districts, or Connétable s and Deputies as at present. My amendment would provide the latter option. In the Committee's own report the full advantages and disadvantages of this option are set out and the Committee as a whole accepts that it is also a workable option.

Whilst, for practical reasons, all options are a compromise, I believe my amendment addresses the concern expressed by some that a move away from a situation whereby Deputies are attached to each Parish would be the start of a disintegration of our parish system.

I do not believe my amendment has any financial or manpower implications that differ from those set out in the Committee's own proposition.