Composition and Election of the States Assembly (P.133/2016): fourth amendment.

STATES OF JERSEY

COMPOSITION AND ELECTION OF THE STATES ASSEMBLY (P.133/2016): FOURTH AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 24th January 2017 by Senator L.J. Farnham

STATES GREFFE

2016  P.133 Amd.(4)

COMPOSITION AND ELECTION OF THE STATES ASSEMBLY (P.133/2016): FOURTH AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

For paragraph (a) substitute the following paragraph –

"(a)  to  agree  that  it  should  establish  an  Assembly  of  46 Members

comprising 12 Parish Connétable s elected from within the current Parish boundaries, 8 Senators elected on an Island-wide basis, and 26 Deputies elected from 6 large districts, each choosing 4 Deputies, with the exception of St. Helier Districts 1 and 2, which would each choose 5 Deputies in addition to their Parish Connétable ;".

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

In the table, for the word "Senators" substitute the word "Deputies" and in the second column, for the numbers "6" and "5" substitute the numbers "5" and "4" respectively.

3  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (c) –

In paragraph (c) for the numbers "44" and "19" substitute the numbers "46" and "20" respectively.

SENATOR L.J. FARNHAM

REPORT

I do hope Members will forgive me if this report is broadly similar to the report accompanying P.133/2016 Amd.(2).

This amendment seeks to add 8 Senators and reduce the number of Deputies by one in each district.

Increased voter influence: If Senators are retained, all voters will be able to elect an additional 8 Members to the Assembly, significantly increasing voter influence.

The  current  electoral  system  is  deemed,  by  some,  to  be  inequitable  in  terms  of representation, due to the varying sizes of constituencies, mandates and different classes of States Member.

Following previous reductions from 53 members to 49, I believe the people of Jersey are well represented in their States Assembly. I also believe that Jersey should retain the 3 classes of States Member, namely: Senator, Connétable and Deputy ; and that electoral districts should be redrawn for the election of Deputy for the purpose of creating more equitable representation. Connétable s should continue to be elected by Parish, and Senators by Island-wide mandate.

As recommended in the Clothier Review, all (classes of) States Member(s) should be permitted (by protocol) to follow their titles and names with the letters "MSJ" (Member of the States of Jersey), thus providing a single or united term of reference for all States Members.

The classes of States Member

Senator: One cannot ignore the fact that a majority of Islanders wish to retain the Island-wide mandate as represented in the office of Senator. It is also widely, and quite correctly, recognised that of the 3 classes of States Member, the office of Senator is, by virtue  of  its   Island-wide  mandate,  the  most  democratic  and  therefore  the  most accountable.

Importantly, the holders of Senatorial office are well placed to take unprejudiced and impartial views of all Island issues without being conflicted by Parish or constituency pressures. This I believe to be a vital component of the office and a key reason for maintaining it. This will also prevent elections being dominated by local or single constituency issues.

A previous States Assembly took the decision to reduce the number of Senators from 12 to 8. Importantly, this decision was taken without the knowledge, endorsement or permission of the electorate.

I do believe this influenced the work of the Electoral Commission, on the grounds that the States Assembly had already imposed a reduction in one category of States Member (Senators). It could therefore be argued that the Electoral Commission were reluctant to recommend a reversal of such a recent decision.

In addition, the States had also previously voted for a single true election day, prior to agreeing the make-up of the Assembly. This has had a lasting impact on the number of

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P.133/2016 Amd.(4)

Members elected by Island-wide mandate, as it could be argued that electing more than 8 Senators on the same day presents a number of challenges.

Connétable : The Parishes must retain a voice in the States Assembly, especially if electoral districts are redrawn. Failure to maintain Parish representation in the States would undoubtedly lead to a loss of stimulus within the Parishes and disconnect the Parishes  from  any  influence  and  participation  in  the  government  of  the  Island. Consequently,  Parishes  may  well  only  become  concerned  with  a  diminished administrative role and the provision of some public services.

The Connétable s have made a reliable, sensible and balanced contribution to the States Assembly  and  its  associated  responsibilities.  I  therefore  firmly  recommend  that Connétable s should remain as legitimately elected Members of the States of Jersey.

Members should understand that, should Senators be removed from the States then Connétable s would surely follow, as without an Island-wide mandate, the argument for an Assembly with a single type of Member would be enhanced.

Deputy : The office of Deputy is important, as it is the office that most closely represents the welfare, care and interests of their constituencies and constituents. The Deputy is often the first port of call for a member of the Public with a specific issue or problem relating directly to their constituency.

The majority of Islanders wish to see a reduction in the number of Deputies and an equalisation of representation for this class of States Member. There have been many examples over the years of Deputies being elected with vastly differing mandates and in many cases being elected to the States, for the first time, completely unopposed. Larger constituencies with fewer places available would provide for contested elections in all districts and improved voter equity.

Financial and manpower implications

On the basis of the annual cost of a States Member, a reduction to 46 Members would lead to reduced expenditure from current levels of approximately £150,000 per annum.