Common Strategic Policy (P.98/2022): amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY

(P.98/2022): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 4th November 2022 by the Connétable of St. Helier

Earliest date for debate: 22nd November 2022

STATES GREFFE

2022  P.98 Amd.

COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY (P.98/2022): AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that on page 5 of the report in the "Environment" section –

1. before the word "environment" there should be inserted the words "urban and natural"; and
2. after the word "purposefully" there should be inserted the words "and fairly.";

2  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that on page 6 of the report in the "A commitment to partnership" section after the word "government" there should be inserted the words "the Parishes,";

3  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that on page 7 of the report in the "Quality of Life section, after the word "housing" there should be inserted the words "amenity space";

4  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that on page 13, Annex 1, in the "Children and Families" section after the third paragraph there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will provide safe walking and cycling facilities to allow children to walk and cycle to school, thereby increasing their health, fitness and independent mobility and reducing the impact of the school run' on the environment."";

5  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

 ", except that on page 14, Annex 1 –

1. in the "Ageing Population" section after the fourth paragraph there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will provide safe walking and other transport options for the elderly and encourage the improvement and expansion of parks and gardens, especially in urban areas.""; and

2. in the "Health and Wellbeing" section after the fifth paragraph should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will encourage the improvement and expansion of parks and children's play facilities, especially in urban areas. We will increase our investment in the public realm."";

6  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report of this Proposition" insert the words –

 ", except that on page 15, Annex 1, in the "Environment" section –

1. after the third paragraph should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will provide safe, segregated routes for walkers and cyclists around the Island and within the town area to encourage active travel."; and

2. in the penultimate paragraph after the word "infrastructure" there should  be  inserted  the  words  "including  tree  planting  and  the provision of green spaces,"".

CONNETABLE OF ST. HELIER

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 18(2)(e) of the States of Jersey Law 2005, to approve the statement of the Common Strategic Policy of the Council of Ministers as set out in the report of this Proposition, except that –

1. on page 5 of the report in the "Environment" section –

1. before the word "environment" there should be inserted the words "urban and natural"; and
2. after the word "purposefully" there should be inserted the words"and fairly.";

2. on page 6 of the report in the "A commitment to partnership" sectionafter the word "government" there should be inserted the words "theParishes,";
3. on page 7 of the report in the "Quality of Life section, after the word "housing" there should be inserted the words "amenity space";

4. on page 13, Annex 1, in the "Children and Families" section after thethird paragraph there should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will provide safe walking and cycling facilities to allow children to walk and cycle to school, thereby increasing their health, fitness and independent mobility and reducing the impact of the school run' on the environment.";

5. on page 14, Annex 1 –

1. in the "Ageing Population" section after the fourth paragraph thereshould be inserted a new paragraph as follows –
2. "We will provide safe walking and other transport options for the elderly and encourage the improvement and expansion of parks and gardens, especially in urban areas."; and
3. in the "Health and Wellbeing" section after the fifth paragraph should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –

"We will encourage the improvement and expansion of parks and children's  play  facilities,  especially  in  urban  areas.  We  will increase our investment in the public realm.";

6. on page 15, Annex 1, in the "Environment" section –

1. after the third paragraph should be inserted a new paragraph as follows –
2. "We will provide safe, segregated routes for walkers and cyclists around the Island and within the town area to encourage active travel."; and
3. in the penultimate paragraph after the word "infrastructure" there should be inserted the words "including tree planting and theprovision of green spaces,".

REPORT

The proposals contained in these proposed amendments to Jersey's new Common Strategic Policy' are tabled in the full knowledge that the similar changes of emphasis which I have suggested for many governmental strategic plans in the past have made very  little  difference  to  subsequent  policy  making  or  implementation.  Successive Ministers of Infrastructure, for example, have failed to bring forward the strategies for safe walking and cycling which in other communities have revolutionised the way that people travel. With the passing of time and the increased development of the Island, however, it becomes ever more important to ensure that the residents of urban areas, in particular, have safe and convenient access to green space, and that more Islanders are given the opportunity of improving their health and well-being, as well as protecting the environment, by choosing walking or cycling for at least some of their journeys.

Part 1

The language used to describe the strategic priority of protecting our environment suggests that it is the natural environment that is being referred to here: this amendment seeks  to  clarify  that  the urban  environment  also  warrants  protection,  as is  stated elsewhere in the document.

With regard to achieving our climate change targets, while the proposal that the Island moves purposefully,' I believe that it is important that such changes are made fairly', particularly in regard to transport choices and government spending. It would, for example, seem unfair to me for scarce resources to be deployed on a vehicle scrappage scheme without expending equal amounts on the transport needs of the significant proportion of the community who do not have a car to scrap; equally, restrictions on parking provision should not unfairly prejudice urban dwellers' ability to enjoy the benefits of car ownership (as distinct from car use).

Part 2

This amendment seeks to correct what is no doubt an oversight, namely the role of the Parishes in partnership working.

Parts 3 – 6

These amendments seek to ensure that the Government moves purposefully towards creating the long overdue active travel routes in town and around the Island, better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in Jersey being long overdue and essential. Both the very young and the elderly have much to gain in terms of health and quality of life from this. The amendments also seek to improve access to green space, play space for children, tree planting and an enhanced public realm in St Helier.

Financial and manpower implications

It is difficult to quantify the resource requirements of the majority of these amendments as the projects involved are of variable and uncertain size; there would also be health benefits if some of them are achieved which would undoubtedly offset the costs of healthcare; other jurisdictions have been able to calculate the cost benefit of introducing measures such as safe cycling routes and improved open space. However, I would expect the Climate Emergency Fund to be able to assist with the resourcing of the majority of the measures being proposed.