Re-instatement of Senators (P.2/2025): amendment (P.2/2025 Amd.) – amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

RE-INSTATEMENT OF SENATORS (P.2/2025): AMENDMENT (P.2/2025

AMD.) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 10th March 2025

by Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter Earliest date for debate: 18th March 2025

STATES GREFFE

2025  P.2 Amd. Amd.

RE-INSTATEMENT OF SENATORS (P.2/2025): AMENDMENT (P.2/2025

AMD.) – AMENDMENT

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1  PART 3

For the word "twelve", substitute the words, ""eight", and after the words "in their place" insert the words "reducing the number of Members within the States Assembly to 45 with funding saved on salary for the vacated seats distributed equally between the Senatorial seats".

DEPUTY K.L. MOORE OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER Note:  After this amendment, the amendment would read as follows –

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

For  the  word  "offices"  substitute  the  word  "office"  and  delete  the  words " Connétable and".

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

For the words "one Deputy from each of the nine electoral constituencies", substitute the words, "the role of the Connétable s as Voting Members".

3  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

For the word "nine" substitute the word "eight", and after the words "in their place" insert the words "reducing the number of Members within the States Assembly to 45 with funding saved on salary for the vacated seats distributed equally between the Senatorial seats;

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

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. that the office of Senator, elected on an Island-wide basis, should sit alongside the office of Deputy in the States Assembly, and should be reinstated by removing the role of the Connétable s as Voting Members and substituting eight Senators in their place, reducing the number of Members within the States Assembly to 45 with funding saved on salary for the vacated seats distributed equally between the Senatorial seats; and

2. to  request  the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee  to  bring forward the necessary legislative amendments to give effect to this proposition in time for the General Election in 2026.

Page - 3

P.2/2025 Amd. Amd.

REPORT

All of the arguments provided in the report to Amd.(4) stand, however the Assembly would be reduced further to 45 and the Council of Ministers would have an additional member as there would be 8 Senators.

These numbers have been arrived at largely to maintain an odd number in the Assembly for voting purposes.

It is considered reasonable that all of the committees and panels of the Assembly would be adequately filled by the smaller number of members.

Any person seeking the role of Constable and a place in the Assembly would be able to stand for election as a Deputy , as well as Constable, just as the Clothier report intended.

Equally, removing the burden of attendance in the Assembly may attract some people to the role of Constable who are passionate about their parish and working in that community, yet do not desire the work of a States Member. This could bring greater vigour to some parishes that find their Constable prefers to spend a greater percentage of their time on States work, rather than parochial duties.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no additional financial implications. As mentioned, the money saved through reducing the number of members in the Assembly could be used to increase the pay of Senators to reflect the additional responsibilities they would hold.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.