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Mont Orgueil development strategy - appointment of independent expert (P.19-2003) – comments

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STATES OF JERSEY

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MONT ORGUEIL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXPERT (P.19/2003) COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 18th March 2003 by the Education, Sport and Culture Committee

STATES GREFFE

COMMENTS

The responsibility for the sponsorship of the Heritage Trust is shortly to transfer to the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture. Although, in law, the transfer of responsibilities has not yet been completed, the new Education, Sport and Culture Committee has already begun to establish a working relationship with the trusts and is gaining an understanding of the issues which surround this particular topic.

The Committee believes that the proposition will not make a positive contribution to the planning process which is now in train and that, furthermore, it may actually complicate or compromise the process. There are several difficulties inherent in the proposition. It is predicated on the assumption that a mutually acceptable individual or body can be found to carry out the enquiry. It fails to explain however, what should happen if no such individual or body could be identified.

The proposition also states that the independent individual or body should prepare a report on the differences between the 2  bodies in respect of the Trust's Development Strategy for Mont Orgueil Castle, rather than attempt an adjudication between the conflicting views which have been expressed. As such, it may shed little new light on the matter, while prolonging the uncertainty and increasing the project costs through further delays.

It fails also to address what the real costs might be of a completely new enquiry by a group unfamiliar with the project and all its issues.

In view of the above, the Committee feels that the Trust's plans for Mont Orgueil should be considered by the appropriate authority through the planning application process and that the Environment and Public Services Committee, in reaching its decision, should take appropriate independent expert advice to respond to the level of public interest in this issue.