Strategic Plan 2006 to 2011 (P.40-2006) - 8th amendment (P.40-2006. Amd.(8)) – comments

STATES OF JERSEY

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STRATEGIC PLAN 2006 TO 2011 (P.40/2006): EIGHTH AMENDMENT (P.40/2006. AMD.(8)) – COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 19th June 2006 by the Council of Ministers

STATES GREFFE

COMMENTS

The Council of Ministers accept this amendment. In doing so they note that the majority of the Recommended Policy options put forward in the 2001 report Jersey into the Millennium have been delivered already (in some cases bettered), are in train with current activities or are contained within the draft Strategic Plan. Similarly the documents vision statement contains nothing that is not mirrored by the Draft Strategic Plan.

The following sections present an update of the recommended policy options from the report. It shows that they are all adopted, other than the section on population. The States has agreed the Migration Policy which is being implemented. Full implementation will require changes to existing laws which will be brought to the States in 2007. The Migration Policy and previous Strategic Plan did not accept a fixed cap on population. Instead it was agreed that there should be no more than an overall 1% per annum increase in the working population over the life of the Strategic Plan. This is continued in the proposed Plan.

The States has agreed within the Migration Strategy (P.25/2005) that the fundamental aim is to achieve a sustainable balance between environmental, social and economic issues. The policy is to monitor and regulate the factors that govern migration in the context of the overall population to ensure a balance between economic growth and the demand for and supply of labour, accommodation, infrastructure and resources of the Island and promote greater inclusion.

In accepting the amendment the Council of Ministers recognises that the original recommendations on policy have been amended by subsequent States decisions. It is now be appropriate to update the section on Population and if the States agrees a thorough review of all of the issues agreed in the migration strategy will be undertaken and presented for discussion.

The Council of Ministers are firmly of the view that it is better to embody sustainability objectives within the overarching Strategic plan than to have them contained in a separate, stand alone document.

Comments on the Appendix

The following table sets out the Recommended Policy Options from the report attached as an appendix to the amendment which are to be "updated, agreed and implemented".

Water and Mineral Resources

• A new Water Resources Law to be produced and agreed Drafted and ready for debate

by the States in 2002

• T he promotion of an awareness raising campaign on the Will follow adoption of Water Resources need to reduce water consumption Law

• T he on-going fiscal review, in liaison with the Jersey Will follow adoption of Water Resources New Waterworks Company, to address the issue of fiscal Law

measures to encourage the use of water meters

• T o regularly review and update local climate change Delivered via British Irish Council predictions Working Group

• T he States to endorse the Jersey Mineral Strategy, 2000- To be revised and updated as part of Island 2020, prepared by the Planning and Environment Plan review

Committee, subject to the resolution of the potential

traffic problems

• T he adoption Island-wide of the glass collection scheme In progress

(for secondary aggregate use) already initiated by the St

Helier Parish

Energy

• T o complete the review of environmental functions, Done ensuring that the responsibilities for energy policy are

properly addressed in that review, in 2002

• T o ensure that the use of fiscal measures to achieve Part of Energy Policy and Environmental energy conservation goals is fully addressed in the on- tax proposals

going fiscal review

• A ll States departments to undertake an energy audit by

the end of 2002

• T o achieve, in the public sector, a 2% per annum New post agreed in Property Holdings will reduction in fuel consumption address these

• T he Housing Committee, in partnership with the JEC and

a private supplier, to establish a model house to

demonstrate energy efficiency and the use of alternative

energy sources

• T o establish a small action group to foster initiatives to Advisory Group established to advise on achieve real energy conservation gains Energy Policy

• T o establish a Working Group to monitor, review and Advisory Group established to advise on make recommendations with respect to the development Energy Policy

of alternative energy sources

Biodiversity and Countryside

• T o reduce the impacts of pollution, traffic and population State of Jersey Report 2005 updates this

• T o ensure that biodiversity and countryside issues are Done

fully integrated in the Island Plan in accordance with

sustainability principles

• T o achieve States approval for, and the implementation Done

of, the Biodiversity Strategy in 2002

• T o increase understanding and awareness of the linkages Done via Countryside Renewal Scheme between biodiversity and the wider countryside and its

landscape

• T o complete the review of environmental functions, Done

addressing the issue of resource allocation, as a priority

• T o ensure that the outcomes of the review of the Done, now fully integrated with agriculture industry recognise, and respond to, its Environment

impacts on the environment

• F ulfil the 1995 States Policy objective to produce an Done and consultation phase complete integrated coastal zone management strategy to

safeguard the marine natural heritage

The Built Environment

• T o ensure that the Island Plan Review adequately Done, refine further in next review addresses the relevant key options generated in the

consultation process

• T o integrate into the sustainable transport policy New Travel Transport Plan addresses measures to address traffic related problems in the built

environment

• T o achieve States approval for an immigration policy Done

Pollution

• T o complete and implement the review of environmental Done

functions as a priority

• T o achieve States approval for a Water Resources Law in Drafted and ready for debate 2002

• T o introduce a Code of Practice to set a duty of care Done

framework

• T o review the Island's environmental monitoring Done.  State Of Jersey Report 2005 refers programme to ensure its efficacy and appropriateness,

and to establish, as a priority, an environmental database that meets the requirements of the Island's international

commitments

• T o achieve States approval for a sustainable waste Solid Waste Strategy agreed by States management strategy that reflects the EU hierarchy, and Waste Law agreed by States

requires any incinerator replacement(s) to be of the

highest environmental standards, in 2002

• T o achieve States approval for an air quality strategy as a In preparation

priority

• T o actively pursue, in the on-going fiscal review, the use Fiscal Strategy includes a review of

of fiscal measures as a means of encouraging Environmental tax proposals environmental initiatives

• T o raise awareness and understanding of pollution issues State Of Jersey Report 2005 plus Planet and solutions Jersey events

• E ncourage the adoption of EMS across States Not a current priority

departments and the private sector

Traffic and Transport

• T o ensure that the Island Plan Review adequately Done, will be updated in Island Plan addresses the issue of integrated transport and land use review

planning

• T o promote, through partnership with the private sector, Sustainable Travel Transport Plan

a more effective public transport system addresses

• T he States to reaffirm its endorsement of the Sustainable Now superseded by Sustainable Travel Island Transport Policy agreed in 1999, and to provide Transport Plan

the resources and political support to initiate actions

• T he Finance and Economics Committee to adequately Part of Environmental tax review address in the Island's budget strategy the need to use

fiscal measures to assist in the achievement of

sustainable transport objectives

• T o set targets and timescales for reductions in Forms part of the Energy Policy work greenhouse gas emissions that reflect global

commitments

• T o support the initiatives being proposed by the Delivered in Rural Economy Strategy Agriculture and Fisheries Committee to decouple

subsidies from production

• T o appoint a consultant to fully appraise the potential for Not progressed

the use of crushed aggregate to replenish marine

sediment levels

Social Issues – Health, Law and Order, Education

• T o provide funds that will promote the use of Within States Strategic Plan partnerships, especially with local NGO's to foster

improved community equity and opportunity

• T o support the establishment of a youth strategy with Youth Council formed

adequate political support

• T he States to endorse and activate the proposed Within States Strategic Plan Community Relations Trust

• T o ensure that the Finance and Economics Committee Contained within Review of Health fully evaluate long term benefits when making decisions Services

on short-term health costs

• T o ensure that building design recognises the need to Within States Strategic Plan and Island provide flexibility for longer-term habitation of domestic Plan

dwellings

• T o ensure that urban planning includes the provision of Within Island Plan

well designed open space and other recreational elements

• T o ensure that a Lifelong Learning Strategy is Within States Strategic Plan established as a priority

• T o ensure that the school curriculum adapts to the Core curriculum plus initiatives such as educational demands of sustainability "Environment Week"

• T o raise awareness and understanding of the social, State Of Jersey Report 2005

economic and environmental linkages that have a mutual

impact on health, education and law and order

Social Issues – Housing Needs and Poverty

• T he States to provide political and budgetary backing to Fundamental outcome of the States

the Planning and Environment and Housing Committees Strategic Plan

to address the housing issues identified in this and other

recent surveys so that social inequalities are adequately

addressed

• T o encourage high density, high quality affordable Island Plan plus further objectives now of housing which makes optimum use of the Island's urban good design

areas

• T o ensure that the Finance and Economics Committee Within current practice

fully evaluate all long term benefits/costs when making

decisions on short term housing costs

• T o ensure that a Lifelong Learning Strategy is Done

established as a priority

• T o raise annual contributions to Overseas Aid to achieve, Not achieved but regularly debated in the within five years, the requirement of the international States budget debate

norm agreed at the Earth Summit in 1992

Economy

• D evelop close links with local employers to ensure Done training and skill requirements are effectively identified

and subsequently improved

• T o ensure that a Lifelong Learning Strategy is Done

established as a priority

• T o encourage economic diversification that promotes Objectives within States Strategic Plan less labour intensive activities

• T o optimise opportunities for off-Island linkages that Current objective with examples such as facilitate economic growth without people growth fulfilment

• T o provide maximum support for the swift Done

implementation of ICT initiatives

• T o provide a system of fiscal incentives to achieve these Economic Development have a range of measures support measures

• T o complete as a priority the exercise being undertaken Completed

by both OXERA and Strathclyde University consultants

to evaluate the economic consequences of different

population scenarios

• T o ensure the collection, analysis and dissemination of Very much improved statistics in place timely, accurate and relevant data on which to base

strategic decisions

• T o ensure that the polluter pays principle is adopted by Embodied in the Waste Law and the Water business Resources Law

Population

• T o agree a level of population no higher than 89,000 Not adopted.  Economic Growth Plan sets a 1% increase in working population

• T o evaluate and agree a series of measures designed to Outcome within the States Strategic Plan maintain a sustainable growth without population growth

• T o develop a smart card system Not currently adopted

• T o develop a means of monitoring population changes Done

during inter-census periods

• T o ensure that a Lifelong Learning Strategy is Done

established as a priority

• T o ensure that the States responds to the Clothier Report States Strategic Plan proposes changes to recommendations in a manner that fulfils internationally address the perceived democratic deficit recognised principles of sustainability and to engage the population

Governance

• T o ensure that the changes to the machinery of States Strategic Plan proposes changes to government fulfil the internationally recognised address the perceived democratic deficit principles of sustainability and to engage the population

• T o set up a Sustainability Steering Group drawn from No single group established but bodies participants of the SWGs such as the Jersey Environment Forum are in place

• T o obtain States approval for the adoption of the five Not formally adopted but are implicit in sustainability principles set out in 3.5 above (4.7 in the the way policy is appointed

main report)

Awareness Raising

• T o obtain States approval for an adequate budget to Much greater access now via improved finance a 3 year programme of awareness raising and government websites

improving access to information

• T o ensure that freedom of information legislation is To be implemented

broadened to encompass the requirements of the Human

Rights Act

• T o engage in partnerships between the public, NGO and Being implemented in government private sectors to raise awareness and fund such departments

educational campaigns

• T o encourage the local Chamber of Commerce to adopt Not implemented

the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development

Indicators

• T o adopt the above list of core sustainability indicators A more comprehensive set have been adopted in the State Of Jersey Report 2005

• T o set up a task force to produce the second tier indicator A more comprehensive set have been

list which will serve to inform the States of progress with adopted in the State Of Jersey Report 2005 its sustainability strategy and inform future policy

making

• T o set up a task force to begin developing targets Targets established within State Of Jersey Report 2005