States Minutes 6th December 1983

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 6th  December,  1983  at  10.15 a.m. under  the  Presidency  of  the   Bailiff , Sir Frank Ereaut.

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His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, General Sir Peter Whiteley, G.C.B., O.B.E., was present. _____

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator Jane Patricia Sandeman – out of the Island.

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Prayers. _____

Tabling of subordinate legislation.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely –

Social  Security  (Collection  of  Contributions) (Amendment) (Jersey) Order, 1983. R & O 7239.

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee, dated 30th November, 1983, showing that in pursuance of  Standing  Orders  relating  to  certain  transactions  in  land,  the Committee had approved –

1. as recommended by the Public Works Committee, the  leasing  to Mr. Christopher  Hugh   Taylor  of approximately 20 vergées of grazing land at Mont Mado, St. John , for a period of nine years with effect from 24th June, 1983, at an annual rent of £300, with rent reviews at the end of the third and sixth years;
2. as recommended by the Public Works Committee, the leasing to Mr. Denis James Gilpin of Rozel Mill,

311   Price : 50p.

St. Martin , for a period of 21 years, with an option to renew for a further 21 years, at an annual rent of £100, subject to the right of review of the nominal rent every seven years and with the right to assign the unexpired portion of the lease should the main property (Rozel Mill House) ever be sold, and the Committee being responsible for the repairs to and the maintenance of the exterior of the building (the Committee rescinded Act No. 4(b) of 23rd March, 1983, which was notified to the States on 12th April, 1983);

3. as recommended by the Housing Committee, with the support of the Island Development Committee, the purchase from Mrs. Marilyn Margaret Connelly, née Le Saint, of No. 1, Devonia Cottages, Devonshire Place, St. Helier , a two-bedroomed property, required for use as States Rental accommodation prior to any future development, for a consideration of £35,000 for the realty and £3,558 for the contents, on the basis of each party paying its own legal costs;
4. as recommended by the Housing Committee, with the support of the Island Development Committee, the purchase from the officers and duly authorised agents of the Brig-Y-Don Children's Convalescent and Holiday Home and the Jersey Blind Society, of –

1. 78, Rouge Bouillon, for a consideration of £18,000;
2. 17, Trinity Road, for a consideration of £30,000;
3. 5, Wesley Street, for a consideration of £15,000; and
4. 1 and 2, Old St. James Place, for a consideration of £27,000,

all in the Parish of St. Helier , on the basis of each party paying its own legal fees;

5. as recommended by the Housing Committee, an exchange of land between the Public and Bashfords Limited and the passing of a Contrat de Bornement with Bashfords Limited to agree a boundary between its property and that land owned by the Public at Bashfords Nurseries, St. Saviour , as detailed on Plan No. 235/53A and hatched and cross-hatched, subject to the Public paying Bashfords Limited's legal and surveying fees;
6. as recommended by the Housing Committee, the passing of a Contrat de Transaction with Mr. Donald George Picot to enable him to connect his property, Donmarder, Clos du Roncherez, St. Brelade , to the foul sewer at Clos Saut Falluet, St. Brelade , for a consideration of £250 and the payment of legal fees;
7. as recommended by the Housing Committee, the passing of a Contrat de Transaction with Mr. Philip John Rondel to determine the boundary of his property, Melanie, Eureka Avenue, St. Clement , and Le Squez Housing Estate, St. Clement , with each party paying its own legal costs.

Matters noted – financial transaction.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee, dated 16th November, 1983, showing that in pursuance of Rule 5 of the Public Finances (General) (Jersey) Rules, 1967, as amended, the Committee had noted that the Resources Recovery Board had accepted the lowest of seven tenders, namely that submitted by Inter Island Construction Limited in the sum of £240,245.76 for the extension of the foul sewer to serve the Park Estate area of St. Brelade .

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Draft Cremation (Amendment) (Jersey) Law, 1980 & Cremation (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 1983 (Appointed Day) Act, 198 . P.156/83.

Presented by the Public Health Committee.

2. St. Mary 's & St. Peter 's Church, Presbytery and School: acquisition. P.157/83.

Presented by the Island Development Committee.

3. Link road to Bellozanne Valley: covenant on land. P.158/83.

Presented by the Public Works Committee.

Attendance Allowance Board: appointment. P.148/83.

THE STATES acceded to the request of Deputy Francis Hedley Morel , President of the Social Security Committee, that the Attendance Allowance Board: appointment (P.148/83 – lodged on 15th November, 1983) be considered on 13th December, 1983.

Disposal of Industrial Sites at La Collette. P.142/83.

THE STATES acceded to the request of Deputy Norman Stuart Le Brocq of St. Helier , President of the Island Development Committee, that the Disposal of Industrial Sites at La Collette (P.142/83 – lodged on 25th October, 1983) be deferred from the Sitting on 13th December, 1983.

States rental accommodation: increase. P.154/83.

THE STATES acceded to the request of Deputy Hendricus Adolphus Vandervliet of St. Lawrence , President of the Housing Committee, that the States Rental accommodation increase (P.154/83 – lodged on 22nd November, 1983) be deferred from the Sitting on 13th December, 1983.

Possibility of Jersey becoming a free port. Question and answer.

Deputy Maurice Clement Buesnel of St. Helier asked Senator Ralph Vibert , President of the Finance and Economics Committee, the following question –

"The Isle of Man, in order to attract light industry to the Island, has declared itself a free port. Has the Finance and Economics Committee examined this possibility for Jersey, considering our proximity to the Continent?"

The President of the Finance and Economics Committee replied as follows –

"The Finance and Economics Committee is aware that the Isle of Man has declared itself a free port in order to attract light industry and the Committee is presently examining the matter."

Motor Tax renewals: accommodation. Statement.

The President of the Finance and Economics Committee made a statement in the following terms –

"The Motor Taxation Department will shortly be moving from Cyril Le Marquand House to the Chelsea Hotel for the period of the annual renewal.

In view of adverse comment each year regarding this removal the Committee desires to make the following statement –

1. The annual renewal requires approximately 25 additional temporary staff. The working area behind the public counter at Cyril Le Marquand House is inadequate to accommodate this number and ifit were available would be unoccupied for the rest of the year. All staff require access to the central card index comprising some 50,000 cards.
2. The rental which will be paid to the Chelsea Hotel for the six week period will be approximately £2,100, inclusive of heating, lighting and cleaning. The Committee believes this to be eminently reasonable.

3. It is planned eventually to computerize the system and to move to staggered monthly renewals similar to that in use in the United Kingdom. This will require amendments to the law and there are other aspects of computerization in the Treasury which, in the Committee's view, are of higher priority."

No. 5 Little Green Street, St. Helier – Sale to Crowngap Development Limited.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Public Works Committee –

1. approved the sale to Crowngap Developments Limited of an area of land measuring approximately 990 square feet (as delineated on Drawing No. 372/1A) being that area of No. 5 Little Green Street which is not required for road widening, for the sum of £24,750;
2. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass the necessary contract in the matter;
3. authorised the Treasurer of the States to credit Vote No. C.0001 Capital Receipts' with the appropriate amount.

Western Quarries, L'Etacq, St. Ouen .

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Public Works Committee –

1. approved the purchase from Ronez Limited of

4.5 vergées of land, shown outlined in red on Drawing No. A.P.P.14.0.9, known as Western Quarries, L'Etacq, St. Ouen , for a consideration of £5,000 for the freehold;

2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said drawing on behalf of the States;
3. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass the necessary contract in the matter;
4. authorised the Treasurer of the States to pay the requisite sum out of the Vote of Credit granted to the Committee under the heading "Coast Protection, Supplies and Services" (Vote 2023).

Highlands College Catering Block – extension.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee –

1. approved drawings numbers 2583/55, 2583/57, 2583/58, 2583/60 and 2756/1 showing the proposed extensions to the Highlands College Catering Block;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said drawings on behalf of the States.

Dummy Lane, St. Helier – acquisition.

THE STATES commenced consideration of a Proposition of the Housing Committee regarding the acquisition by Compulsory Purchase of Dummy Lane, St. Helier . On the proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton the Proposition was lodged "au Greffe".

No. 29 Columbus Street, St. Helier .

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee –

1. approved Drawings No. 2735/1 and 2735/3, showing the redevelopment of 29 Columbus Street, St. Helier

to provide 1 one-bedroomed house, 2 one- bedroomed flats and 1 two-bedroomed flat;

2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Fort Regent Swimming Pool Bar, Cafeteria and Kiosk – lease.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Fort Regent Development Committee –

1. rescinded their Act of 25th November, 1975, wherein they had approved the lease to Mr. Alfredo Sanchez of the Fort Regent Swimming Pool Bar, Cafeteria and Kiosk, for a period of nine years, subject to certain conditions, and granted Sanchez Holdings Limited (Mr. Alfredo Sanchez) a new lease of the said premises for a period of nine years commencing 1st January, 1984, on the basis of Sanchez Holdings Limited spending in the region of £12,000 – £15,000 on the refurbishment of the areas concerned, on the following terms –

1. a rent of £10,000 a year or 15 per cent of gross takings, whichever was the higher;
2. rent reviews at the third and sixth years by reference to the official Jersey Cost of Living Index;

2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the necessary agreement; and
3. authorised the Treasurer of the States to receive the appropriate amounts as they become due.

Island Plan Volume 1 – Survey and Issues/Island Plan – Report of Survey – Basic Issues (P.143/83) – Committee of the Whole House.

THE STATES, on the Proposition of the President of the Island Development Committee, resolved into a Committee of the Whole House in order to discuss the Island Plan Volume 1 – Survey and Issues presented by the Island Development Committee on 27th September, 1983 and the Island Plan – Report of Survey – Basic Issues (P.143/83) lodged "au Greffe" on 1st November, 1983, by that Committee.

The Committee rose at 5.35 p.m.

R.S. GRAY, Deputy Greffier of the States.