States Minutes 4th December 1984

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 4th  December,  1984  at  10.15 a.m. under  the  Presidency  of  the   Bailiff , Sir Frank Ereaut.

_____ All members were present.

_____

Prayers. _____

H.E. The Lieutenant Governor – letter of thanks.

The Bailiff informed the House that a letter had been received from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, General Sir Peter Whiteley,  G.B.C.,  O.B.E.,  thanking  the  States  for  the  farewell meeting and the gift of claret jugs.

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The  following  enactments  were  laid  before  the  States, namely –

1. Road  Traffic (Saint  Helier)  (Amendment  No. 8) (Jersey) Order, 1984. R & O 7343.
2. Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Order, 1984. R & O 7344.

Energy Report 1984.

The Resources Recovery Board by Act dated 8th November, 1984, presented to the States an updated Energy Report.

THE STATES ordered that the said Report be printed and distributed.

367   Price : 50p.

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 28th November, 1984, showing that in pursuance of Standing Orders relating to certain transactions in land, the Committee had approved –

1. as recommended by the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, the leasing of Warr en Farm, Noirmont, St. Brelade , comprising dwelling, outbuildings and approximately 39 vergées of land, to Mr. Arthur Le Marquand, with effect from 25th December, 1984, for a term of nine years, on the basis of an annual rent of £2,500, subject to review every three years based on market factors;
2. as recommended by the Harbours and Airport Committee, the passing of a Contrat de Bornement with Mrs. May Cole, née Bannister, to agree a boundary between her property Zeelandia, Mont à la Brune, and Field 275, St. Peter , owned by the Public and administered by that Committee, with Mrs. Cole being responsible for all legal fees connected with the contract;
3. as recommended by the Housing Committee, the leasing from the Jersey Milk Marketing Board of No. 2, Staff House, Princes Tower Road, St. Saviour , for a period of one year to be effective from 31st October, 1984, with an option to renew the lease for one further year, at an annual rent of £3,640, required in connexion with the temporary housing of essential employees;
4. as recommended by the Housing Committee, with the support of the Island Development Committee, the purchase of Halcyon Guest House, West Hill, St. Helier , from Mr. Stanley Joseph Davy and Mrs. Renée Marie Jermaine Angela Davy, née Forget, for a consideration of £160,000, with each party being responsible for its own legal fees;

5. as recommended by the Housing Committee, with the support of the Island Development Committee, the purchase from Midland Bank Trust Corporation (Jersey) Limited of 73, Colomberie, St. Helier , for a consideration of £125,000, with each party being responsible for the payment of its own legal fees.

Matter noted – financial transaction.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 28th November, 1984, showing that in pursuance of Rule 5 of the Public Finances (General) (Jersey) Rules, 1967, as amended, the Committee had noted that the Housing Committee had accepted the lowest of four tenders, namely that submitted by Thatcher Limited in the sum of £2,365,000 in a contract period of 90 weeks for the construction of 67 dwellings, comprising houses, flats and maisonettes, on the site at Balmain Nurseries, St. Helier .

Matter lodged.

The following subject was lodged "au Greffe" –

Jersey Energy Report 1984. P.169/84. Presented by the Resources Recovery Board.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" on 27th November, 1984 –

1. Draft Gambling (Licensing Provisions) (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.160/84.

Presented by the Gambling Control Committee.

2. Room 48, Fort Regent. P.161/84.

Presented by the Fort Regent Development Committee.

3. Payment of Non-Contributory Death Grant. P.162/84.

Presented by the Social Security Committee.

4. Draft Amendment (No. 6) to the Tariff of Harbour and Light Dues. P.163/84.

Presented by the Harbours and Airport Committee.

5. Tourism Department Offices: alterations. P.164/84.

Presented by the Tourism Committee.

6. Draft Hawkers and Non-Resident Traders (No. 3) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.165/84.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

7. Draft Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.166/84.

Presented by the Public Works Committee.

8. Chez Marguerite Private Hotel, 3 Elizabeth Place, St. Helier : purchase. P.167/84.

Presented by the Public Health Committee.

THE STATES decided to take the abovementioned subjects into consideration on 11th December, 1984.

9. Committee of Inquiry into the Franchise Law, 1968. P.168/84.

Presented by Deputy Terence John Le Main of St. Helier .

Windsor Road, St. Helier – Nos. 1, 3 and 3A. P.152/84.

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Housing Committee that the Proposition regarding Nos. 1, 3 and 3A Windsor Road, St. Helier (lodged on 6th November, 1984) be considered on 11th December, 1984.

Draft Amendment (No. ) to the Standing Orders of the States of Jersey. P.151/84.

THE STATES acceded to the request of Senator Pierre François Horsfall that the draft Amendment (No. ) to the Standing Orders of the States of Jersey (lodged on 6th November, 1984) and referred to the Legislation Committee be considered on 11th December, 1984.

States Sitting of 11th December, 1984 – commencement.

THE STATES, on the Proposition of Senator Reginald Robert Jeune and in pursuance of Standing Order 4(4), resolved that the States meeting on 11th December, 1984, would commence at 9.30 a.m.

£1 note. Questions and answers.

Senator John William Ellis asked Senator Ralph Vibert , President of the Finance and Economics Committee, the following questions –

"Bearing in mind the strong opposition to the £1 coin, especially from elderly citizens, will the President inform the House –

1. Is it his Committee's intention to withdraw the £1 note from circulation?
2. Has the Committee considered producing a better quality note in order that it will have a longer life?"

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

"1. No – certainly not in the immediate future – the

Treasury hold sufficient stocks of £1 notes to last for the next 2 – 2½ years at present rates of usage. If, as has been suggested, there is opposition to using the £1 coin, the effect could be to increase the circulation of Jersey notes, with an attendant increase in investment income of the Finance and Economics Committee.

2.  Jersey notes are currently of a better quality than those circulating in the United Kingdom and therefore have a longer life. Consideration of further improvements in quality will be considered before any further orders are placed."

Budget 1985.

THE STATES commenced the consideration of the Budget for the financial year commencing 1st January, 1985, which in accordance with Article 16 of the Public Finances (Administration) (Jersey) Law, 1967, had been presented to the Assembly on 13th November, 1984, by the Finance and Economics Committee and comprised –

1. the estimate of the revenue expenditure and of the income of the Committees of the States;
2. the estimate of the transactions of the Capital Fund; and
3. the Report of the Finance and Economics Committee thereon.

THE STATES, having considered the estimates of the revenue expenditure and of the income of the various Committees, decided to allow the said estimates as detailed in the undermentioned pages of the Budget as follows –

Finance and Economics Committee – Pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Defence Committee – Pages 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Public Works Committee – Pages 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

Education Committee – Pages 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33.

Public Health Committee – Pages 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

Resources Recovery Board – Pages 42 and 43.

Agriculture and Fisheries Committee – Pages 44, 45, 46 and 47.

Tourism Committee – Pages 46 and 47. Etat Civil Committee – Pages 48 and 49.

Social Security Committee – Pages 48 and 49.

Cottage Homes Committee – Pages 48 and 49. Establishment Committee – Pages 50 and 51.

Island Development Committee – Pages 52 and 53. Elizabeth House Committee – Pages 52 and 53.

Housing Committee – Pages 54 and 55.

Prison Board – Pages 54 and 55.

Constitution Committee – Pages 54 and 55.

Fort Regent Development Committee – Pages 56 and 57. Gambling Control Committee – Pages 58 and 59. Legislation Committee – Pages 58 and 59.

Overseas Aid Committee – Pages 58 and 59, having accepted an amendment of Senator Jane Patricia Sandeman that vote number 6006 – Overseas Aid – be increased by £250,000 to £777,000.

Broadcasting Committee – Pages 58 and 59. Industrial Relations Committee – Pages 60 and 61.

Harbours and Airport Committee – La Collette Reclamation Scheme – Pages 60 and 61.

Policy Advisory Committee – Pages 60 and 61.

Liberation Anniversary Committee – Pages 60 and 61. THE STATES adjourned at 5.55 p.m. until 5th December,

1984.

E.J.M. POTTER, Greffier of the States.