States Minutes 5th November 1985

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 5th November, 1985 at 10.15 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Sir Frank Ereaut. ____________

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator John Stephen Rothwell – ill.

Jean Amy Le Maistre, Deputy of St. Helier – out of the Island.

John Philip Farley, Deputy of St. Helier – out of the Island.

Bertram Manning Le Maistre, Deputy of St. Mary – out of the Island.

____________

Prayers ____________

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely –

Social  Security  (Mariners)  (Amendment)  (Jersey) Order, 1985. R & O 7437.

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE  STATES  noted  an  Act  of  the  Finance  and  Economics Committee dated 28th October, 1985, showing that in pursuance of Standing  Orders  relating  to  certain  transactions  in  land,  the Committee had approved, as recommended by the Public Works Committee, the acquisition from Valmonts Limited of 4,800 square feet of land on the west side of the Five Mile Road, St. Ouen , lying just to the east of the property "Sands" (the frontage to the main road

285   Price : 50p

being 480 feet and the width of the land 10 feet), for the sum of £248, with the public of the Island being responsible for the payment of all legal fees involved.

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Budget 1986.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

2. Government House: staff accommodation. P.131/85.

Presented by the Public Works Committee.

The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 26th November, 1985.

3. Draft Hawkers and Non-Resident Traders (Amendment) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.132/85. Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 26th November, 1985.
4. Draft Corporation Tax (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.133/85.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 26th November, 1985.

5. Draft Regulation of Undertakings and Development (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.134/85.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 26th November, 1985.

6. Draft Regulation of Undertakings and Development (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Regulations, 198 . P.135/85.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 26th November, 1985.

7. Housing Estates: resident caretakers. P.136/85. Presented by Deputy Norman Stuart Le Brocq of St. Helier .
8. Report and Proposition of Special Committee to consider request from the U.K. for a contribution towards defence and international representation costs. P.137/85.

Presented by the Special Committee.

9. Dégrèvement procedure: amendment (P.92/85): amendment. P.139/85.

Presented by Deputy Edgar John Becquet of Trinity . Budget 1986.

The President of the Finance and Economics Committee informed the States that the debate on the 1986 Budget would be held on 3rd and 4th December, 1985.

Draft Census (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.130/85.

THE STATES acceded to the request of the President of the Etat Civil Committee that the draft Census (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 198 (lodged on 29th October, 1985) be considered on 19th November, 1985.

Computerisation of States' Departments. Question and answer.

Senator Richard Joseph Shenton asked Deputy Sir Martin Le Quesne of St. Saviour , President of the Establishment Committee, the following question –

"Will the President bring to the House before the end of the present Session a report on computerisation of States' Departments showing costs, efficiency of equipment and savings in manpower?"

The President of the Establishment Committee replied as follows –

"My Committee's predecessor presented to the House in July 1982 a report on future computing strategy. My own Committee soon after taking office decided that it would be useful to take stock of progress made under the 1982 plan. We decided that there would be merit in doing this as at the end of 1985, when the present programme would have been running for three years. It is our intention to bring a report to the House by the early summer 1986. I am of course ready to bring an interim report to the House, if that is the wish of the House. But I hope that the House will agree that a fuller report in the early summer will perhaps be of more value."

Belmont Road, St. Helier – Nos. 30 and 31.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 2817/2B, 2817/3 and 2817/4 showing the development of Nos. 30 and 31, Belmont Road, St. Helier to provide additional hostel accommodation;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Journeaux Court (Phase III), St. Helier .

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee –

1. approved Drawings No. 3328/2, 3328/3, 3328/4, 3328/5 and 3328/6 showing the redevelopment of Journeaux Court (Phase III) to provide 21 units of accommodation;
2. authorized the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Royal Court (Remuneration of Commissioners) (No. 2) (Jersey) Act, 1985.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Finance and Economics Committee, approved the Royal Court (Remuneration of Commissioners) (No. 2) (Jersey) Act, 1985.

Court of Appeal (Remuneration of Ordinary Judges) (No. 3) (Jersey) Act, 1985.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Finance and Economics Committee, approved the Court of Appeal (Remuneration of Ordinary Judges) (No. 3) (Jersey) Act, 1985.

Public Works Committee: vote of no confidence.

THE STATES rejected a Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton that they had no confidence in the Public Works Committee.

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (9)

Senators

Shenton, Sandeman.

Connétable s

Grouville , St. Lawrence .

Deputies

St. Ouen , Le Brocq(H), Grouville , Thorne (B), Blampied(H).

"Contre" (40)

Senators

Vibert , Le Marquand, Jeune , Binnington, Horsfall, Ellis, Baal, Le Main, Manton.

Connétable s

St. Saviour , St. John , Trinity , St. Brelade , St. Martin , St. Peter , St. Helier , St. Clement , St. Mary , St. Ouen .

Deputies

Mourant(H), Morel (S), Quenault(B), Perkins(C), Le Gallais(S), Roche(S), Le Quesne(S), Trinity , Filleul(H), Vandervliet(L), Le Fondré(L), Rumboll(H), Beadle(B), Wavell(H), Billot(S), Norman(C), St. John , St. Peter , Carter(H), Mahoney(H), St. Martin .

Welfare Payments: assessment. P.74/85. Withdrawn.

THE STATES commenced consideration of a Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton that the Working Party on Need be requested to agree that, in the assessment of welfare payments, any amounts payable by way of –

1. Family Allowances; and
2. any allowance paid under the Invalid Care and Disability Allowances (Jersey) Law, 1978;

should be disregarded.

After discussion Senator Shenton withdrew the Proposition.

States' Trading Activities: investigation. P.89/85.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton, requested the Policy Advisory Committee to examine and report to the States on all aspects of the present States' control over commercially orientated public trading activities, i.e. Postal, Telecommunications, the Harbours and the Airport, and the advantages and disadvantages of introducing alternative systems.

Borrowing  (Control)  (Amendment  No. 2)  (Jersey)  Law, 1985. P.116/85.

THE STATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, adopted a Law entitled the Borrowing (Control) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 1985.

Supply Day Requests: reports and comments. P.122/85.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of Senator Richard Joseph Shenton, agreed that all requests for supplementary or additional votes of credit (other than those caused by inflation or a pay award) should, when circulated to Members, be accompanied by a report from the Committee requesting the vote, together with the comments of the Finance and Economics Committee thereon.

St. Ouen : homes for the elderly – financial assistance. P.123/85.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Finance and Economics Committee –

1. authorised the granting of a loan to the Parish of St. Ouen for the purpose of assisting the building of homes for aged persons;
2. agreed that the loan should be50 per cent of the cost of the work to be undertaken, up to a maximum of £150,000, should bear interest at 4 per cent per annum and should be repayable in equal annual instalments over a period of15 years; and

3. agreed that the loan should be subject to the condition that no person should be allowed to take up accommodation in the development without the prior knowledge and agreement of the Housing Committee.

Little Sisters of the Poor: sheltered accommodation – interest- free loan. P.126/85.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Finance and Economics Committee, agreed that a loan, in an amount not exceeding £325,000 (being one half of the estimated building costs involved) be made free of interest to the Little Sisters of the Poor towards the cost of construction of 20 units of sheltered accommodation at St. Augustine's Home, subject to a condition that, if at any time the Home ceases to be conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor as a home for the elderly, the States may require payment of the loan by an amount not exceeding one half of the assessed market value of that part of the Home at that time.

THE STATES adjourned at 6.15 p.m. until 6th November, 1985.

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