States Minutes 11th April 1989

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 11th April, 1989 at 10.15 a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Vernon Amy Tomes, Esquire. ____________

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator Anne Baal – out of the Island.

Senator John Stephen Rothwell – out of the Island. Senator Peter Geoffrey Kevitt Manton – absent.

John Le Gallais, Deputy of St. Saviour – out of the Island.

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Prayers ____________

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactment was laid before the States, namely – Jersey Fair (Jersey) Order, 1989. R & O 7902.

Fuel  oil  supply  and  distribution:  fourth  supplier  (P.3/88) – report. P.42/89.

The Finance and Economics Committee by Act dated 3rd April, 1989, presented to the States a Report regarding the fourth supplier of fuel oil in the Island.

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

99   Price : 50p

Agricultural statistics for 1988.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Committee by Act dated 6th April, 1989, presented to the States a Report on the agricultural statistics for 1988.

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

Social Security Report and statement of accounts 1988.

The Social Security Committee by Act dated 2nd February, 1989 presented to the States its Report and statement of accounts for the year ended 30th September, 1988.

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

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 3rd April, 1989, showing that in pursuance of Standing Orders relating to certain transactions in land, the Committee had approved –

1. as recommended by the Housing Committee, the sale to the Jersey Electricity Company Limited of the site for electricity sub-station No. 305 at the Northern telephone exchange, for a nominal consideration of £10, and to the granting to the Company, free of charge, of any servitudes required for high tension cables, with each side being responsible for the payment of its own legal fees;
2. as recommended by the Harbours and Airport Committee, the leasing from Mr. George Roger de Carteret and Mrs. Mary de Carteret, née Franklin, of an area of land measuring 196 square feet in Field 742, St. Peter (designated Letting No. L.80), for a period of nine  years, with effect from 24th June, 1989, at an annual rent of £10, commuted forward and a once and for all payment of £1,260, also payable in advance as compensation for all and any inconvenience that might arise during the period of the lease, required for the siting of the Runway 27 Cloud Base Recorder;

3. as recommended by the Fort Regent Development Committee, the assignment by Channel Islands Retail and Catering Limited to Mrs. Angela Joy Moon, née Rabet, of Aladdin's Cave, Fort Regent, on the same terms and conditions.

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Queen's Valley reservoir: Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited loans. P.37/89.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

2. Public Health staff accommodation. P.38/89. Presented by the Public Health Committee.
3. Green zone sites: development. P.39/89. Presented by the Island Development Committee.
4. Draft Finance (No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 198 . P.40/89. Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.
5. Draft Act dated 198 , bringing into force a Bill to amend the law relating to oils and spirits duty. P.41/89.

Presented by the Finance and Economics Committee.

THE STATES decided to take the abovementioned subjects into consideration on 25th April, 1989.

Committee of Inquiry: development of south coast. P.133/88. Withdrawn.

THE STATES noted that Deputy C.M. Horne of St. Helier had withdrawn her proposition regarding the setting up of a Committee of Inquiry to look at development of the south coast of the Island.

Rent rebate scheme for the private sector. Statement.

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

"During last week's States' debate on the proposition to purchase Troy Court, reference was made by a number of Members to the urgent need of a private sector rent rebate scheme, to help alleviate the burden of high rents presently borne by those with relatively low incomes who do not have the good fortune to be housed by the States. I thought it would be helpful to Members if I indicated the action that has already been taken on this and related matters.

Last year the Housing Committee asked the Finance and Economics Committee for its comments on a proposal to introduce a private sector rent rebate scheme, limited initially to residentially qualified pensioners of modest means. My Committee suggested that in the first instance what was proposed should be considered by the Working Party on Need, which body brings together the Presidents of the Finance and Economics, Social Security, Housing and Public Health Committees, together with representatives of the Comité des Connétable s in order to co-ordinate States and Parish policies designed to assist those in need.

The Working Party on Need considered the Housing Committee's proposal and related matters, at its meeting on 10th January, and agreed that consideration should be given to the possible introduction of a private sector rent rebate scheme that would be directed at all those with low incomes living in private rented accommodation. The Working Party further agreed that there would be value in consideration being given as to how such a scheme might best be structured to help those in greatest need, and that attention should be focused more generally on which groups of individuals were presently slipping through the States and Parish welfare net.

To this end the Working Party on Need asked the Controller of Social Security, Mr. John Lees, to chair a Study Group whose terms of reference are to identify and study cash related benefits in relation to perceived need to make recommendations as appropriate to the Working Party on Need'. The Study Group on which sit officers representing the Social Security, Public Health, Housing and Finance and Economics Committees together with the Economic Adviser and a representative of the St. Helier Community Services Department and of the Association of Jersey Charities, has now held seven meetings.

The Study Group, in the light of information obtained from the relevant States department, the Parish authorities, and various individuals and organisations who have made representations to the Group, is in the process of analysing the circumstances of particular categories of individuals, and giving more detailed consideration to priority subjects including a private sector rent rebate scheme. The Study Group is hoping also to obtain much useful information from an analysis of the household budgets of those with relatively low incomes who have participated in the household expenditure survey undertaken by the Economic Adviser's Office for the Joint Advisory Council, and recently completed.

The Study Group is aware of the degree of urgency that attaches to their endeavours. When the report for the Group is to hand and has been considered by the Working Party on Need and the Committees represented on that body, I would hope that formal proposals can be brought before the States for Members' consideration, proposals that will better ensure that those with relatively low incomes are adequately provided for and can be said to be sharing in the prosperity of this Island. However, the Working Party on Need and my Committee believe that this is the more likely to be achieved, to the advantage to all, if the level and form of assistance to those in need is approached in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner as is presently being undertaken with the help of the Study Group rather than if any one proposal is taken in isolation and without full and proper consideration."

51, Garden Lane, St. Helier : approval of drawings. P.33/89. THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee –

1. approved Drawing No. 3584/03 showing the redevelopment of 51, Garden Lane, St. Helier , to provide one three-bedroomed house;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

European Communities (Wine) (Jersey) Regulations, 1989. P.34/89.

THE STATES, by virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the Order in Council of the fourteenth day of April, 1884, made Regulations entitled the European Communities (Wine) (Jersey) Regulations, 1989.

Shell-Fish (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations, 1989. P.35/89.

THE STATES, by virtue and in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the Order in Council of the fourteenth day of April, 1884, made Regulations entitled the Shell-Fish (Underwater Fishing) (Jersey) Regulations, 1989.

THE STATES rose at 10.45 a.m.

R.S. GRAY Deputy Greffier of the States.