States Minutes 4th December 2003

THE STATES assembled on Thursday, 4th December 2003 at 9.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Michael Cameron St.  John Birt, Esquire.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor,

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire, K.B.E., C.B., was present.

All members were present with the exception of –

S e nator Jean Amy Le Maistre – out of the Island

S e nator Paul Vincent Francis Le  Claire – ill

J o hn Baudains Germain, Connétable of St.  Martin – ill A l an Breckon, Deputy of St. Saviour – ill

Prayers

Budget 2004

Amendments and Comments.

THE STATES allowed the Treasurer of the States to be present in the Chamber during the debate.

THE STATES, having resumed consideration of the Budget 2004, commenced consideration of the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Finance and Economics Committee and noted that the Connétable of St. Helier had withdrawn his amendment that on pages 15 and 16 of the Budget the estimate of revenue expenditure of the Finance and Economics Committee be increased from £19,196,300 to £19,546,300 by adding £350,000 to the amount set aside for Jersey Finance Limited under Non-departmental – other expenditure' thereby increasing the sum in this category from £481,100 to £831,100.

THE STATES adopted an amendment of Deputy Celia Joyce Scott Warr en of St. Saviour that on pages 15 and 16 of the Budget the estimate of revenue expenditure of the Finance and Economics Committee be increased from £19,196,300 to £19,446,300 by adding £250,000 to the estimate of the Income Tax Department by not increasing the late payment surcharge from 10% to 15%.

THE STATES rejected an amendment of Deputy Lyndon John Farnham of St. Saviour that on pages 15 and 16 of the Budget the estimate of revenue expenditure of the Finance and Economics Committee be increased from £19,196,300 to £19,681,300 by adding £485,000 to the estimate of the Income Tax Department by not introducing a penalty for the late submission of income tax returns.

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (10)

Connétable s

Trinity , Grouville .

Deputies

St.  John, Troy (B), Scott Warr en(S), Farnham (S), Bridge(H), Martin(H), Southern (H), Bernstein(B).

"Contre" (32)

Senators

Norman, Walker , Kinnard, Le  Sueur, Routier, M.   Vibert , Ozouf , E.   Vibert .

Connétable s

St.  Ouen, St.  Saviour, St.  Brelade, St.  Mary, St.  John, St.  Peter, St.  Clement, St.  Lawrence. Deputies

Trinity , Duhamel(S), Huet(H), St.  Martin, Le  Main(H), Dubras(L), Dorey(H), Voisin(L), Le  Hérissier(S Fox(H), Ferguson(B), St.  Mary, St.  Ouen, Ryan(H), Grouville , De  Faye(H).

THE STATES decided to allow the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Finance and Economics Committee, as amended.

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

H e alth and Social Services Committee – Pages 31 to 34 E d ucation, Sport and Culture Committee – Pages 35 to 39 H o me Affairs Committee – Pages 40 to 45

THE STATES commenced consideration of the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Employment and Social Security Committee, and rejected part (a) of the amendment of the Deputy of St. John (P.160/2003 lodged "au Greffe" on 18th November 2003), that on page on page 47 of theBudget the estimate of revenue expenditure of the Employment and Social Security Committee be reduced from £80,401,400 to £79,401,400 by subtracting £1 million from the amount set aside for the Disability Transport Allowance.

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (6) Senator

Norman. Connétable

St.  Peter. Deputies

Duhamel(S), St.  John, Baudains(C), De  Faye(H).

"Contre" (35)

Senators

Walker , Kinnard, Le  Sueur, Lakeman, Routier, M.   Vibert , Ozouf , E.   Vibert . Connétable s

St.  Ouen, St.  Saviour, St.  Brelade, St.  Mary, St.  Clement, St.  Lawrence.

Deputies

Trinity , Huet(H), St.  Martin, Le  Main(H), Dubras(L), Dorey(H), Troy (B), Scott   Warr en(S), Le  Hérissi (S), Fox(H), Bridge(H), Martin(H), Southern (H), Bernstein(B), Ferguson(B), St.  Mary, St.  Ouen, Ryan (H), Taylor (C), Grouville , Hilton(H).

THE STATES, rejected an amendment of Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier, (P.165/2003 lodged"au Greffe" on 18th November 2003), that on page 47 of the Budget the estimate of revenue expenditure of the Employment and Social Security Committee be increased from £80,401,400 to £80,656,400 by adding £255,000 to enable a 20% subsidy on the cost of a television licence for those aged 65 and over living in domestic accommodation.

Members present voted as follows –

"Pour" (9)

Senator

E.   Vibert .

Connétable s

St.  Helier, Grouville . Deputies

Duhamel(S), St.  John, Scott   Warr en(S), Martin(H), Southern (H), Bernstein(B).

"Contre" (30)

Senators

Norman, Le  Sueur, Routier, M.   Vibert , Ozouf .

Connétable s

St.  Ouen, St.  Saviour, St.  Brelade, St.  Mary, St.  John, St.  Peter, Trinity , St.  Lawrence. Deputies

St.  Martin, Le  Main(H), Dubras(L), Baudains(C), Dorey(H), Troy (B), Le  Hérissier(S), Fox(H), Bridg (H), Ferguson(B), St.  Mary, St.  Ouen, Ryan(H), Taylor (C), Grouville , Hilton(H), De  Faye(H).

THE STATES decided to allow the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Employment and Social Security Committee.

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

H o using Committee – Pages 49 to 52

H a rbours and Airport Committee – La Collette Reclamation Scheme – Pages 53 to 54 L e gislation Committee – Pages 53 to 54

O v erseas Aid Committee – Pages 53 to 54 T R  ADING COMMITTEES

H a rbours and Airport Committee

Harbours – Pages 56 to 58 Airport – Pages 59 to 61

The Deputy of Trinity declared an interest and withdrew from the Chamber prior to the consideration of the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Harbours and Airport Committee.

C o mmittee for Postal Administration – Pages 62 to 64

Deputy Jennifer-Anne Bridge of St.  Helier declared an interest and withdrew from the Chamber prior to the consideration of the estimates of the revenue expenditure and income of the Committee for Postal Administration.

P u blic Services Committee Car Parks Trading Account – Pages 65 to 66

THE STATES noted a credit of revenue expenditure for each of the undermentioned Committees as shown on page 4 of the Budget –

£   Policy and Resources Committee 6,492,500 Privileges and Procedures Committee 3,967,000 Finance and Economics Committee 50,988,900 Environment and Public Services Committee

 P lanning and Environment 3,134,800  P ublic Services 18,831,300

Economic Development Committee 18,537,500 Health and Social Services Committee 121,599,000 Education, Sport and Culture Committee 87,902,500 Home Affairs Committee 37,582,200 Employment and Social Security Committee 80,401,400 Housing Committee (238,800) Legislation Committee 47,000 Overseas Aid Committee 5,306,000 Harbours and Airport Committee – La Collette (124,700)

Reclamation Scheme

THE STATES, referring to the summary of income and revenue expenditure appearing on page 72, agreed the total revenue expenditure in the sum of £577,028,700, being £55,071,100 from trading committees, £489,957,600 from non-trading committees and £32,000,000 repayment of capital debt; the total income, excluding transfers from the Capital Fund, in the sum of £151,094,500, being £63,563,500 from trading committees, £87,073,600 from non-trading committees, and £457,400 interest received on capital debt; and, having allowed for the total other income in the sum £12,600,000 and the estimated transfer to the trading funds of the trading committees of £8,492,400, agreed the amount to be transferred to the General Reserve in the sum of £5,016,000, having noted that Deputy Celia Joyce Scott Warr en of St. Saviour had withdrawn her amendment that on page 72 of the Budge the proposed appropriation to the General Reserve be reduced from £5,016,000 to £3,952,000.

THE STATES noted that on the basis of levels of taxation proposed by the Finance and Economics Committee the balance on the revenue account amounted to £12,142,296.

Having allowed for a balance of £36,567,262 to be brought forward at 1st January 2004, and taking into account the capital repayments and receipts of £33,051,800, the States noted that there would be available in the capital fund the sum of £81,761,358. No transfer to the Strategic Reserve was to be made.

THE STATES commenced consideration of the estimates of capital expenditure recommended by the Finance and Economics Committee, and, having noted that the Deputy of St. John had withdrawn part (b) of hi amendment, (P.160/2003 lodged "au Greffe" on 18th November 2003), that on page 68 of the Budget the estimate of capital expenditure of the Environment and Public Services Committee be increased from £7,265,000 to £8,265,000 by adding £1 million to the amount set aside for Foul Sewer Reconstruction and Extensions, allowed –

N  O  N-TRADING COMMITTEES

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Finance and Economics Committee appearing on page  68 of the

Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Housing Committee appearing on page  68 of the Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Policy and Resources Committee appearing on page  68 of the

Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Environment and Public Services Committee appearing on

page 68 of the Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Health and Social Services Committee appearing on page  68 of

the Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Economic Development Committee appearing on page  69 of the

Budget;

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Committee appearing on page  69

of the Budget; and,

t h e estimate of the capital expenditure of the Home Affairs Committee appearing on page 69 of the Budget. THE STATES noted that the amount to be voted from the Capital Fund was £40,213,000.

THE STATES noted the Loan Sanction Repayments in the amounts of £3,000,000 for the Magistrate's Court and Royal Court Refurbishment and £5,000,000 for Hautlieu School, appearing on page 69 of the Budget.

THE STATES then proceeded to consider the estimates of capital expenditure to be financed from the Trading Funds appearing on page  70 of the Budget and allowed –

the estimate of the capital expenditure of the Harbours and Airport Committee in respect of the Harbours; the estimate of the capital expenditure of the Harbours and Airport Committee in respect of the Airport; and,

the estimate of the capital expenditure of the Committee for Postal Administration. THE STATES approved the said estimates totalling £4,492,000.

Deputy Jennifer-Anne Bridge of St.  Helier declared an interest and withdrew from the Chamber prior to the consideration of the estimates of capital expenditure of the Committee for Postal Administration.

THE STATES, having noted the estimated transactions of the Trading Funds in 2004, decided to allow the said estimates as detailed in the undermentioned pages of the Budget as follows –

TRADING FUNDS

Harbours and Airport Committee in respect of Harbours – Page 58 Harbours and Airport Committee in respect of Airport – Page 61 Committee for Postal Administration – Page 64

Public Services Committee Car Parks Trading Account – Page 66.

Changes of Presidency

The Deputy Bailiff retired from the Chair during consideration of the amendment of the Deputy of St.  John to the estimates of the Employment and Social Security Committee and the Greffier of the States, Mr. Michael Nelson de la Haye assumed the Presidency. The meeting resumed after the lunch adjournment under the Presidency of the Bailiff , although the Greffier of the States assumed the Presidency for a time during the afternoon.

Adjournment

THE STATES then adjourned, having adopted a proposition of Senator Frank Harris on Walker that they should meet the following day at 8.30  a.m. and adjourn for lunch from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m., then adjourned, and having agreed that outstanding matters in the Budget 2004 and other items of public business should stand over until Friday 5th December 2003.

THE STATES rose at 5.55 p.m.

M.N. DE LA HAYE Greffier of the States.