States Assembly | States Minutes 23 October 2024

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THE STATES assembled on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, at 9.30 a.m. under the Presidency of the Bailiff ,

Sir Timothy John Le Cocq .

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All members were present at roll call with the exception of –

Connétable Deidre Wendy Mezbourian of St. Lawrence – ill

Connétable Karen Shenton-Stone – ill

Connétable Andrew Nicholas Jehan of St. John – excused attendance

Deputy Geoffrey Peter Southern of St. Helier Central – en défaut (arrived in the Chamber at 9:32) Deputy Mary Rose Le Hegarat of St. Helier North – excused attendance

Deputy Ian Joseph Gorst of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter – absent on States Business

Deputy Beatriz Borges de Sousa Vaz Moreno Porée of St. Helier South – absent on States Business Deputy Lucy Kate Frances Stephenson of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter – parental responsibilities

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Prayers

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Standing Order 55A – remote participation

THE STATES, with reference to their Act dated 14th September 2021, in which they had agreed that, notwithstanding Standing Order 55A(1), members who did not wish to attend in the States Chamber might continue to take part in States meetings using Microsoft Teams (until the States had considered and voted upon a proposition to re-apply Standing Order 55A(1) or to repeal or vary the terms of the Standing Order), assembled in accordance with Standing Order 55A with members able to participate remotely using Microsoft Teams. The following Members attended remotely, either for all or part of the meeting –

Connétable Richard Anthony Kingston Honeycombe of St. Ouen Deputy Carina Soares Alves of St. Helier Central

Arrangement of public business for the present meeting

THE STATES noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 34(1), Deputy David James Warr of St. Helier had informed the Greffier of the States that his proposition entitled Management and Maintenance of Havre des Pas Bathing Pool and Café' (P.68/2024) had been withdrawn.

Urgent Oral Question

Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade asked the following question of the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development which the Bailiff had allowed in accordance with Standing Order 15 relating to urgent oral questions –

"Will the Minister provide further information on the ramifications of the statement yesterday that the Chief Officer in the Economic Development is stepping aside from the ferry tendering process owing to an error of judgement?"

Marine Spatial Plan P.44/2024

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Minister for the Environment entitled Marine Spatial Plan' (P.44/2024), and rejected part 1 of an amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.) that, after the words "accompanying this proposition", there should be inserted "except that page 124 and Figure 80 should be amended to include the area east of Les Ecréhous within the extension of the Marine Protected Area Network, as outlined in Action NB5a, with any consequential amendments to the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan made accordingly."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 15 CONTRE: 27 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Mary Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

THE STATES rejected part 2 of the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.) that, after the words "accompanying this proposition", there should be inserted "except that page 124 and Figure 80 should be amended to include the part of the basin between Les Écréhous and Les Anquettes within the extension of the Marine Protected Area Network, as outlined in Action NB5a, with any consequential amendments to the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan made accordingly."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 17 CONTRE: 25 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of St. Saviour Connétable of Trinity Deputy G.P. Southern Connétable of St. Peter Deputy M. Tadier Connétable of Grouville

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Ouen Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

THE STATES rejected part 3 of the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.) that, after the words "accompanying this proposition", there should be inserted "except that page 124 and Figure 80 should be amended to include areas to the east and west of Les Minquiers within the extension of the Marine Protected Area Network, as outlined in Action NB5a, with any consequential amendments to the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan made accordingly."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 16 CONTRE: 26 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of St. Ouen Connétable of Grouville Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

THE STATES rejected part 4 of the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.) that, after the words "accompanying this proposition", there should be inserted "except that page 124 should be amended to allow for the introduction of immediate protection of the south-eastern edges of Les Ecréhous within the Marine Protected Area Network (rather than phased protection), with any consequential amendments to the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan made accordingly."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 19 CONTRE: 23 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Mary Connétable of St. Saviour Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Ouen Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy R.J. Ward Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

THE STATES rejected part 5 of the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.) that, after the words "accompanying this proposition", there should be inserted "except that page 124 should be amended to allow for the introduction of immediate protection of the south-eastern edges Les Minquiers within the Marine Protected Area Network (rather than phased protection), with any consequential amendments to the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan made accordingly."

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 16 CONTRE: 26 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Helier Connétable of St. Brelade Connétable of Trinity Connétable of St. Peter Connétable of St. Clement Connétable of Grouville Connétable of St. Ouen Deputy C.F. Labey Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy K.F. Morel

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy B. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves

THE STATES, resuming consideration of the proposition of the Minister for the Environment, commenced consideration of an amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.(2)) and rejected an amendment of Deputy Jonathan Renouf of St. Brelade (P.44/2024 Amd.(2).Amd) that, after the words "Marine Protected Area Network" there should be inserted ", with a final status to be assigned to areas undergoing such further research by the end of 2025 and with all subsequent amendments to the Marine Spatial Plan to be completed by the end of the Assembly's current term of office.".

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 16 CONTRE: 26 ABSTAIN: 0

Connétable of St. Mary Deputy G.P. Southern Deputy M. Tadier

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy C.S. Alves Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy B. Ward

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Minister for the Environment entitled Marine Spatial Plan' (P.44/2024), and, adopting the amendment of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel (P.44/2024 Amd.(2)), designated the existing paragraph as paragraph (a) and, after that paragraph, agreed that the following should be inserted –

"(b) to request the Minister for the Environment to establish a framework, timeline and tracker for

monitoring the implementation of the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan and for conducting any further research on areas remaining for inclusion in the Marine Protected Area Network."

THE STATES resumed consideration of the proposition of the Minister for the Environment, as amended, and, adopting the proposition –

agreed that the proposed Jersey Marine Spatial Plan was the roadmap to managing Jersey's marine environment, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report accompanying the proposition; and
requested the Minister for the Environment to establish a framework, timeline and tracker for monitoring the implementation of the Jersey Marine Spatial Plan and for conducting any further research on areas remaining for inclusion in the Marine Protected Area Network.

Members present voted as follows –

POUR: 40 CONTRE: 0 ABSTAIN: 0

Deputy S.G. Luce

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet Deputy K.F. Morel Deputy S.M. Ahier Deputy R.J. Ward

Deputy I. Gardiner Deputy L.J. Farnham Deputy K.L. Moore Deputy S.Y. Mézec Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf Deputy Sir P.M. Bailhache Deputy T.A. Coles Deputy D.J. Warr

Deputy H.M. Miles Deputy M.R. Scott Deputy J. Renouf

Deputy C.D . Curtis Deputy L.V. Feltham Deputy R.E. Binet

Deputy H.L. Jeune Deputy M.E. Millar Deputy A. Howell

Deputy T.J.A. Binet Deputy M.R. Ferey Deputy R.S. Kovacs Deputy A.F. Curtis Deputy B. Ward Deputy K.M. Wilson Deputy M.B. Andrews

Changes in Presidency

The Bailiff retired briefly from the Chamber during consideration of the of the proposition of the Minister for the Environment entitled Marine Spatial Plan' (P.44/2024) and the meeting continued under the Presidency of Mrs. Lisa-Marie Hart Greffier of the States, until the Bailiff 's return.

Delivery of three bilingual primary schools P.45/2024

THE STATES commenced consideration of a proposition of Deputy Sir Philip Martin Bailhache of St. Clement entitled Delivery of three bilingual primary schools' (P.45/2024) and, adopting an amendment of Deputy Sir Philip Martin Bailhache of St. Clement (P.45/2024 Amd.) agreed to re-designate the existing paragraph as (a) and that, for the words "to request the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning to take the necessary steps to convert, by the beginning of the academic year 2025-2026, a minimum of three" there should be substituted the words "to approve in principle the conversion of at least two"; and that the words "in 2025" should be deleted; and after paragraph (a) there should be inserted the following new paragraphs (b) and (c) –

"(b) to request the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning to conduct a survey, in

cooperation with Statistics Jersey, of the views of parents of pre-school children as to the desirability of establishing bilingual English-French primary schools in Jersey, and their willingness to send their children to such a school; and

to request the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning to appoint, subject to a positive outcome from the survey referred to in paragraph (b) above, an appropriately qualified project manager to ensure a smooth transition to bilingual teaching, and to establish at least two bilingual English-French primary schools by the beginning of the academic year 2026- 27."

Adjournment

THE STATES adjourned, having agreed to reconvene on Thursday 24th October 2024 to continue consideration of the proposition of Deputy Sir Philip Martin Bailhache of St. Clement entitled Delivery of three bilingual primary schools' (P.45/2024) and the other outstanding propositions listed for consideration at the meeting.

THE STATES rose at 5.25 p.m.

L.-M. HART Greffier of the States