Jersey Community Relations Trust - replacement of Chairman

STATES OF JERSEY

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JERSEY COMMUNITY RELATIONS TRUST: REPLACEMENT OF CHAIRMAN

Lodged au Greffe on 18th April 2006 by the Chief Minister

STATES GREFFE

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to r e fer to their Act dated 20th January 2004 in which they approved the establishment of the Jersey

Community Relations Trust, and to their Act dated 8th June 2004 in which they appointed the Rev. Lewis William Matthews as the Chairman of the Trust, and –

to a p p o in t M r. Nicholas Mark Hutchinson as Chairman of the Jersey Community Relations Trust,

in pursuance of paragraph  5.11 of the Trust's Constitution, to complete the term of office of the former Chairman, namely until 7th June 2007.

CHIEF MINISTER

REPORT

The Constitution of the Jersey Community Relations Trust, as amended by the States on 20th January 2004, sets out the aims of the Trust as follows –

" T o s eek to eliminate discrimination on any ground including, but not limited to, grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins, gender or sexual orientation, disability or age, by promoting good relations between all members of society, and seeking to achieve equality of treatment and opportunity within our community".

The Objectives are further specified in paragraph  3 of the Trust Constitution, as follows – (a ) T o encourage mutual respect among all people in the Island.

(b ) T o promote equality of treatment and opportunity.

(c ) T o encourage and facilitate partnerships which enhance social harmony.

( d ) T o identify areas where discrimination arises, while promoting and encouraging existing and

future initiatives to tackle it.

(e ) T o promote education in the community about the aim of the Trust.

(f ) T o promote recognition and acceptance of cultural diversity.

(g ) T o promote training in furtherance of the aim of the Trust and the development thereof. (h ) T o provide information and advice and facilitate initiatives concerning discrimination. (i ) T o sponsor and support research in furtherance of the aim of the Trust.

(j ) T o take measures to counter discriminatory behaviour, attitudes, and policies.

(k ) T o monitor these objectives.

Replacement of Chairman

The current Chairman of the Trust, Rev. Bill Matthews, was appointed by the States on 8th June 2004, initially for a period of 3  years. However, Rev. Matthews has indicated his intention to retire in the near future. Accordingly, on the resignation of a Trustee previously appointed by the States, the Trust's Constitution requires that the States should be asked to appoint another Trustee to complete the term of office of the Trustee being replaced.

The Trust's Constitution also requires that the Chairman shall be an independent person, who is not a States member, to be appointed by the States on the recommendation of the Policy and Resources Committee. Since the implementation of ministerial government, it is taken that such a recommendation should be made by the Chief Minister in place of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chief Minister recommends the appointment of Mr. Nicholas Mark Hutchinson as Chairman. Mr.  Hutchinson is one of the existing Trustees, and since his appointment has made a significant contribution to the work of the Community Relations Trust, currently standing in as Acting Chairman.

His experience and qualifications for the position are as follows –

Mr.  Hutchinson has lived in the Island since 1981, and has spent his working life in the finance industry. He trained and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1985, spent 12 years at a major international bank, and has for the past 5  years worked for a large international trust group, holding a variety of senior positions.

He joined the Community Relations Trust as an independent trustee in December 2004, was instrumental in crafting and presenting the Trust's initial business plan, and has taken an increasingly active role in Trust affairs.

He holds an honours degree in psychology and has been actively involved, in an honorary capacity, with several initiatives within the Island –

• C o m  mittee member St.  Peter's Youth and Community Centre (6  years)

• E x e c utive Committee member Jersey Society of Chartered and Certified Accountants (2 years)

• T r e a surer of the Friends of the Samaritans (3 years)

• F o u n der committee member of Les Mielles Tennis Club (3 years).

Amendment of the Trust Constitution

As a result of the transition to ministerial government, parts of the existing Jersey Community Relations Trust Constitution are obsolete, including references to States Committees involved in the appointment of Trustees.

According to the existing Constitution, changes may be made as follows –

" T h is Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by a majority of those present and voting at a Meeting of the Committee called for that purpose, provided that no such resolution shall be considered unless a notice in writing setting out the terms of the resolution shall have been sent to every member of the Committee not less than 14 days before the date of the Meeting at which it is to be considered: PROVIDED ALWAYS that no alteration to these Rules shall be effective until approved –

(i ) b y the Policy and Resources Committee; and thereafter

(i i) b y the Royal Court of Jersey in accordance with the Law." It is therefore proposed that the Trustees shall be invited to –

• p r e p are a revised draft Constitution for approval by the Chief Minister (in place of the Policy and Resources Committee);

• t o b r ing a resolution to the Trust Committee to alter the Constitution, in accordance with the above requirements; and

• s u b m it the revised draft Constitution to the Royal Court for approval.

Since the original Constitution was approved by the States it is considered appropriate that the States are informed of the proposed changes.

The amendments to be considered are –

• t o in sert references to the Chief Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture in place of the respective former Committees;

• t o m  ake a number of other necessary and consequential changes.