Does the committee intend to produce explanatory literature to the public on building laws and regulations.

1240/5(1831)

QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, 1st APRIL 2003,

BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN

Question

1. Will the President inform members whether the Committee intends to produce explanatory literature for use by the building industry and public in general relating tothemany new building regulationsand laws which have been introduced by the formerPlanning and EnvironmentCommittee over the last 3 to 5 years, and, if so, advise when this might be available?
2. Followingtheintroductionof the Island Planning(Exempt Operations) (Jersey) Regulations 2002, by the former Planning and EnvironmentCommittee, will thePresidentadvisememberswhether requests for explanatory literature have been madeby the building industry and the public, and, ifso, when such information will bemade available?

Answer

1. Firstly, the Committee already publishes technical guidance documentswhich advise membersof the public and the industry how they canmeet the requirementsof the Building Bye-Laws.These were first introduced with the1997 Building Bye-Laws, and have been updated oraddedtoas the Bye-Laws have subsequently changed. Thesedocuments contain drawings and specifications to assist thosemaking applications.

S e condly, there are also several planning guidance documents published and available from the Department's

reception, although with the adoption of the new Island Plan in July 2002, many of these need reviewing, a process which should be completed in the next year or so.

T h irdly, it is not intended to produce guidance on the Planning and Building Law 2002, until it is in effect -

hopefully in 2005. To publish prematurely, with the 1964 Law as amended still in operation, would only serve to confuse the public.

2. Yes, therehavebeen some suggestions andrequests for explanatoryguidance, and a leaflet containing drawings isbeingpreparedand should be available bytheendof July 2003. Indeed, Deputy Rondel himself has made useful suggestions whicharemuchappreciatedanduponwhichweare acting. The Regulations themselves are not particularly complicated,butwerecognise the need to provide clarification in certain instances, particularly in the residential sector.

I n respect of both questions, officers of the Department are always willing to explain the various Laws,

Regulations and Policies to members of the public. In addition, the Department is redesigning its Web-site, which will be launched in the next few weeks, and this will provide easy access to all the Department's Laws, Policies, advice notes and other explanatory documents. The Committee and the Department are committed to continuing to enhance the quality and timeliness of information and communications, subject always to resource restraints, complementing its primary service provisions.