The future and redevelopment of Fort Regent.

1240/5(1851)

QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 29th APRIL 2003, BY SENATOR E.P. VIBERT

Question

1. I n view of the fact that the States of Jersey, on 11th April2000,adoptedP.181/1999 – Fort Regent redevelopment, whichsupportedtheinprincipleredevelopmentof Fort Regent into a moderncommunity health andsports centre, would the President explain to the Assemblyhow the Committeeconsiders that it is within its remit to carryout a new feasibility study at further public expenseandwhichis contrary to P.181/1999, for the purposeofredevelopingFortRegentby private enterprise and re-locating all sporting activity from FortRegent to otherplacesaround the Island?
2. W ould the President further informmemberswhytheCommittee has chosen to spend the majority of the feasibility studybudget on studying the opportunities fortheredevelopmentat Fort Regentinthe first instance beforeresearchingwhether or notthe sporting activities currently beingcarriedoutthere can be successfully catered for elsewhere?
3. W o uld the President agree that ifthesesporting activities cannot be relocated, and if the Environmentand Public ServicesCommittee does notapprove the developmentof a new sports facility at the LeRocquier site, a feasibility study into redeveloping Fort Regentthrough private enterprise will notbepossible,and, if so, will the President assure members that before committing any more public funds to another feasibility study the Education, Sport and Culture Committee will bring a proposition totheAssemblyto rescind the States' decision in supportofP.181/1999?

Answer

1. W hentheSenatorasked a similar questionon 18th March 2003, I replied, and I quote: The States approved the principle' of P.181/99butnot the funding'. I also stated that under the current fiscal climate the Roger QuintonAssociates,(RQA), proposals for theredevelopment of Fort Regent were not of a highenough priority toattractfunding from the CapitalBudget in the foreseeablefuture'.

G i v e n that the RQA review was carried out in 1997/98, some five years ago, and that funds for the

redevelopment of Fort Regent have not and are unlikely to be forthcoming in the foreseeable future, it is clearly the duty of the Education, Sport and Culture Committee to carry out a Value for Money review on the Fort Regent site and to explore any possible alternative options that may be able to provide the Island with the modern sports facilities it requires.

2. T h ere is little meritinlookingatprovidingmodernsporting facilities elsewhere,ifnoviable alternatives can be found for the Fort Regent site. It would be irresponsible of the Committee to propose any relocation of facilities, if the outcome resulted inFortRegentbeingleftwithout a viable future.
3. O n ce the Feasibility Study has been completed and a full review of all the options undertaken, the Education, Sport and Culture Committee will bring a Reportand Proposition to the States, toenable a full debate on any proposals.It will be for the States todecide the futureof Fort Regent,baseduponall the facts andValue for Money options.