Clean up of the property La Falaise in St Martin

1240/5(2617)

WRITTEN QUESTIONS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2005

Question 1

"During question time on 19th July 2005, the President informed members that the full cost of the clean up operation at La Falaise, St. Martin had not been fully quantified but it was in excess of £7,000. A breakdown of the contents of the 22 skips taken from the premises was given. Would the President inform members –

1. whether the cost hasnow been quantified and, if so, give full details?
2. whether the job wasput out to tender, who carried out the work, and whether the workwas regularly monitored/supervised bytheDepartment?
3. when the workcommenceand when itwasfinished?
4. in respect of the skips, the cost per skip charged totheCommittee?and,
5. whether a number of trees were cutdown and removedat the time,and, if so,what the cost of this workwas and whether it wasincluded in the sumof £10,000?

Answer (see below)

Question 2

Would the President give the dates upon which any complaints about La Falaise were received by the Committee, the dates when attempts, if any, were made to address the alleged complaints, what action was taken and why these actions were unsuccessful as indicated in answer to questions on 19th July 2005?

Answer (see below)

Question 3

Would the President inform members –

1. of the datesofanyexchangesof correspondence between the Housing Committee and the Environment and Public ServicesCommitteein respect ofthe alleged state of the property?and,
2. in respect of any exchanges of correspondence, was the Environment and Public Services Committee formally requestedto take action atLa Falaise, and,ifso, when?

Answer (see below)

Question 4

Would the President inform members of the dates upon which the tenant was asked to remove any rubbish from the premises and indicate whether these requests, if any, were in a verbal or written form?

Answer (see below) Question 5

Would the President inform members whether the Committee will be recovering all costs associated with cleaning the property, and, if so, the date on which that decision was made by the Committee?"

Answer

"As the matter is between an ex-tenant and the Housing Committee, the Departmental Officers are still collating information on work carried out at the property and this matter could end up in litigation. I am not prepared to answer any questions from any member at this time in regard to La Falaise or the previous occupant, in case it prejudices the Committee in any action or otherwise that it may take."