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2.13 Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services regarding the department's maintenance schedule for standby and emergency plant:
Would the Minister advise whether the department has a maintenance schedule for standby and emergency plants and, if so, whether he intends reviewing any such schedule?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye (The Minister for Transport and Technical Services):
With your permission I would like to invite my Assistant Minister, Deputy Huet to respond to this question.
Deputy J.J. Huet of St. Helier (Assistant Minister for Technical and Transport
Services):
The department does have a regular maintenance schedule for operational equipment, including all stand-by and emergency plant. I am assured by the department that the schedules are adhered to and that we have no reason to undertake a review.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour :
Would the Assistant Minister indicate whether or not there has in the last year or so been a serious break-down of such equipment?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
We have had a breakdown but it was a recent failure of a generator, temporarily, located at the entrance of the cavern. It was not critical. It was obsolete and it had no commercial value whatsoever. We obviously had other equipment in place and there
was no interruption of the power. We were testing it for loads to see if we could use it
at a later stage.
- Deputy G.C.L Baudains:
Would the Assistant Minister agree that proper maintenance, whether it is on a regular basis or even only when staff are available, saves money in the long term by prolonging the useful life of equipment? To that end would she be prepared to investigate, for example, the standby generator currently in the Snow Hill car park
which has sadly been allowed to deteriorate over a number of years through lack of
maintenance to the point where I am told that consideration is being made to dump it, and presumable the States will be paying approximately £50,000 to replace it?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
I am sure that the Deputy will be really pleased to know that the set was bought second-hand about 15 years ago and it was bought for one specific purpose which was to act as a back-up for the sewerage treatment works while we were doing some electrical work up there and it was being upgraded. The purchase at that time was
£12,000. So the damage that has been done to this one that was in the car park was serious and it will be subject to an insurance claim as a total loss. But, of course, I am willing to assure the Deputy that I will look into and make sure that we have got everything tip-top and that we keep it that way.
- Deputy G.C.L Baudains:
Finally, would she agree that if plant is not maintained and is a stand-by emergency plant, it is of no use at all if, when you need it in an emergency, it does not work?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
Yes, I do agree. But, again, once again I would say to the Deputy for an emergency situation the department has 2 other newer and more mobile units which are regularly used and serviced and load-tested. But, yes, it is only common sense what he is saying.
2.13 Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services regarding the department's maintenance schedule for standby and emergency plant:
Would the Minister advise whether the department has a maintenance schedule for standby and emergency plants and, if so, whether he intends reviewing any such schedule?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye (The Minister for Transport and Technical Services):
With your permission I would like to invite my Assistant Minister, Deputy Huet to respond to this question.
Deputy J.J. Huet of St. Helier (Assistant Minister for Technical and Transport
Services):
The department does have a regular maintenance schedule for operational equipment, including all stand-by and emergency plant. I am assured by the department that the schedules are adhered to and that we have no reason to undertake a review.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour :
Would the Assistant Minister indicate whether or not there has in the last year or so been a serious break-down of such equipment?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
We have had a breakdown but it was a recent failure of a generator, temporarily, located at the entrance of the cavern. It was not critical. It was obsolete and it had no commercial value whatsoever. We obviously had other equipment in place and there was no interruption of the power. We were testing it for loads to see if we could use it at a later stage.
- Deputy G.C.L Baudains:
Would the Assistant Minister agree that proper maintenance, whether it is on a regular basis or even only when staff are available, saves money in the long term by prolonging the useful life of equipment? To that end would she be prepared to investigate, for example, the standby generator currently in the Snow Hill car park
which has sadly been allowed to deteriorate over a number of years through lack of
maintenance to the point where I am told that consideration is being made to dump it, and presumable the States will be paying approximately £50,000 to replace it?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
I am sure that the Deputy will be really pleased to know that the set was bought second-hand about 15 years ago and it was bought for one specific purpose which was to act as a back-up for the sewerage treatment works while we were doing some electrical work up there and it was being upgraded. The purchase at that time was £12,000. So the damage that has been done to this one that was in the car park was
serious and it will be subject to an insurance claim as a total loss. But, of course, I am willing to assure the Deputy that I will look into and make sure that we have got everything tip-top and that we keep it that way.
- Deputy G.C.L Baudains:
Finally, would she agree that if plant is not maintained and is a stand-by emergency plant, it is of no use at all if, when you need it in an emergency, it does not work?
Deputy J.J. Huet:
Yes, I do agree. But, again, once again I would say to the Deputy for an emergency situation the department has 2 other newer and more mobile units which are regularly used and serviced and load-tested. But, yes, it is only common sense what he is saying.