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2.3 Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of the Chief Minister regarding the proposals that the Waterfront Enterprise Board had for the Waterfront area:
Will the Minister agree to make available to all Members the most up-to-date proposals that the Waterfront Enterprise Board (WEB) has for the Waterfront area?
Senator F.H. Walker (The Chief Minister):
The general proposals for the Waterfront are already in the public domain and States Members and the public have received a number of presentations on them in recent months. Nothing has changed except that under the new supplementary planning guidance, published by the Planning Minister last week, developers can be under no illusions, whatsoever, that if it is to be approved any scheme will have to be only of the highest quality.
- Deputy G.C.L. Baudains:
This question is basically a follow-on from the previous time I questioned the Chief Minister on this matter. As I raised the matter then, Sir, it does seem to me there has been an awful lot of changes since the public were told exactly what was going on, on that site. Notwithstanding the presentations that have been made, would the Minister update us on the comment he made in respect of the previous answer that he would discuss with his Council of Ministers the possibility of bringing forwards a plan so that everybody knows exactly what is in WEB's mind and what we might expect to arise on the site, seeing that the residential and commercial mix is in flux.
Senator F.H. Walker :
As I have said, all such matters have been in the public domain for some considerable time. All that remains now is for the Planning Minister to ensure that any development is according to the plans, which have been unveiled on many occasions now and are of the highest quality.
- Deputy G.C.L. Baudains:
I hate to press the point, but I do believe the Chief Minister is missing the point and that is I agree that the public have seen many plans over recent months but just recently in the paper there seems to be confusion about what is going on. Clarity is required, Sir. Would the Chief Minister carry out what he suggested he might do in the previous question time and bring forward some plans so that everybody knows exactly what it is WEB has in mind?
Senator F.H. Walker :
The Council of Ministers do not consider any purpose would be served in following that proposal at all. All plans, as submitted, will be subject to the full planning process, as always. I think the Planning Minister has made it abundantly clear how rigidly that planning process is going to be adhered to. The Deputy referred to confusion on the Waterfront. That, I would suggest, is a headline created by the Jersey Evening Post. The only possible confusion - and I do not believe "confusion"
is the right word - is that developers at this stage do not yet know whether their
planning applications will be approved by the Planning Minister, or not, and that is
exactly as it should be under the planning guidance and under the normal planning procedures.
- Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier :
Would the Chief Minister outline to Members what criteria he and his Planning Minister intend to use to judge the quality of any proposal?
Senator F.H. Walker :
This has nothing to do with me, whatsoever. This is the Planning Minister's brief and I think he has made it very clear, under the strategic planning guidance, that he is going to be looking to employ the services of what has been called "an architectural supremo" who will be a world class architect who will judge all planning applications against acknowledged world class architecture. I do not think the Island could ask for much more than that.
- Deputy G.C.L. Baudains:
With respect, we seem to be going round in circles here. I think what the public would like to see is not what has happened in the past: a plan submitted to planning when it is all too late. They would rather be involved at an earlier stage. Could I remind the Minister of the previous question when I asked him: "Does the Chief Minister not believe a debate in this House over a new plan would be beneficial?" And, his reply was: "I will agree to discuss this with the Council of Ministers and, in particular, the Planning Minister". Has he done so, Sir?
Senator F.H. Walker :
Yes, Sir, and I have already answered that question.
- Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :
At the recent presentation on the Waterfront when I asked the question: who would appoint this supremo, i.e. expert architect to oversee this, I was told by the Planning Minister that he alone would be the one to choose. Does the Chief Minister really think such a newly elected Planning Minister is the right person to appoint such a very important supremo, so called?
Senator F.H. Walker : Yes, Sir.