The Minister for Housing tabled an answer to a question asked by Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier in connexion with the concrete degradation at Convent Court.

1240/5(3231)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 13th MARCH 2007

Question 1

1. W  ill the Minister release to membersthecontentof the report on the state of concrete degradationat Convent Court and if not, will he state onwhat grounds hefeels justified to refuse?
2. F  ollowing the statements made to tenants in his Department's newsletter of the 16th February 2007, stating that refurbishmentofConvent Court would cost £5 million, will the Minister reveal toMembers what estimates, ifany,he has been given regardingthe relative costs ofrefurbishmentversusdemolition and replacement of Convent Court, along with the respective costsforCaesareaCourt?
3. G i ven the Minister'sadmissionson 27th February 2007under questioning over plans for ConventCourt that hewasnotin possession ofallofthefacts,willhe undertake tocome to theAssembly better prepared for notifiedquestions in future?

Answer

1. I a m happy to releasethereporton the concrete degradation affecting ConventCourt.
2. W hen dealing with capital projects of this nature, the Department does not solicit 'estimates'. The Departmenthascarriedout a numberofhigh-rise refurbishments over the yearsandis currently preparing tender documentsin respect ofThe Cedars. This knowledge,together with the known requirements of a revamped Convent Court, to meet theneedsofdemographicchange,highlight the need to spend in the region of £4.5 and £5 million on refurbishing this 'tired' building. However the Property Plan isaimingto achieve somuchmore with an imaginative useof the sitesoas to improve the livesof existing tenants and thosealso living in the surrounding area. Thefuture for States Tenants is now so bright it is hard to understand why some wish to look fornegativity, when none exists.
3. I a m always well preparedwhen I attend the States Chamber. When the future for States Tenants is so bright, it is regrettable that I have to divert my time and attention to answering questions immersedin negativity.

Question 2

1. D o es the Minister concur with the conclusion reached by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in paragraph 52of the reportPAC1/2007on the States Property Plan that "The Committee agrees with Mr. OgleyandMr. Le Ruez that, as a matter of principle, the proceedsof the sale of capital assets shoul not be used to meetrevenueexpenditure"?.
2. If h e does not agree, will hestate his reasons and, if hedoes,willthe Minister state why the plansoutlined in P6/2007of the Social Housing Property Plan donotfollow this principle?

Answer

1. It maybe helpful to Deputy Southern if he checked with MrOgley & MrLeRuezasto their actual commentsand the importantpoint they were making.
2. T h e Housing Department's Property Plan is notusing the proceeds from thesaleof capital assets to meet revenue expenditure. TheDepartment is investing money in an extensive refurbishmentprogramme, planned maintenanceandwhere appropriate, sheltered housing acquisitions, to protect and enhance assets

for the Public of this Island.  That is an intelligent and strategic use of a property portfolio.