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2.1 Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services regarding possible Parish participation in the forthcoming review of safety hazards at La Collette:
Will the Minister be seeking Parish participation in the forthcoming review of safety hazards at La Collette?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye of St. Helier (The Minister for Transport and Technical Services):
La Collette has a review group, which has been established by the Chief Minister's Department, although the initiative came from myself and my chief officer. Therefore, the response to the Constable's question is provided on behalf of the Chief Minister. The La Collette Hazard Review Group includes representatives of all the operators of hazardous facilities within the La Collette site and all of the States departments with either regulatory, operational or property management function within the area. Phase 1, currently under way, focuses on establishing the baseline information about the nature and extent of risks and the current hazard management arrangements. Phase 2 will assess the policy, resource co-ordination and consultation requirements that arise from the initial assessment. As the Parish of St. Helier does not own or operate any activity within the area defined for the review, it is not proposed to consult with the Parish during phase 1. However, as the Parish, and many other stake holders, will need to be aware of the outcomes of phase 1, it is anticipated that phase 2 of the review will require the Hazard Review Group to consult with the Parish.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
Supplementary, please, Sir. Given that the Hazard Review Group is chaired by the Chief Officer of the Department of Transport and Technical Services, which department has submitted a planning application for a waste treatment facility at La Collette, does the Minister not see that there is any potential conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest in the structure of the group?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye: No, I do not, Sir.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire of St. Helier :
Given that the Bunsfield Report, which is out for consultation - including public consultation - to establish the outlying areas of risk that might be further increased, does the Minister anticipate consulting key stakeholders in this review, namely residents of the districts on which these facilities are likely to be sited if they are going to go ahead?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
Currently this cross-departmental group is essentially made up of experts in the risk assessment and understanding of hazard. As I indicated in my initial reply, at an appropriate time where consultation is required, all key stakeholders - which I would assume would include concerned members of the public - will be consulted.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
I would like to seek further elucidation on the Minister's commendably brief reply to my supplementary question. Could the Minister confirm that the planning application for the waste disposal facility has been put on hold, pending the findings of the La Collette Hazard Review Group, and that therefore there could be said to be a desire on the part of that group to conclude their investigations sooner rather than later, given that every week that the planning application is put on hold affects the timetable the department has for implementing the waste strategy.
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
From a political point of view I do not and have no intention whatsoever of putting any pressure on a group of this importance. The review of hazards in the La Collette area is an extremely important review to be undertaken, and the length of time that that takes is not going to be a consideration as far as I am concerned. The amount of time that will be required will be taken.
- Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :
Following on from Deputy Le Claire's question, I was not quite happy with the answer. Could the Minister guarantee that the Parishes involved, firstly through the Constable, then the Parish Deputies, will involve the stakeholders, being the residents of the area? That is a guarantee the Minister can give, Sir, if he is willing to.
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
Perhaps I should repeat what I said earlier. As the Parish and many other stakeholders will need to be aware of the outcomes of phase 1 of this review, it is anticipated that elements within phase 2 of the review will require the Hazard Review Group to consult with the Parish and other key stakeholders.
- The Connétable of St. Helier :
The Minister alluded to the timetable for the current planning application. Could he update the House on what the current timetable is in terms of when we may assume the planning application will be determined?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
I am afraid the Constable is in error, Sir. It was the Connétable who alluded to the timetable and not myself. I am not currently in a position to brief either the Connétable or the House on the precise process of the planning application, although I will be happy to inform the Connétable at another time.