Regarding allegations of corruption within the Housing and Planning Departments

1240/5(5681)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 12th OCTOBER 2010

Question

Following allegations made during a recent Magistrate's Court case by the Deputy of Grouville regarding corruption within the Planning and Housing Departments, will the Minister confirm whether he will be conducting an inquiry into this matter and, if so, will he agree to put a hold on the following until the results of the inquiry are known -

1. al l workwithin his department relating to sites rezoned in 2008 tobuildaccommodationfor the over 55's, and not already developed?
2. re z oned sites in the process of early/final stage approval? If not will the Minister give reasonswhy?

Answer

I have asked the Chief Minister to look into these allegations and he has referred the matter to the Police. As such would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment.

(a)  As to the sites that were rezoned in 2008 the position is as follows;

Maison St Brelade is a Parish elderly homes site. A planning application to extend the home was submitted on 19 September 2008 and approved 18 February 2009. (P/2008/2065)

Field 818, Trinity is a Parish life-long homes site. A planning application to develop 14 dwellings was submitted on 25 November 2008 and approved 18 February 2009. (P/2008/2471)

Fields 561 & 562 (Strathmore Nurseries) St Mary is a private developer site supported by Parish. A planning application to develop 33 dwellings was submitted 21 August 2009 and approved 12 November 2009. (P/2009/1600)

Field 274 (La Chasse Nurseries) St Clement is a private developer site supported by Parish, application to develop 42 dwellings submitted 23 December 2009 and approved 17 June 2010. (P/2009/2388)

Fields 516, 516A, 517 and 518, St Saviour is a private developer site supported by Parish, no application yet submitted.

Field 578, Trinity is a Parish first time buyer/elderly homes site, no application has yet been submitted.

In respect of the above sites either permission has been granted or there is no current application to consider. There are two other sites that were rezoned in 2008 and both have decisions pending;

Field 605, St John is a private developer site supported by Parish. The application to develop 17 dwellings was submitted on 1 February 2010 and the decision is pending. (P/2010/0112)

Field 148, Grouville is a private developer site supported by Parish. The application to develop 20 dwellings was submitted on 2 February 2010 and the decision is pending. (P/ 2010/0126)

Consideration of these sites is linked and that is why they currently remain to be finalised. They will be subject to a linked planning obligation agreement.

I have a duty to consider and determine applications in an appropriate and timely manner but in doing so must be mindful of all material considerations. It may be that the ongoing concerns represent issues that may form part of their consideration although at this stage I am not in a position to make that judgement.

As for other undeveloped sites which have been rezoned in the 2002 Island Plan, the site behind La Moye Garage, St Brelade already has planning permission (April 2008), and no application has been made for the zoned site in Rue du Haut, St Lawrence.

Any sites identified as part of the current Island Plan Review will not become zoned until the States Assembly has adopted the new Plan.