Why have costs risen from outer harbours like Rozel and Bonne Nuit to station board on the quays from 85 pence per square metre in 2009 to £3.25 in 2010 - 2011 plus GST

2.13  The Deputy of St. John of the Minister  for Economic Development regarding increases in the cost for stationing boats:

Can the Minister advise why the cost has risen from outer harbours like Rozel and Bonne Nuit to station boats on the quays from 85 pence per square metre in 2009 to £3.25 in 2010-2011 plus G.S.T.?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean (The Minister for Economic Development):

The question is somewhat misleading, as the questioner knows. It seeks to compare the old lowest winter rate of 85 pence with the new highest summer rate of £3.25. For a much fairer comparison, the Deputy could have compared the 2 summer rates. The old rate was in fact £2.08 with the new rate of £3.25. As the Deputy of St. John knows from personal experience, charges in outlying harbours are very cheap at an average of £10 per month. It is not right, especially in the current economic climate, that ordinary taxpayers should effectively subsidise boat owners. We are therefore applying more of a user-pays approach following discussions and agreement with yacht club and boat owner associations. Although the increased charges may appear high in percentage terms, they are applied to a historically low charge. By way of example, the 20 per cent increase at the old harbour for a 6-metre boat will only cost the boat owner an extra 6 pence per day.

1. The Deputy of St. John :

Let me declare an interest. I have no boat in the outer harbours because I know that Members know I have a boat but that is in town. Given that boats are stored in Rozel Harbour on the highway and charges are being made, who receives the revenue, the department, the States or the Parish?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

As far as storage charges are concerned on the quayside, the Harbours Department

receives the fees from such activities. I should point out to Members that the outlying harbours are somewhat of a problematic issue. They are in fact loss-making, which is the purpose for increasing both mooring and quayside charges in this way.

2. The Deputy of St. John :

The Minister has not answered the question I asked about the boats being parked on the highway, like at Rozel. Who receives the money, the Parish, the States or his department and what rights have they got to put a charge on the public highway?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

I am referring to charges which are in the domain of the Harbours Department, which are the quayside. As far as I am concerned, the quayside is charged by the Harbours Department. The revenues go to the Harbours Department. If boats are being parked, as the Deputy is alluding to, illegally elsewhere, that is another matter. If he would like to provide some evidence and some detail, then I am happy to investigate.

3. Senator T.J. Le Main:

Is the Minister going to make complaint against the Deputy of St. John for again having misleading questions?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

I think that I have made my point when I answered the question. The Deputy will seek to exploit whatever opportunity he can and I do not necessarily blame him for that. I was just merely correcting the issue.

4. Deputy S. Power:

The Minister has stated on a number of occasions, both this morning and at previous meetings, about harbours that are outside the town area. On what basis does the Harbours Department determine that a harbour is loss-making, and would he not agree that there is a need on the Island for affordable access to the sea?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

The Deputy is absolutely right with regard to affordable access to the sea. I can give him an answer in 2 parts. First of all from a revenue income and expenditure perspective, the outlying harbours are losing something like £64,000 per year. On top of that, there is the matter of capital replacements. The Deputy I am sure is aware of the significant expenditure due, for example, at St. Aubin in excess of £1 million. We did a business case for that. The payback period was in excess of 37 years. These are the challenges the department is facing and has to fund one way or another, but it is a wider issue than just for the Harbours Department. It is an issue for the States as a whole to consider replacement and maintenance of essential infrastructure.

5. The Deputy of St. John :

Yes, given that the Senator thinks I was being disingenuous in my question, I was not at all. It was information I had received from a boat owner. Given that boats in fact are stored on the highway at Rozel and are charged by the Harbours and Airports Department for storage on that highway, who gets the revenue, the Parish, the States or Jersey Harbours, and if it is Jersey Harbours where in law does it say they can charge for boats stationary on a highway?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

I think the first thing that we need to do here is establish the actual facts as opposed to potentially hearsay. I have said to the Deputy that I will establish indeed if boats are being parked on the highways, where whatever revenue is being raised is going and the rationale behind it. I am happy to circulate that to the Deputy and Members if they so wish.

6. The Deputy of St. John :

Is the Minister saying that my facts are incorrect or has he not sent his officers down to check that boats are parked on the highway at Rozel on the roadway up to the café, and therefore if that is the case, he is answering questions or his officers are giving him "duff" information and is that acceptable to give to this House?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

Indeed, I have given no, as the Deputy would describe it - I am not sure it is

parliamentary language - "duff" information. I am merely stating that if indeed the Deputy has raised a valid concern, we will verify that and provide the appropriate information. I think that is a quite correct way of answering the question. I am not seeking to give him misinformation at all.