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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY J.H. YOUNG OF ST. BRELADE ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st JANUARY 2014
Question
Will the Chief Minister provide the following information in respect of his meeting of 21st December 2012 with the Minister for Planning and Environment in relation to the Channel Islands Co-op Planning Application (Charing Cross) which he has cited (P.2/2014) as sufficient grounds to dismiss the Minister:
- the circumstances or complaint which led to this meeting being called in respect of a live planning application and whether it was called at the request of the applicant, another Minister, elected member or another person;
- whether advance notice was given or an agenda issued to the Minister or Chief Officer;
- the purpose or objectives of this meeting and whether the meeting was intended to influence the determination of this application;
- who was present at this meeting;
- whether minutes were taken and their contents agreed;
- whether the chronology of the processing of the planning application was established from the application file, either before or after this meeting and before 10th September 2013; and,
- whether it is the Chief Minister's or Council of Minister's policy to intervene in Planning applications and, if so, the protocols which have been agreed with the Minister?
Answer
- The meeting was called at the behest of the Chief Minister only.
- An agenda was not issued. The Minister was informed however, at the point at which the meeting was set up, that the purpose was to discuss various planning issues.
- The purpose of the meeting was for the Chief Minister to discuss with the Planning and Environment Minister a number of planning issues about which he had concern. These issues included the Channel Islands Co-op Planning Application, H3 Island plan sites, the police station, asbestos facilities and the Le Masurier application.
The Chief Minister has never sought to influence the determination of any planning application. However, the Chief Minister, at all times, is concerned that planning decisions should be made in a timely fashion and that due process is followed.
- The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister, the Planning and Environment Minister, the Chief Executive Officer of the States of Jersey, the Chief Officer for the Environment Department.
- Formal minutes were not agreed but a record of the meeting was taken by the Chief Executive Officer of the States of Jersey.
- The Chief Minister had been provided with information relating to key dates before the meeting on 21 December 2012, but a full chronology was not developed until after 10 September 2013.
- The Chief Minister and Council of Ministers do not intervene in the determination of planning applications. The responsibility to determine an application falls solely to the Planning and Environment Minister, or to those with delegated authority.
This does not, however, preclude the Chief Minister or other members of Council from raising, via appropriate channels, legitimate questions or concerns about the conduct or performance of the Planning and Environment Minister or any official involved in the determination of applications.