The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
2018.12.03
6 Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for the Environment regarding
the report of the independent planning inspector in respect of the future hospital: [OQ.224/2018]
Will the Minister provide a deadline for when he will respond to the recommendation of the independent planning inspector in respect of the future hospital and will he outline his process for responding?
Deputy J.H. Young of St. Brelade (The Minister for the Environment):
Currently I am unable to provide a deadline for when I will determine the future hospital planning application. I do not know what the inspector's report might contain and I will need time to give the report and all of the inquiry documents very careful consideration for this important decision.
3.6.1 Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
I thank the Minister for his answer. His predecessor took 6 or 7 days to make his decision based on the previous planning inspector's report, and, as he says, we know that the independent inspector who had planned to deliver his report by the end of November has yet to do so. Would the Minister not agree with me though, due to this ongoing situation, which we were referred to by the Deputy of St. Lawrence , that in the public interest and the interest of States Members who will now be debating this evidently in the future, that that process is transparent and as quick as possible?
Deputy J.H. Young:
If I can deal with the last point about the process being transparent; I am obliged as the Member holding the office of Minister to follow both Article 12 of the Planning and Building Law, which sets down the exact precise requirements for a public inquiry to determine a planning application, and also the provisions of the Planning and Building (Public Inquiries) (Jersey) Order 2008, which sets out in meticulous detail the rules that apply. In particular, I draw attention to the fact that that law, which well pre-dates me, does not allow me to publish the inspector's report before that determination of the application has been made. So, of course when it is made, the law then requires me to publish the inspector's report during normal office hours to the public and to circulate details to eligible persons where they can see the report. From past experience I know the inspector will also produce a public list of every single document that has been taken to account in his report, which is material considerations potentially for the planning inspector. In my view, to fulfil my obligations in the law to the Assembly and the public properly, I certainly intend to read all those submissions and carefully consider the matter.