States-owned sites at South Hill and Cyril Le Marquand House

2019.11.12

15 Deputy K.F. Morel of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the States-owned

sites at South Hill and Cyril Le Marquand House: (OQ.271/2019)

Will the Minister confirm whether the States-owned site at South Hill and the site at Cyril Le Marquand House have been transferred from Jersey Property Holdings to the Jersey Development Company?

Deputy K.C. Lewis (The Minister for Infrastructure):

The Regeneration Steering Group, the political body that directs the S.o.J.D.C. (States of Jersey Development Company), has directed the transfer of South Hill and Cyril Le Marquand House to the S.o.J.D.C. We are awaiting completion of development briefs for the plots to be undertaken by the S.P.P.P. (Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance) Department before the land will be formally conveyed to the company via a Ministerial Decision and 15 days' notice to the States Assembly.

[11:15]

1. Deputy K.F. Morel :

Would the Minister advise the Assembly of any other sites that have been transferred, or are in the pipeline for being transferred to S.o.J.D.C.?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Nothing at the moment, but I would add that there is a slight delay regarding Cyril Le Marquand House, as the data centre is still in situ at the moment, which will take some time to relocate. We are looking at the transfer of Cyril Le Marquand House to be in the first quarter 2020.

2. Deputy M.R. Le Hegarat : What is the value of these transfers?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I do not have that to hand at the moment, but, if it is not commercially confidential, more than happy to get that to Members.

3. Senator S.C. Ferguson:

Will the Minister confirm that it will not be confidential, that the transfer value will not be zero and that it will conform with the original valuation schedule set down in the original Proposition, which formed the States of Jersey Development Company? As I understand it, the transfer value was meant to include the uplift from the planning permission for the project that it was going to be used for. Will the Minister confirm that it will be a realistic valuation based on the planning value as per the original Proposition?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Yes, absolutely. More than happy to get back to Members with details.

4. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

In a similar theme of the original question: can the Minister confirm whether the States-owned building of the former St. Saviour Hospital has equally been transferred from Jersey Property Holdings, or any transfer of that building?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Not as yet.

5. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

Can the Minister tell us now, or tell Members in a way he sees fit, what the process is and when States Assembly Members are aware of such transfers? I am just curious to know.

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

It would be done by Ministerial Order and the States will have 15 days' notice of that. As the Deputy may be aware, obviously is aware, as he has a very keen interest in mental health, there is considerable work to be done on the St. Saviour site with rebuilding and relocation. I cannot see anything happening in the very short term.

6. Deputy K.F. Morel :

Would the Minister advise the Assembly of whether consideration was given to transferring these sites to Andium Homes and, if not, could he explain why not?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Yes, it was a direction from the Regeneration Steering Group. Obviously, Andium Homes are looking for sites, but we need to realise significant funds to enable this to happen. So, realising States assets will certainly put that in the way.

The Bailiff :

Very well, that brings questions with notice to an end. We now start the first question period to Ministers without notice and the first Minister to be questioned is the Minister for the Environment.

Deputy K.F. Morel :

If I may, just before we start, Written Question number 13 on this list I asked, it came to light that during answers from the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources - so this is Written Question 487 - it is a list of interview panels that the Chief Executive has sat on, but it came to light during the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources' answers on another subject that the Chief Executive had sat on the selection panel for Andium Homes, that is not listed in this answer, which has made me query whether the answer given is correct, or not. Can I ask what the procedure is to try and ascertain whether that is the case?

The Bailiff :

I think that is a matter that must be dealt with at this point. Unless the question can be asked directly of the Minister during the course of question time, which of course we have now finished, I can make a ruling as to whether the answer is relevant to the question, but it certainly appears to be relevant from the way you have characterised it, Deputy . I think this must be a matter that is dealt with outside the Assembly to start with and then, if necessary, brought within the Assembly if you do not get a satisfactory response. Yes, so the first question period is to the Minister for the Environment.