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WQ.79/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES
BY DEPUTY L.V. FELTHAM OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2023
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2023
Question
“Will the Minister advise whether he has defined any priorities in relation to his ‘Communities’ portfolio and, if so, why any such priorities have not been clearly outlined in his delivery plan for 2023; and if no such priorities have been identified, will he advise why not?”
Answer
Actions to improve Jersey’s housing and our communities are inextricably linked. All Islanders – both as our collective community and individual communities – require housing. The amount, location, cost and quality of our housing all have a very direct relationship to outcomes for the community. As such, I do not see my housing and communities portfolio as being two separate things. Everything I do, and everything I will do in the future, is driven by the need to support and improve communities in Jersey.
Because of this, I consider that my Ministerial Plan and associated Delivery Plan priorities provide very clearly defined actions for delivering improvements for our community.
Beyond my ministerial portfolio, it is also important to highlight that the Council of Ministers specifically exist to serve the needs and best interests of our Island communities, and this underpins the work of all minsters.
In relation to community facilities in Andium Homes’ latest developments, there are currently negotiations with a charity and parish to take over responsibility for a new Community Room at Edinburgh House (La Collette), to be run as a Hub for the Community. Discussions are also ongoing with another volunteer group and parish to take over the new Community Room at Le Clos Mourant to run as a Community Hub.
Andium’s Capital Programme seeks to create placemaking opportunities for the health and wellbeing of tenants and the wider community. Creating attractive places to live and visit is important, and there will be more opportunities for placemaking in new developments. These include a shopper car park at Ann Court; a pocket park opposite the Arts Centre in Providence Street and a new facility for Autism Jersey and town wood as part of our development of the former Ann Street Brewery site, which was approved by the Planning Committee last week.