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2024.09.10
2.14 Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the reprofiling of the development of the Le Squez youth centre in the Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 (OQ 169/2024):
Will the Minister explain what impact, if any, the reprofiling of the development of the Le Squez Youth Centre in the Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028, to allow a new youth facility in St. Helier will have on the new youth centre planned for in St. Clement ?
[11:15]
Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I thank the Deputy for her question. There is a need to reprofile the capital programme to ensure that it is both realistic and deliverable. As part of this work, improvements to the Le Squez Youth Centre have been scheduled for 2028. It is important to highlight that the current services delivered from the centre will continue and there will be no change in the youth work delivery. As I mentioned in a previous answer, a new Town youth centre is required in the first instance to ensure that children and young people in the Town area can benefit from the same level of provision to that which is available to young people in other parts of the Island, including at Le Squez. The decision was taken with the full support of the Youth Service and C.Y.P.E.S. (the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department).
- Deputy K.M. Wilson :
The consultation with the Youth Service is fine, but what consultation took place with the young people in the area and what was the feedback regarding their decision? Can the Minister explain to us why we have now got one Parish pitched against the other in terms of its development around youth services?
The Connétable of St. John :
I am not aware of the consultation that took place, whether the Youth Service consulted with their members or with the wider community. All our services and facilities are important for young Islanders. We have areas where there are facilities and there are areas where there are none. Many of us here will be able to remember and name many youth clubs that used to be in the St. Helier area, such as Aquila, Seaton, so on and so forth, which are no longer there. We need to provide services in St. Helier and the decision has been made to make that a priority.
- Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf of St. Saviour :
I wonder whether or not the Minister would advise whether or not he consulted his fellow Connétable s on the allocation and the importance of St. Helier . He is both a Minister and a member of the Comité des Connétable s and, as the questioner rightly says, there is an understanding of the importance of St. Helier . Of course, there are voices for all Parishes, of which St. Saviour and St. Clement are, of course, voices on the Comité des Connétable s. Did they have a chance to have their say?
The Connétable of St. John :
The discussion around the priorities of the Government Plan was made by the Government and the Council of Ministers took long and hard discussions and debates about this. We have heard from a previous question about the need for facilities in St. Helier where there are no facilities. We have facilities in St. Clement and in St. Saviour and we are looking to further increase the provision of those facilities utilising the school estate which is available to us.
- Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf :
Sorry, it was quite a simple question: did he discuss it with the Comité des Connétable s? I know it is Government, but he is a Minister in a Government, and is a member of the Comité des Connétable s, on the Council of Ministers; was it discussed by the Comité?
The Bailiff :
I inferred from the answer that all of the decision was made around the Council of Ministers' table but if you wish to answer that ...
Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf :
I meant consultation.
The Connétable of St. John :
Infrastructure provides the services. I did not discuss it with my fellow Connétable s at the Comité des Connétable s. If my fellow Connétable s would like to put it on the agenda, I am more than happy to discuss it with them at that arena.