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.
2025.06.03
3.2 Deputy H.M. Miles of St. Brelade of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding delays to presentation of the lease of Les Creux Pavilion (OQ.129/2025):
Given the tender document for the lease of Les Creux Pavillion stated that presentations to a panel would begin during the week commencing 21st April 2025, but that no further information has been given in response to expressions of interest, will the Minister explain why there has been a delay and set out the timetable for presentations to take place?
Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I thank the Deputy for her question. I am pleased to say that there has been a positive response for expressions of interest, with a significant number of detailed submissions being received. This excellent response has meant that it has taken much longer than anticipated to review the submissions so that we can come up with a shortlist and a timetable for presentations to a panel can be set. It is important that the review process is conducted thoroughly, and I equally appreciate the need for it to be undertaken in a timely way so we can bring Le Creux back into full use as soon as possible. It is anticipated that once the review of submissions is complete, presentations to a panel will be scheduled later this month. Parties have been informed and I have also asked that Parish representatives are briefed before a final decision is confirmed and announced.
- Deputy H.M. Miles :
I thank the Minister for his answer. That is a very promising answer. My question is, when a facility like Le Creux becomes vacant, and in this case it was well-known that the tenant was going to give up the lease, why does it take over a year to put out an expressions of interest? Does the Minister have any processes or procedures in place to encourage meanwhile use?
The Connétable of St. John :
The problem with Le Creux is that we thought we were going to have to use it for meanwhile use for tenants of another facility that the Government owns, that we were told was going to cost £700,000 to make it usable. Thankfully we found an alternative solution and those tenants can stay in place. But we kept Le Creux available as a potential for those tenants that we had somewhere else.
- Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade :
The delay has obviously caused some problems for people who were perhaps building business models around the potential use of that site. Does the Minister have any message to give to the people who have put in applications about the delay?
The Connétable of St. John :
I have not seen any of the applications, but I am told that some of them are incredibly extensive and detailed. That is what has taken the time. Whether it is a charity, whether it is a community group, whether it is a business, we have to take consideration.
[9:45]
We want Le Creux to be used as widely as possible for the community and potentially sport is possible. That is our hope.
- Deputy J. Renouf :
I thank the Minister for his response. Can he shed any light on the criteria that the panel will be using to judge the final appointment?
The Connétable of St. John :
As I have said, it would need to serve the community and/or sport, or a combination of both. That is our priority for Le Creux. It is not seen as a facility for a business to run per se but it is seen primarily for the community and for sport.
- Deputy H.M. Miles :
As I said, the site at Le Creux has been empty for well over a year. Can the Minister tell us what maintenance has been done to the building and the ground, and whether the facility will be restored to any extent at all before the new tenants arrive?
The Connétable of St. John :
Routine checks, et cetera, have continued to be made. Some maintenance has taken place and clearly we will need to make sure that the premises are fit before any new tenant takes place.
The Bailiff :
We come to question 3 that Deputy Wilson will ask the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development
Deputy P.F.C. Ozouf of St. Saviour : Deputy Wilson is excusé.
The Bailiff :
Yes, I beg your pardon I thought she was online and I misremembered. Apologies. Very well, number 3 falls away.