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STATEMENT ON A MATTER OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY – ( Connétable K.P. Vibert of St. Ouen (Chairman of the Comité des Connétable s)
The Bailiff :
Certainly, but just before you do that, Senator, I wonder if I might invite the Connétable of St. Ouen to make his statement on behalf of the Comité des Connétable s.
2. Connétable K.P. Vibert of St. Ouen :
On 13th February 2006, the Comité des Connétable s presented to the States R.C. 16/2006 - Rates (Jersey) Law 2005: Apportionment of Island-Wide Rates Figure, explaining why the apportionment of the Island-wide rate figure would be set by the Comité des Connétable s for 2006 and not by Regulations. The report also set out the proposed timetable for 2006. The annual Island-wide rate figure is calculated in accordance with Article 52 of the Rates (Jersey) Law 2005 and is the total of the expenditure of all the Parishes for the financial year ending 30th April 2006 on the relief and maintenance of persons chargeable to the Parish who are suffering as a result of hardship, increased by the percentage rise in the Retail Price Index during the previous 12 months, together with a sum equivalent to 10 per cent of the part of the amount that does not relate to the provision of institutional care. Connétable s are grateful to the Parish auditors for the prompt audit of Parish accounts this year to enable the annual Island-wide rate figure to be determined. The figures received from Parishes show that £3,323,934 was spent on welfare and £5,492,516 on residential care for the year ending 30th April 2006. Administration costs calculated at 10 per cent of the cost of welfare is added to make a total of £9,148,843. The increase in the Jersey Retail Price Index for the 12 months to March 2006 was 2.4 per cent. The annual Island-wide rate figure for 2006/07 as agreed with the States Treasury is, therefore, £9,368,416. In accordance with the requirements of the Rates (Jersey) Law 2005 Connétable s have now consulted with the Chief Minister and the Business Consultative Panel and have held 3 public meetings to consult with the ratepayers. Having considered the views expressed, Connétable s have determined that the apportionment for 2006 should be 55/45 domestic/non- domestic. That is to say, 55 per cent of the annual Island-wide rate figure should be raised from the domestic rates, and 45 per cent of the annual Island-wide rate figure should be raised from the non-domestic rates. There are approximately 836 million domestic quarters across the Island and so the Island-wide domestic rate will be 0.62 pence per quarter for 2006. There are approximately 379 million non-domestic quarters across the Island and so the Island-wide non- domestic rate will be 1.11 pence per quarter for 2006. Ratepayers will receive the account for the Island-wide rates as soon as the Parish rate has been sent by parishioners. The rates will be itemised, but ratepayers will have a single bill for both rates. Rates are payable on demand and a surcharge of 10 per cent will be added to all amounts not paid within 3 months of the date of the
bill.