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1. Statement by the Chief Minister concerning the establishment of a Jersey Enterprise Board.
1.1 Senator T.A. Le Sueur ( Deputy Chief Minister - rapporteur):
States Members will recall that the report and proposition entitled Jersey Enterprise Board Limited: proposed establishment was due to be debated by the States Assembly on 17th June 2008. The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel has effectively completed its work and the panel's draft report has been circulated to relevant parties, including the Chief Minister. Although the Chief Executive has subsequently liaised with Deputy Egré of St. Peter regarding this proposition and the panel's report, it has not been possible to arrange a formal meeting at which the Chief Minister and other Ministers could discuss the panel's provisional findings with the panel in the time available prior to 17th June. The Council of Ministers has agreed that there would be merit in holding further discussions with the Scrutiny Panel with a view to developing a refined proposal that could be both well understood and supported. The Council has therefore agreed that the report and proposition entitled Jersey Enterprise Board Limited: proposed establishment should be withdrawn. In the meantime, the Council of Ministers will be proceeding with the proposal to establish a Regeneration Task Force whose remit will be to co- ordinate and regenerate the town and urban areas. Accordingly, a report will shortly be considered by the Council of Ministers in order for it to bring the Regeneration Task Force into being. It is understood that the Scrutiny Panel's report will be published during the week commencing 9th June.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire of St. Helier :
I wonder if the Deputy Chief Minister might be able to indicate at this stage whether or not he is able to tell us what the actual makeup of this Regeneration Task Force will be. Will it be exclusively politicians or will it be made up of non-politicians, or will it be an N.G.O. (non- governmental organisation) sort of stand-off type arrangement?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
My answer makes clear the report is still to be considered by the Council of Ministers and it will be after they have considered this that we will ascertain the nature of the composition of that task force. I suggest that there may well be non States Members involved in it to some degree but how that would be remains to be seen, and will be discussed obviously by the House in due course.
- Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier
I would like to ask the Deputy Chief Minister whether he considers that the establishment of a regeneration task force is not consequential on agreement to J.E.B. (Jersey Enterprise Board) and whether it is appropriate that he goes ahead with forming the Regeneration Task Force.
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
I believe that the regeneration of St. Helier is a final activity and irrespective of whether Jersey Enterprise Board comes into existence or not a regeneration task force will be necessary. So I do not think the 2 are connected at all.
- Deputy J.G. Reed of St. Ouen :
Could the Deputy Chief Minister just confirm that after the report regarding the Regeneration Task Force is considered by the Council of Ministers a proposition will be brought to this Assembly for consideration?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
I believe it would be appropriate for such a task force to be brought to the Assembly for consideration, but at this stage it seems premature to speculate on what that might contain.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire:
I apologise, this has been a bit back to front in asking what was happening with the regeneration board and then coming back to what is happening with the formal proposal, because I should have asked that first. I did not have a chance to because I was looking at this statement and trying to understand what has occurred. Could I ask the Deputy Chief Minister what has arisen that has required this proposition to be withdrawn today rather that put back in the order of business?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
I think the reality, Sir, is that this proposition was lodged at the end of last year. It will very shortly fall out of time and I do not believe that we could deal with the situation adequately in the time period available. On that basis there seems to be little alternative but to withdraw this proposition.
- Deputy J.B. Fox of St. Helier :
I wonder if the Deputy Chief Minister would reaffirm whether my amendment which was agreed by the Council of Ministers would be included the revised proposition, if it comes back to the States, or whether it is something I need to resubmit?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
At this stage, Sir, I have no idea what the revised proposition might contain so I have no idea whether the Deputy 's amendment would be appropriate or not. But I think having made the point in his amendment and accepted by the Council of Ministers, he can take comfort in the fact that we would be aware of his requirements and build that into our proposition. He might not need to make an amendment at all.
1.1.6. Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier :
Could the Deputy Chief Minister confirm, in this statement he says: "Accordingly a report will shortly be considered by the Council of Ministers in order for it to bring in the Regeneration Task Force." Could he tell us who the authors of this report are? Are they W.E.B. (Waterfront Enterprise Board) or J.E.B or is it a ministry? Which is this report they are considering? Who is the author please?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
The report will be produced by officers of the Chief Minister's Department.
1.1.7 Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour :
Would the Deputy Chief Minister confirm that essentially his statement confirms that J.E.B. is dead in the water and that we have to look at totally new alternatives?
Senator T.A. Le Sueur :
The proposition is dead in the water; that does not mean that the notion of an Enterprise Board is dead in the water. That remains for further discussion.
The Bailiff :
No other questions for the Deputy Chief Minister, we come back to I and Questions. In accordance with Standing Order 15 I have approved the following urgent oral questions that Deputy Southern wishes to put to the Deputy Chief Minister, in the absence of the Chief Minister.
Deputy G.P. Southern
If the man who knows the answers thinks that is logical, that is all right.