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Deputy Moz Scott
Chair - Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel By email
19 April 2023
Dear Deputy Scott ,
Thank you for your letter of 20th March regarding the Island's sport estate, and please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.
I can clarify that creation of sports policy and operation of sports facilities are two separate operational areas. However, both sit under my remit – the former as an Assistant Minister for EDTSC and the latter as an Assistant Minister for Infrastructure - so there is coordinated political oversight.
There are no specific sports policies as such that influence or inform the planning for maintenance and provision of future facility requirements. However, if the need for a new facility is identified, the two departments would work together towards a solution.
EDTSC has a newly appointed 'Sector Officer for Sport'. This post has been created to develop and deliver new sports policies to support the Common Strategic and Ministerial priorities.
In terms of facilities, the Inspiring Active Places Strategy (IAP) outlines the Government's plans for replacing and improving sports estate, as well as identifying new facilities to support the growth of sports and encourage islanders to be more active. The IAP project team and Sports Division are part of Infrastructure and Environment (IE).
Both teams are working closely with Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) and senior management in IE to develop a long-term Asset Management Plan (AMP), which will support the ambitions set out in the IAP and ensure the requirements for new or replacement sports facilities or refurbishment of existing sports facilities is understood and planned.
The AMP will also be informed by a condition survey which is currently under way and will help with the long-term planning for maintenance and refurbishment of existing sports sites. These requirements will be detailed in the Island Public Estate Strategy.
The Public Estates Strategy, led by JPH, provides the framework which will be used when determining how to meet competing needs for publicly-owned land and buildings. The framework will be used to develop detailed property and asset management plans which will enable Government to make more informed choices about the utilisation of its estate.
The strategy's purpose is to provide and maintain a safe, compliant public property portfolio in a responsive, innovative and customer-focussed manner, and to balance commercial and community obligations, supporting continuous regeneration, a sustainable environment, and a vibrant economy. The vision is to create a modern, efficient, effective, and sustainable public estate, under one corporate landlord, that supports and enhances our communities and protects our Island's future.
The IAP Project Team is responsible for future sporting infrastructure, including the feasibility and design of new or replacement sport facilities. The team have been asked to review the IAP proposals, focusing on the prioritisation, scale and phasing options for the projects. Capital bids are being put forward as part of the Government Plan process.
The Infrastructure Ministerial Plan 2023 commits to "continuing a review into the replacement and enhancement of sport facilities, providing a plan for longer term delivery". This review is well under way and will be reflected in the publication of the AMP later this year.
The delivery of the required maintenance programme for existing sports facilities or the provision of new or replacement facilities depends on capital funding being secured in the Government Plan.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Lucy Stephenson
Assistant Minister with responsibility for Sport l.stephenson@gov.je | 01534 440628