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Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 15 June 2006

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Environment Scrutiny Panel

Meeting No. 18

15th June 2006

Le Capelain Room, States Building

Present Deputy R.C. Duhamel (Chairman)

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains (Vice Chairman) Connétable K. A. Le Brun of St Mary (for a time) Deputy Le Hérissier

Deputy S. Power

Apologies

Absent

In attendance I. Clarkson, Scrutiny Officer

 

Item (Ref Back)

Agenda matter

Action

1

Minutes

The Minutes of the meetings held on 30th May and 1st June 2006, having been circulated previously, were taken as read and were confirmed.

Connétable K. A. Le Brun was not present for this item.

None

2

Matters Arising

Items 2 and 3, 30th May 2006 (Draft Strategic Plan 2006-2011)

Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier noted that a draft Comment to the draft Strategic Plan 2006-2011 (P.40/2006) had been circulated to the Panel  on  31st  May  2006  for  consideration.  He  expressed disappointment that the draft had not yet been finalized. Although it was recognized that Comments could be presented up to the date of  the  relevant  debate,  the  Panel  noted   Deputy  Le  Hérissier's concern.

Item 2, 1st June 2006 (Water Pollution Complaint)

The Panel noted a report, dated 9th June 2006 and prepared by the Assistant Director Environmental Protection, concerning ongoing monitoring of pollution in the vicinity of the fire training ground at Jersey Airport. It further noted that Mr. P. Rondel, former Deputy of St. John , had responded to Deputy R.C. Duhamel and had invited him to view relevant files held at Mr. Rondel's office. It was further reported that Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire had yet to provide the Panel with documentation in support of his concerns.

Deputy G.C.L. Baudains questioned the accuracy of the report. He contended  that  boreholes  referred  to  in  the  section  marked Background' had not been used for several years.

Item 6, 1st June 2006 (Planning Process review)

Deputy  R.G.  Le  Hérissier  informed  the  Panel  of  his  concerns regarding the expectation that all Panel members would attend public hearings for all 3 ongoing reviews. Deputy R.C. Duhamel recalled that the Panel had agreed to review procedures following its first public hearing.

 

 

Connétable K. A. Le Brun was not present for this item.

 

3

Items to Note

The Panel noted the following items

  1. P.70/2006 entitled, Island Plan 2002, Policy H2: Field 91, St. Clement ',
  1. P.75/2006  entitled, Fields  190  and  192,  Rue  de  la Sergente, St. Brelade ', and
  1. P.76/2006 entitled, Composting Facilities at La Collette, St. Helier – cessation'.

Although the Panel agreed that it was not minded to request the States to refer any of the propositions to the Panel for scrutiny, it noted that the development proposals referred to in P.75/2006 had already been referred to the Panel as part of its ongoing Planning Process review.

 

4

(Item 7 01/06/06)

Work Programme – Design of Homes

The Panel received an oral update from Deputy S. Power.

It was reported that Mr. D. Mason, Architect had contacted Senator F.E. Cohen, Minister of Planning and Environment regarding the proposed  series  of  visits  to  housing  developments  in  London, Milton  Keynes,  Malmo  and  Vienna.  Senator  F.E.  Cohen  was understood to have expressed interest in accompanying the Panel on the visits. It was further reported that the Housing Minister and his Assistant Minister had also been approached but that neither was  prepared  to  accompany  the  Panel  unless  the  Panel  was prepared to cover the cost of their attendance.

Regarding books used in the presentation given to the Panel on 1st June  2006  by  Mr.  D.  Mason,   Deputy  R.C.  Duhamel  advised members that he already had a copy of Architecture of Happiness' by Alain de Botton. He further advised that he intended to evaluate The  Phaidon  Atlas  of  Contemporary  World  Architecture' before making a recommendation regarding the purchasing of a copy for Panel use.

Deputy  Power  reported  that  the  review  was  to  concentrate  on comparing standards in Jersey with those used in the UK, Eire, New Zealand and parts of the United States.

Copies of plans of the developments visited on 13th April 2006 had finally  been  received  from  the  Planning  and  Building  Services Department. These were circulated to all Panel members.

The Scrutiny Office was tasked with producing and circulating files containing relevant research material as soon as was practicable.

RD

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5

(Item 8 01/06/06)

Work Programme – Waste Recycling

The Panel received an oral update from Deputy R.C. Duhamel, who reported  that  progress  was  being  made  with  regard  to  the assessment of composition of waste arisings and on the matter of public engagement. He further reported that the St. Helier Zero Waste Trial' had been approved unanimously at a Parish Assembly held on Wednesday 7th June 2006. The trial was due to begin before the end of June 2006. Latest proposals involved the supply of  240  litre  bins  to  households.  Residents  would  be  invited  to separate  their  rubbish  into  coloured  bags  for  sorting  on  refuse trucks as they moved within the trial area.

Deputy Duhamel advised that he was engaged in efforts to bring to the  Island a  machine  capable of processing waste glass  using sonic implosion technology. It was envisaged that the rental of such a machine for a specified period could be part funded using the

 

 

£5,000 set aside by the Panel for use in supporting the Zero Waste Trial.

Turning specifically to the issue of public engagement in waste recycling, Deputy Duhamel reported that he had held meetings with artists in the Island who recycled waste products into art.

A discussion followed on the matter of whether the Waste Working Group should concentrate on collating data concerning the viability of shipping specific classes of waste products out of the Island.

The Panel noted the position.

 

6.

(Item 6 01/06/06)

Work Programme – Planning Process

The Panel considered a progress report, dated 12th June 2006 and prepared by the Scrutiny Office.

The Panel reviewed a draft programme of public hearings for the period  23rd  June  to  14th  July  2006.  In  view  of  the  increasing volume of States business requiring attention in June and July, the Panel agreed in the first instance to hold public hearings on Friday 23rd June and Friday 7th July. Further hearings would be offered to the Panel once it became clear how many additional States days would be required to complete items of business set down for the end of the First Session.

The Panel confirmed that Mr. J. L. Dorey was no longer required as a witness, as it was considered likely that certain of the remaining witnesses would be in a position to provide similar evidence.

On the matter of preparation for public hearings, the Panel resolved to meet at 8.30 am on the morning of the scheduled hearings in order  to  develop  provisional  question  plans  for  each  of  the witnesses  attending.  Officers  were  instructed  to  make  the necessary arrangements.

The Panel agreed that it should issue a press release advertising the forthcoming hearings. Deputy G.C.L. Baudains agreed to work with the Scrutiny Office on a draft for circulation to all members for final approval.

IC

Panel / IC

GB / IC Panel

7.

(Item 2 01/06/06)

Consultation Documents – Making the Most of Jersey's Coast'

The  Panel  considered  a  draft  response  to  the  consultation document entitled, Making the Most of Jersey's Coast'. Several amendments to the response were suggested by Deputy G.C.L. Baudains and these were agreed by the Panel.

Officers were instructed to send the response to the Environment Department as soon as was practicable.

IC

8.

(Items 2 and 3, 31/05/06)

Draft Strategic Plan 2006-2011

The Panel considered a report entitled, Draft Strategic Plan 2006- 2011:  Draft  Comment', copies  of  which  had  originally  been circulated to members on 31st May 2006.

Having made several minor amendments, the Panel approved the report and agreed that it should be presented to the States prior to 20th June 2006.

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9.

Solid Waste Strategy: Locations for Proposed Facilities (P.45/2006)

The Panel, having recalled that Projet No. P.45/2006 was due to be debated on 27th June 2006, considered whether it should make a formal request, in accordance with Standing Order 79, that the proposition be referred to the Panel for scrutiny.

Deputy R.C. Duhamel contended that both the Bailiff and the States

 

Greffe had mistakenly approved P.45/2006 in that wording had been used which had could serve to vary key details of the States decision  made  on  13th  July  2005  concerning  the  Solid  Waste Strategy (P.95/2005 refers). He further contended that he had been allowed to lodge an amendment to P.45/2006 in order to rectify the alleged mistake. Deputy Duhamel stated that he would be minded

to ask for the proposition to be referred to the Panel for Scrutiny if

his amendment was not accepted.

RD The  Panel  noted  the  position.  It  further  delegated  authority  to

Deputy  Duhamel  to  make  a  statement  on  behalf  of  the  Panel immediately prior to the debate on P.45/2006 advising that, in the

view of the Panel, any detailed discussion regarding specific types

and technologies of waste processing plants to be built on the locations referred to in P.45/2005 would fall outside of the terms of

that proposition.

On a related matter, the Panel noted that it had been invited to

attend a Waste Strategy Steering Group meeting on the afternoon RD/CLQ of Friday 16th June 2006 at the Transport and Technical Services Department. After an extended discussion, the Panel agreed that

Deputy Duhamel should attend on behalf of the Panel and that a

Scrutiny  Officer  should  also  attend  and  produce  a  record  of proceedings.

On a further related matter, the Panel considered an e-mail, dated

13th June 2006 and sent by Deputy G.W.J. de Faye, Minister for Transport and Technical Services, concerning P.45/2006. It noted

that  the  Minister  had  decided  not  to  propose  Part  (b)  of  the proposition and that he had agreed with Deputy Duhamel that the Panel would become involved in the coordination of an ad-hoc RD working party on composting led by Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire. The Panel  agreed  that  it  did  not  wish  to  become  involved  in  the coordination of the ad-hoc working party on composting. On that basis Deputy Duhamel advised the Panel that he would provide assistance to the working party in his capacity as a private member

of the States.

10. Time and Date of Next Meeting

9.30am on Thursday 29th June in Le Capelain Room, States Building.

Signed Date ..

Chairman, Environment Panel