Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 4 May 2006

Item

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Agenda matter

Action

1

Minutes

The  Minutes  of  the  meetings  held  on  21st  April,  having  been circulated previously, were taken as read and were confirmed.

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2

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the minutes

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3

Items to Note

The Panel noted the Transport and Technical Services Survey, and ministerial decisions taken during the period 21st April to 4th May

2006.

The Panel also noted that an article in the Jersey Evening Post suggested  that  fridges  and  electrical  goods  would  be  sent  to Brittany for disposal as the local system was unable to process these  goods.  The  Panel  decided  to  write  to  the  Maison  de  la Normandie et de la Manche to notify them that it was revisiting the processing of electrical goods in France. It further determined that the Chairman should write to the Transport and Technical Services Department to establish why the goods could not be processed locally. The Panel noted that once again, Scrutiny had not been party to matters directly involving a Scrutiny Panel.

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4

Referral From Social Affairs

During consideration of a referral to the Panel by the Social Affairs Panel relating to a review on Social Housing and First Time Buyer Property,  the  Panel  accepted  that  the  rationale, "Evaluate affordable first time buyer properties, achieved through the States sponsored shared equity and / or interest free deposit loans." fell within its remit. After further deliberation the Panel concluded that if the Social Affairs Panel were to pursue the review, the Environment Panel would be minded to offer one member to assist with that part of the review. The Panel decided that the Social Panel should be informed of their willingness to cooperate.

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5 (21/04/06

Design Of Homes Review.

The Panel noted that the Sub Group had met on 28th April and had

Item 4)

discussed progress made on the review. The Chairman advised the Panel that he had spoken with some architects who had offered their services in relation to the interactive exercise but that the Panel  would  have  to  finance  the  project.  It  was  considered appropriate  to  invite  the  Planning  and  Environment  Minister Senator F. E. Cohen along with the Planning Applications Panel members to a meeting with the Panel to discuss Planning Advice Note Number 1, which was currently in draft form only.

The  Panel  discussed  unoccupied  properties  and  speculative purchasing in the Island and considered that this fell outside the Terms of Reference of current reviews and would need a separate review. The Panel was minded to consider conducting a review of the extent of speculative property purchasing and the implications for  planning  policy  in  Jersey; accordingly  it  decided  to  write to Senator T.J. Le Main, Minister for Housing, seeking data on the number  and  type  of  unoccupied  homes  purchased  in  recent months.

The Panel instructed officers to write to the Association of Jersey Estate Agents seeking data regarding the number of unsold one and two bedroom homes in the Island, together with specific details of the location and type of any such properties which had remained unsold after a period of six months or more on the market.

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6

(21/04/06 Item 4)

Planning Review

Submissions were still being received although not as many as had been hoped for. The Panel was disappointed to note that, although over 40 individual letters had been sent to a selection of companies and  organizations  in  the  Island,  relatively  few  responses  from professional organizations had been received. Having considered possible reasons for the limited responses, the Panel recalled that members of the Association of Jersey Architects had previously informed the Scrutiny Office that they were minded to respond to the published call for evidence. Accordingly the Panel decided that officers should make contact with the President of the Association of Jersey Architects and confirm that the Association had received its invitation to make a submission.

Deputy  S.  Power  reported  that  he  was  representing  residents concerned by new proposals for development of the Category A housing site at Fields Nos. 190, 191 and 192, St. Brelade . As it was considered  that  issues  arising  from  the  proposed  development were of relevance to the Planning Process review, Deputy Power advised that he had invited the residents to write to Deputy G.C.L. Baudains directly. Deputy Power was invited to consider whether his efforts to assist constituents might have implications for both the Planning  Process  and  Design  of  Homes  reviews  in  terms  of generating a conflict of interest.

The  Panel  noted  the  position  and   Deputy  G.C.L.  Baudains undertook to attend the Scrutiny Office on or around 10th May 2006 in  order  to  begin  the  process  of  reviewing  the  submissions received.

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7

(21/04/06 Item 4)

Waste Review

The Panel considered P.45/2006, entitled Solid Waste Strategy: Locations for Proposed Facilities', lodged au Greffe' by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services on 11th April 2006. Recalling that the proposition invited the States to express a view on its preferred  site  for  both  an  Energy  from  Waste  plant  and  a composting facility, the Panel was informed that an amendment was being drafted by Deputy Duhamel. The amendment intended

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to have the wording changed to have regard for the decision made by the States during the debate of 13th July 2005 in paragraph 4 of

Amendment 3 to P. 95/2005. The Panel noted that the second part of  the  amendment  related  to  a "Strategic  Environmental Assessment" and that such an assessment had been called for prior to the debate on the location of the waste facilities.

8

Review Proposals

The Panel considered a report, dated 13th April 2006 and prepared by the Scrutiny Office, concerning new and deferred review topic proposals.

The Panel confirmed that it intended to complete all three current reviews prior to the end of July 2006, so as to allow for work to commence  on  anticipated  policy  proposals  concerning  transport and  energy.  Although  the  Panel  also  discussed  ongoing developments regarding the St. Helier Waterfront, it concluded that there were insufficient resources to conduct six major reviews in the current year.

9

Next Agenda

The Panel was informed that it had been invited to meet the Waste Strategy Steering Group to discuss composting at South Hill at

10.00 am on Friday 5th May 2006. The Panel decided to accept the invitation.

Panel

10

Date of next meeting

The Panel agreed that its next meeting should be held at 9.30 am on Thursday 18 May in Le Capelain Room, States Building.

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