Skip to main content

Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 23 August 2007

The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.

The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.

Environment Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 23rd August 2007 Meeting Number: 55

Present Deputy R.C. Duhamel (Chairman) (RD)

Connétable K. A. Le Brun of St Mary (KB) Connétable A. S. Crowcroft (SC)

Deputy P. V. F. Le Claire (PLC)

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Carol Le Quesne, Scrutiny Officer

Elizabeth Kingston-Walsh, Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

Minutes of the meeting of 27th July 2007 were approved and signed.

 

 

2. Matters Arising

a) Action Updates

  1. The Panel noted that the requested press

release in respect of the Ministerial response to the Waste Recycling Review would be issued following the Public Hearing to be arranged for the 17th September 2007. It further noted this as a missed opportunity. The Panel  considered  how  to  maximise  on  future opportunities.

The Panel noted that the Environment and Planning Department  had  enquired  whether  or  not  the Ministerial  response  be  published  on  the  Scrutiny website. It endorsed the Chairman's decision that the publication  of  the  Ministerial  Comments  on  the Scrutiny website would take place following a public hearing  with  the  Minister  on  the  contents  of  his Comments to its Waste Recycling Report.

  1. The Panel recalled that a detailed response to

the Minister by the Chairman had been distributed to the Panel for consideration at the previous meeting. It further noted that the Chairman was awaiting feedback from  Panel  Members.  The  Panel  conferred responsibility for the content of the response to the Chairman.  The  Chairman  agreed  to  forward  the questions electronically to the Department.

  1. The  Panel  noted  that  its  previous  waste

advisor Professor C. Coggins had been approached by the Chairman regarding a professional endorsement

CLQ

Chairman

for the Waste recycling review. The Chairman agreed to

further  discuss  the  matter  with  Professor  Coggins when it was ready to hold public meetings in respect of its reports findings.

  1. The Panel noted that officers had received

three replies from a request to supermarkets relating to

their treatment of food waste protocols.

MR

The Panel considered the issue relating to a letter from a  grower's  organisation  that  had  been  received  in confidence  and  considered  that  the  Minister  of Transport  and  Technical  Services  should  not  have publicly referred to the letter.

The Panel agreed to write to organisations and other exporters for the criteria that they currently abided by in light of the changes to UK supermarket protocols.

Officers were directed to take the appropriate action.

  1. The Panel considered issuing a statement in All  Members

response to the Business Plan to the effect that the & Chairman Business Planning process did not work. The Panel

agreed that the Chairman was to prepare a report, or

set  of  comments  on  the  failures  of  the  Business

Planning  process  before  3rd  September  2007.

Members were encouraged to provide the Chairman

with their comments for inclusion as soon as possible.

b) To Note Documents Received

The  Panel  noted  and  considered  the  Planning Department's Response to the EDAW report. It further

noted  that  time  constraints  of  current  review commitments would not permit further investigation at EKW

this time.

The Panel noted a record of the Transport and Technical

Services meeting, of the 3rd August 2007, which was held to assess political feeling regarding the future of

Jersey's Taxis. Some minor amendments to the record were requested.

3. Transcript: Meeting with Minister of Transport and Technical Services.

The Panel noted the transcript from a meeting held in private session with the Minister of Transport and Technical services to discuss composting issues.

The Panel recalled that the meeting was intended to be a Public Hearing, however due to technical problems with electronic mail prior to the Hearing; a Panel Member had been unaware of the hearing  taking  place.  The  Panel  accepted  apologies  from Connétable Le Brun in this connexion.

The Panel discussed its number and noted that it could invite a

fifth member to join. The Panel agreed that the Chairman should Chairman

 

invite a fifth Member to join the Panel or advise the States that the Panel would remain at four and reduce its quorum to two.

The Panel noted an amendment was required to page 21 of the transcript. 2,000 tonnes was to be corrected to read 20,000 tonnes and that the same amendment was required in the Panel report. Officers were directed to take the appropriate action to correct the figures.

MR

 

4. Fact Finding Trip to Brussels

The Panel considered and held in abeyance the proposed visit

to Brussels on 18th and 19th September 2007, with the Minister for Planning and Environment to cover questions relating to

energy, the environment, waste and accompanying legislation. The Panel agreed to delay the trip until spring 2008.

The  Officer  was  requested  to  advise  Mr.  Lamballais  of  its decision.

CLQ

 

5. Air Quality Review

The Panel considered the draft terms of reference and agreed that domestic fire emissions should be included.

The Panel agreed that an advisor would be required for this review and noted the CV's of two potential individuals. Officers were directed to prepare the necessary documentation so that advisors could attend hearings and assist with the evaluation of evidence and providing a technical report.

The  Panel  considered  two  possible  advisors  and  agreed  to

invite both to interview on the 6th September 2007 or the 21st as available, and to ask for their comments on the terms of

reference. It further considered it beneficial to the review if the advisor were to be present at the initial hearings. The Panel noted  that  one  of  the  advisors  had  local  connections  and matched the review criteria very closely.

Officers were directed to take appropriate action to facilitate the interviews.

The  Panel  considered  the  requirement  for  independent  air quality monitoring as part of the review and agreed that the issue  should  be  discussed  with  the  potential  advisors.  The Panel  noted  that  a  monitoring  study  may  take  a  full  twelve months in order to cover seasonal variations. The Panel would discuss  any  concerns  relating  to  impartiality  should  the monitoring study be undertaken by the appointed advisor.

The Panel endorsed the suggested timescale for the review to be six months to a year depending on the need for an air quality monitoring  study  and  subject  to  the  terms  of  reference remaining as they currently were.

The Panel agreed to announce the review by press release once the Chairmen's Committee had been advised of the scope and terms of reference.

Officers were directed to take the appropriate action.

CLQ

CLQ

CLQ

 

 

 

 

6. Design of Homes

The Panel received a draft of the Design of Homes Report for consideration. The Panel noted that the final report would be completed for presentation to the States by 11th September

2007; the final draft would be available at the next meeting and would be printed on the following day.

The Panel considered the inclusion of a letter from the Société Jersiaise previously agreed to be of importance to the review

The  Panel  agreed  to  pay  particular  attention  to  the recommendations and to express agreement to the contents of the report at its earliest convenience.

 

 

7. Waste Review

The  Panel  considered  the  Waste  Recycling  poster  and proposed some amendments. The Panel agreed that it should be printed on recycled or sustainable sourced paper.

Officers were directed to take appropriate action.

The Panel agreed that a public hearing with the Minister for

Environment and Planning was to be arranged for 6pm on 17th September 2007, at the Town Hall .

Officers were directed to formally invite the Minister.

The Chairman agreed to provide the previous response to the Ministers comments as an outline for areas of questioning which should be forwarded to the Minister five working days prior to the meeting.

The  Panel  noted  that  questions  for  the  hearing  would  be considered at the Panel meeting of 6th September 2007.

The Panel agreed that the public hearing should be followed by a public meeting to facilitate questions from the public. It further agreed that a quarter page advert in the JEP was required for three issues and that all States Members would be invited to attend. The Panel agreed to invite schools to submit questions to the Panel for inclusion in the Public Meeting. It further agreed that Connétable Crowcroft would chair the public meeting.

Officers were directed to take the appropriate action.

The  Panel  noted  that  the  mobile  recording  equipment  was required  and  may  require  technical  support.  The  Panel authorised the necessary expenditure for the review, to include room hire and transcription.

Officers were directed to take the appropriate action.

MR

CLQ MR

SC Officers

CLQ

 

8. Items for Noting

a) The Panel noted its current financial position.

 

 

b) The Panel noted the letter dated 9th August 2007 from  Planning  and  Building  Services  relating  to

proposed sites of archaeological interest. It further noted that the submission date for comments was

1st October 2007 and agreed to defer consideration until the Panel meeting of 6th September 2007.

 

 

9. Information required for the Chairmen's Committee

  1. The  Panel  noted  the  Panel  Position  report  as submitted to the Chairmen's Committee agenda for the meeting of 7th September 2007.
  1. Connétable Crowcroft was nominated to be profiled for the forthcoming Scrutiny newsletter. The Panel considered  the  nomination  and  agreed  that Connétable   Crowcroft  would  be  the  profiled Member for this issue.

 

 

10. Water Quality in St Aubin's Bay

The  Panel  considered  water  quality  monitoring  results  from 1994 to 2007 and noted that monitoring at First Tower appeared to cease in 2004. It further noted that the monitoring performed was  to  record  levels  of  certain  bacteria  (coliforms  and streptococci) only and that many failures had been recorded. The Panel further noted that no monitoring of nutrient levels in effluent was available.

The  Panel  considered  Jersey's  international  responsibilities through  the  various  Directives  to  which  Jersey  has  signed. Deputy Le Claire agreed to forward details of the Directives to the officers.

The Panel agreed that a public meeting was to be arranged for the 21st September 2007 with the Ministers for Transport & Technical  Services,  Environment  &  Planning  and  Health  to discuss the issue of water quality. It further agreed to invite the Chairman of the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel and a representative from Environmental Health.

Officers were directed to take appropriate action

PLC

CLQ

 

11. AOB

The Town Park and the plan and future development of La Collette were considered as possible topics for future reviews.

The Panel recalled that a Panel officer was seconded to another Panel for 4 months to assist with the Phone Mast  review.  The  Panel  agreed  to  request  additional officer  time  to  facilitate  an  additional  review  at  the Chairmen's Committee  meeting  of  the  7th September

2007.

The Panel agreed to provide bullet points of the areas of

 

concern regarding the Plan and future development of La  Collette.  Officers  were  directed  to  draft  a  scope, terms  of  reference  and  source  possible  advisors following receipt of the bullet points.

  • The Panel recalled that the Transport Plan was still outstanding. The Panel considered writing to the Minister or  posing  a  question  in  the  States  to  ascertain  the expected date of publication.
  • The Panel considered attendance at the Sustainable City 3 day Conference in Malmo, 12th 14th September 2007. It further considered that the conference was on a States week. The Panel agreed that the conference was of significant importance to Panel Business. It further agreed  that  up  to  2  Members  should  attend  the  full conference with an officer. The Panel Chairman would attend following the States sitting. The Panel agreed that the Minister was to be invited to attend and that guided site visits would be arranged following the conference.

In  addition  the  Panel  agreed  that  the  advisor  to  the Design of Homes review was to be invited to attend. In return  for  payment  of  his  travel  and  conference expenses,  the  advisor  was  expected  to  provide  the Panel with a report of the conference and associated site

visits and if necessary to recommend developments to CLQ visit.

Officers were directed to take appropriate action.

The Panel agreed that the publication of the Design of Homes  report  was  not  to  be  delayed  in  order  to incorporate information gained from the conference, but an addendum was to be issued to include these findings. The Panel further agreed that the conference would be a useful fact finding visit to develop the terms of reference and scope for its Design of Homes II Review relating to Waterfront developments.

  • The Panel considered the need of Panel Members to have  a  form  of  official  identification.  The  Chairman agreed to approach the Greffier of the States to this effect.
  • The Panel noted the intention of Connétable Crowcroft to  propose  an  amendment  to  the  Business  Plan pertaining to the Town Park Plan to relocate car parking spaces.
  • The Panel noted that Connétable Crowcroft intended to write to the Minister for Planning and Environment to call for a Public Inquiry into the proposed new energy to waste incinerator.
  • The Panel noted that the Parish of St Helier had sought legal assistance to ensure quality of life for residents of the Havre des Pas area following concerns over airborne

particles and odour from the composting site at La Collette. Connétable   Crowcroft  requested  permission  for information  within  the  transcript  of  the  composting

meeting with Transport and Technical Services [Item 3]

to be released to the lawyer for information purposes.

The  Panel  recalled  that  this  transcript  had  not  been

made public at the Minister's request. The Panel advised CLQ/KTF that permission should be sought from the Minister if the

contents of the transcript were to be used.

  • The Panel received a booklet published by the Centre for  Public  Scrutiny  pertaining  to  the  scrutiny  of  local government  finance  and  supported  the  concept  of providing  training  for  States  members  and  officers  in respect of scrutinizing business plans and budgets. The Panel  requested  that  the  Privileges  and  Procedures Committee be provided with a copy of the booklet for its information.

12. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 9:30 am, 6th September 2007 in La Capelain room.

Signed Date: ..

Chairman

Environnent Scrutiny Panel