Skip to main content

Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 6 November 2007

This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.

Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.

Environment Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 6th November 2007. Meeting Number: 63

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

Connétable K.A. Le Brun of St. Mary (KB) Connétable A.S. Crowcroft of St. Helier (SC) Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire (PLC)

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Mrs. C. Le Quesne, Scrutiny Officer

Mr. M. Robbins, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

1.

Air Quality

The Panel recalled that it had previously approved the expenditure  of  approximately £1000  for  a  radio advertisement  programme  to  draw  attention  to  its  air quality  review.  The  Panel  further  recalled  that  it  had delegated responsibility for the content of the advert to the Chairman.

The Panel noted that the Chairman, upon discussion with a representative from Radio 103, had decided that two styles of advertisement would be more appropriate. The Panel agreed the additional expenditure required for the two advert option and agreed the wording of the advert relating  to  the  Tunnel.  The  second  advertisement  was considered to need further work and the Constable of St Helier agreed to provide a re-worded script of the second advertisement in time for the deadline from Radio 103 on

Wednesday 7th November 2007.

The Panel noted the requirement for input from Members into the preparation of questions for the Public Hearings.

RD, KLB, SC, PLC

CLQ

SC

2.

Waste Plant Review

The Panel was provided with a presentation explaining the  current  status  of  the  review.  It  outlined  what  was required to move the review forward. The Panel endorsed the  presentation  and  agreed  that  it  outlined  the  aims,

 

current position and required direction of the review.

The Panel agreed that a responsibility matrix was required where each Member was allocated areas of responsibility MR and permitted to progress those responsibilities.

The Panel considered the establishment of a timeline to be imperative and was mindful that it was governed by the requirement of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services to present a proposition to the States stating his preferred option of waste plant. The Minister had stated that this was expected during the later part of the second quarter of 2008. The Panel considered its options and confirmed that it needed to complete its review prior to the MR end of the first quarter. Delaying the States from making

the decision was not the responsible way forward.

It  was  noted  that  the  forensic  accountant  due  to  be interviewed by the Panel was out of the Island and would be  available for  the  Panel  to  interview  at  9.30  am  on Friday 9th November 2007. The need for an adviser on the plant types was discussed and further information was MR/RD

to be brought to the next meeting.

The Panel noted that an official request for the full set of accounts for the Bellozanne Energy from Waste plant had been  requested  from  the  Transport  and  Technical Services Department. (Document 5.5 in the review file).

The  request  was  noted  to  include  details  of  levels  of MR subsidies, both current and for the last two years. The

need for further financial information would be guided by

the instructions of the forensic account once engaged.

The Panel considered the file produced by the officer for each Member containing documentation on the review. It was advised that the file contained eight sections in which the Members might file related documentation. The Panel agreed that any documentation they required to be part of the review would go through the office and be distributed

to  all  members  for  their  file.  It  was  mindful that MR documentation  which  did  not  find  its  way  into  the  file

would not reach the advisors and may not therefore be considered within the review.

Being  conscious  of  how  successful  the drip  feed' approach to an Energy from Waste Plant had been by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, the Panel agreed to a publicity campaign over the life of the review in  order  to  work  on  a  change  of  mindset  of  States Members, Department Officers, Parish Officials and the public.

The  Panel  examined  a  documentary  presentation  from Channel 103 Radio Station which offered several options for advertising. The package gave three outlines and the MR Panel  agreed  that  it  needed  the  larger  package  as  a minimum requirement. It approved the £3000 expenditure

for this product and confirmed that it wished to maintain open options for the extension of this during the course of

the review.

The Panel confirmed that the aim of the review was to present properly costed alternatives with enough publicity and  support  that  the  Minister  became  aware  of  viable alternative options to his preference of a large Energy from Waste Plant.

Involvement  of  States  Members  in  fact  finding  visits, MR presentations and one to one discussions was discussed.

The panel agreed that this needed further consideration

and would be discussed at a future meeting in order that

full facts and figures could be given on a personal basis to

all States Members. It agreed that this was of the utmost importance as it would be the States Members who made

the decision as to the nature of the plant. MR

The Panel noted that an incident had occurred to a fuel farm in Dartford and required information be obtained.

RD, KLB, SC, PLC

3. Next Meeting

The Panel noted that the date for its next meeting would

be Thursday 15th November 2007 at 09.00 hrs in the 1st Floor Meeting Room of Morier House to deal with aspects MR

of Waste but mainly to discuss the Panels' response to

the Energy Consultation Document. The Panel noted that

its response must be submitted prior to the 7th December 2007.

RD, KLB, SC, PLC

Signed Date: ..

Chairman Environment Panel