Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 8 March 2007

Environment Scrutiny Panel

PUBLIC MEETING Record of Meeting

Date: 8th March 2007. Meeting Number: 43

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

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

Deputy S. Power (SP)

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

Apologies

Absent

In attendance Mr M. Robbins. Scrutiny Officer.(MR)

Mr T. Oldham Scrutiny Officer

to MR be forwarded by the Planning Department the following week.

Item 2

01.03.07 The Panel was advised that the Integrated Travel and Transport

Plan workshop due to be held on 10th March had been MR cancelled. The Panel agreed to seek a meeting with the Minister

for Transport and Technical Services regarding the plan.

The Panel noted that a draft Panel position paper for the MR Chairman's Committee would be prepared for discussion at the

Panel meeting on 5th April.

Item 9

22.02.07 The Panel noted a response from Deputy A. Pryke, Chairman of

the Ecology Fund, in relation to the screening of An

Inconvenient Truth', The item was to be placed on the agenda of

the next Ecology Fund meeting,

Item 3

01.03.07 The Panel noted that it had been represented by the Chairman

at the Privileges and Procedures Machinery of Government

Item 6 Review' hearing on 6th March, who had conveyed the Panel's 01.03.07 views.

The Panel expressed concern that the Chairmen's Committee

was acting ultra vires regarding its rôle in the development of the RD Scrutiny Newsletter. The Panel believed that under Standing

Orders the remit for the newsletter should be with the Privileges

and Procedures Committee. The Panel was informed that the Chairman was seeking legal clarification on the matter.

The Panel further expressed its concern about the rôle of the Public Engagement Group, and that its remit had developed to cover areas that were within that of the Chairmen's Committee.

RD. KB. SC. PLC. SP.

3. Design of Homes

Item 14 The Panel received an oral update from Deputy S Power, 22.02.07 focused on the options for regeneration of vacated office buildings in St Helier if plans for a financial district at the Esplanade Square site proceed.

The Panel noted that an offer had been received by the President of the Jersey Association of Architects to assist with the review.

The Panel noted that there were many topics that could be considered under the Design of Homes review but that consideration of further areas would delay its conclusion.

The Panel regarded the write up of the London and Vienna trips MR as a priority and suggested an exhibition at the Town Hall ,

although it noted that it had no Officer support for this. Whilst continuing to use innovative methods of informing the public

about its work, the Panel acknowledged that there was also an expected format of formal presentation.

The Panel expressed concern that it had insufficient Officer RD support, which contributed to delays to the review, and that the situation must be resolved. The Chairman would speak to the Scrutiny Manager.

RD. KB. SC. PLC. SP.

4. Waste

The Panel noted the question by Deputy G C L Baudains that

was to be tabled in the States on Tuesday 13th March 2007. The Panel considered the draft response to this and accepted

amendments by Connétable A S Crowcroft . The amended MR version would be circulated to the Panel for further consideration.

The Panel noted receipt of the first section of its report and

Item 4 offered no amendments at that stage. The Panel expressed RD.  KB.  SC. 01.03.07 appreciation of the standard of the draft first section. It agreed to PLC. SP. MR individually consider the draft further and to submit feedback to the Lead Officer to collate. Further figures relating to the island's

waste stream were expected from the Transport and Technical

Services Department.

MR

The Panel was informed that work was continuing on the second section of the waste report.

The Chairman gave an oral update on the recyclable percentages of household waste and the Panel noted that, with the imminent arrival of a new ferry operator, there would shortly be shipping capacity available that would enable significantly increased levels of recycling in the island.

Following a discussion about the safety of La Collette and its MR future use, a letter would be forwarded to the Minister for

Planning and Environment requesting the long term strategic

plans for La Collette, including port reorganisation and safety

zones for the LPG plant and other businesses and proposed

industrial plants.

RD. KB. PLC. SP.

5. Planning Advice Note No. 1: The Design of New Homes

The Panel noted a response from the Jersey Environment Forum to the Planning and Environment Minister's Planning Advice Note No. 1: The Design of New Homes.

RD. KB. PLC. SP.

6. Draft Water Resources Law 200-

The Draft Water Resources Law 200- was noted by the Panel

and requested to be placed on the Agenda for the following MR meeting.

RD. KB. PLC. SP.

7. Work Programme Item 7

Signed Date: ..

Chairman

Deputy R.C. Duhamel