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Environment - Approved Panel Minutes - 12 April 2012

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Environment Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date: 12th April 2012 Meeting No: 5

 

Present

Deputy J. Young, Chairman Connétable P. Rondel

Deputy S. Luce (Vice chairman)

Apologies

 

Absent

 

In attendance

Mr. M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

 

1. Record of meeting

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8th March 2012 were approved and signed.

MO

08.03.12 Item 2

514/19

2. Ash disposal

The Panel discussed a number of administrative matters relating to the review. It was agreed that the Minister for Transport and Technical Services should now be formally advised of the review by letter and invited  to  meet  the  Panel  on  Thursday  19th  April,  to  allow  an opportunity for discussion of some of the issues prior to the Panel's first Quarterly Public Hearing with the Minister on 23rd April. It was further agreed that the review should be launched publicly on the same day as the public hearing.

The Scrutiny Officer was asked to prepare suitable media releases and to  proceed  with  contacting  potential  expert  advisers  to  obtain expressions of interest.

MO MO

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514/14

3. Marine water quality

The Panel considered recent correspondence received in respect of water and shellfish testing quality issues. There had been a number of poor results in recent shellfish testing, indicating potential problems with water quality in certain areas. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the Minister for Planning and Environment asking for confirmation of steps taken to address the recommendations of the previous Panel's report  Protecting  our  Marine  Environment'  (S.R.15/2011)  prior  to  a meeting  with  aquaculture  industry  representatives  and  department officers proposed to take place on 10th May.

MO

08.03.12 Item 8

514/1(25)

4. Quarterly hearing with Minister for Planning and Environment

It was agreed that the Chairman would liaise with the Scrutiny Officer regarding a possible media release to follow up the hearing with the Minister on 23rd March.

JY/MO

514/1(26)

5. Planning process

The  Chairman  briefed  the  Panel  on  recent  correspondence  and meetings attended in his capacity as a Private Member in respect of the

 

 

planning process. The Department of the Environment was keen for the Panel to follow up matters arising to do with the Planning Applications Panel,  particularly  where  these  arose  from  new  policies  where  no supplementary  planning  guidance  was  yet  available.  A  number  of permissions  had  recently  been  overturned,  some  of  them  involving minor matters where it was considered that there was clear justification, but others being more complex. It was considered that there were flaws in the Island Plan that would need to be addressed.

The Panel agreed to monitor the situation for 12 months to allow time for the system to bed in, with the possibility of a review to be considered at that time.

MO

08.03.12 Item 6

514/1(25)

6. Bus contract

The Panel considered information received at a private briefing with officers of Transport and Technical Services on 11th April. It was felt that the briefing had provided some positive reassurance regarding the procedures undertaken in respect of the tendering process for the new contract. The Panel agreed that it would be more productive to revisit the issue in approximately 12 months time once the new contract was in place and service had commenced, rather than attempting to review the contract before the new service had begun.

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08.03.12 Item 7

514/1(27)

7. Consultation responses

The  Panel  discussed  consultations  from  the  Department  of  the Environment on development briefs for:

  1. the former Jersey College for Girls
  2. the Summerland and Ambulance HQ sites

It was agreed that the Chairman would draft suggested responses for circulation and approval by the Panel.

Consideration of a report on Taxi Regulation recently received from the Transport and Technical Services Department was postponed until the next scheduled meeting.

JY/MO

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514/1(25)

8.  Quarterly  hearing  with  Minister  for  Transport  and  Technical Services

Members discussed a range of possible topics for the meeting to be held on 23rd April and agreed items to be included on the agenda. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to prepare a draft for circulation following the meeting.

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9. Forthcoming meetings

Quarterly hearing with Minister for Transport and Technical Services: 2.00pm on 23rd April 2012, Le Capelain Room, States Building

Next scheduled Panel meeting: 2.00pm on 24th April 2012, Blampied Room, States Building

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