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Environment Scrutiny Panel
Record of Meeting
Date: 7th February 2012 Meeting No: 3
Present | Deputy J. Young, Chairman |
| Connétable P. Rondel |
| Deputy S. Luce |
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 10th January 2012 were approved and signed. | MO |
| 2. Correspondence Members noted recent email correspondence between the Chairman and Advocate T Hanson concerning radon, other potential pollution issues and radiation from France. The Scrutiny Officer was asked to contact Health Protection to obtain background information on radiation monitoring. The Panel also noted email correspondence between the Chairman, Chief Officer and Minister for Planning and Environment and the Ministers for Housing and Treasury and Resources concerning the Island Plan H3 policy. | MO |
10.01.12 Item 4 514/1(18) | 3. Work programme The Panel discussed prioritisation of topics suggested for review. The following were agreed as preferred subjects for early review (subject to further consultation with Ministers/departments): Transport and Technical Services Department | MO MO MO |
It was noted that the forthcoming Streetworks Law might give an opportunity for a short review of legislation. The Panel also agreed that clarification should be sought regarding the status and timings of the new bus contract in case a review was felt to be appropriate in that area. Environment Department
The Scrutiny Officer was asked to prepare scoping documents on the above topics (with the exception of radon, which had previously been requested) to bring back to the next meeting. |
| It was agreed that the following topics would remain on the draft work programme for possible future review: Transport and Technical Services Department | MO |
Environment Department
The Scrutiny Officer was asked to request further information from the Transport and Technical Services Department on the progress of discussions with Guernsey about the importation of waste, and possible timing for a review; and the Department of the Environment on the status of advisory groups reporting to the Minister. | ||
514/2(22) | 4. Radon Members noted a draft scoping document on radon and discussed issues raised in this and correspondence with Advocate Hanson (see item 2 above). It was felt that despite the limitations of early survey work carried out in the Island, local bye laws introducing radon protection measures in new homes had put Jersey ahead of many other jurisdictions in 1997. However, since that time considerable research had been carried out elsewhere (particularly in the UK) leading to better public information and accurate mapping of radon affected areas, whereas very little had been done to improve public understanding of the issues or to monitor the occurrence of radon locally. It was agreed that a review of radon would be undertaken later this year, once the findings of the ongoing survey of radon levels in selected homes were available. | MO |
10.01.12 Item 5 514/14 | 5. Protecting our Marine Environment Members noted a draft reply to the Minister for Planning and Environment's formal response to the previous Panel's report (S.R.15/2011), which was approved subject to minor amendments. | MO |
| 6. Communication The Panel reflected on communications since its first meeting. New States Members in particular were still establishing contacts and receiving invitations from different bodies to discuss various matters. Some of these were based on their status as Private Members or Parish representatives, but it was agreed that contacts potentially relevant to the Panel's work should be reported back to the Scrutiny Office and other members as soon as practicable. This would ensure that all members were adequately briefed and appropriate records kept of any developments that might subsequently involve the Panel. It was noted that all contact with department officers and formal correspondence on behalf of the Panel should be initiated through the Scrutiny Office. | MO |
| 7. Forthcoming meetings Next scheduled Panel meeting: Tuesday 13th March 2012, 2.00pm, Blampied Room, States Building | MO |