Government Plan 2022-2025 (S.R.17/2021): Response of the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture

Findings

Comments

1

The  budget  for  Jersey  Overseas  Aid (JOA) is linked to Gross Value Added (GVA)  and  will  increase/decrease annually  in  line  with  how  GVA performs.

This is a point for the Minister for International Development, who has noted it accordingly.

2

During  part  of  the  refurbishment process of Elizabeth Castle, there is a reliance  on  Jersey  Heritage  having historical knowledge of the make-up of the building and an understanding of the quantity  of  work  required  for  the refurbishment. The Panel is concerned that the breadth of experience required to  undertake  such  a  project may  not fully  meet  the  remit  of  the  Jersey Heritage  team  and,  as  a  result, additional expertise may be required. This may result in unforeseen situations and risks occurring which have not been planned or budgeted for.

Jersey  Heritage  are  fully  aware  of  the complexities of working within historic buildings such  as  Elizabeth  Castle.  Jersey  Heritage understand  that  their  own  knowledge  must regularly be supplemented by experts - both in Jersey  and  from  elsewhere  such  as  York University. The business plan for the renovation project contains significant assessment of the risks and  makes  provision  to  acquire  the  relevant expertise to successfully undertake the work.

3

The figure of £814,000 allocated to the Inspiring Active Places project for 2022

Noted. Updates will be provided in due course.

Findings

Comments

relates  to  initial  design  and consultation. The delivery of the project will begin once this has taken place.

4

The  Panel  found  the  consultation process on the Inspiring Active Places project to be extremely comprehensive and  targeted  all  age  groups  and demographics.

Noted. Updates will be provided in due course.

5

The refusal of planning permission at Oakfield Sports Centre and the lack of progress  on  the  refurbishment  of Springfield  Sports  Centre  may  both have a detrimental effect on the delivery of  the  Inspiring  Active  Places  sports strategy.

Noted.  A  new  planning  application  has  been submitted  for  Oakfield.  Springfield  work  is progressing well.

6

Planning permission has been granted for  the  skatepark  at  Les  Quennevais Fields. It is unclear when a planning application  will  be  submitted  for  the second  proposed  skatepark  at  South Hill,  or  for  any  proposed  satellite skateparks around the island.

Work  on  the  South  Hill  Skatepark  is  being progressed  in  the  context  of  wider  South  Hill Gardens  area,  where  there  is  potential  to significantly  improve  the  public  space  and provide  a  valuable  amenity  in  this  part  of  St Helier. This regeneration is particularly timely in light of the new residential units that are being developed.

The  original  outline  planning  application  was submitted  on  12th  March  2021  but  was  later withdrawn on the advice of planning officers after a  concern  had  been  raised  about  heritage  and ecology issues.

There will be further consultation with the public and key stakeholders prior to the development of revised proposals. A detailed project programme will be prepared and a planning application will be resubmitted as soon as possible this year.

Work  to  identify  possible  sites  for  satellite facilities  around  the  island  is  also  being progressed.  This  will  involve  public  and

Findings

Comments

stakeholder consultation. Submission of planning applications  will  follow.  Funding  has  been allocated  for  forthcoming  years  in  the Government Plan.

7

The responsibility for both the current operational  structure  and  the  overall future  of  the  Fort  Regent  project remains unclear, which may result in the lines of Ministerial accountability being blurred and progress delayed.

The Minister wrote to the Panel on 14th December to  provide  clarification  on  the  day-to-day operations at Fort Regent compared to the Future Fort  redevelopment  programme,  which  is  a separate,  overarching  major  capital  project looking at the long-term future of the site.

Recommendations

To

Accept / Reject

Comments

Target date of action/

completion

1

The  Minister  for Economic  Development, Tourism,  Sport  and Culture  should  ensure  a full  risk  assessment  is carried  out  prior  to  any works  being  undertaken on  the  refurbishment  of Elizabeth  Castle.  The Minister  should  also ensure  that  Jersey Heritage  have  the required  experience  to undertake any works due and  should  include responsibility  for oversight of these works within  the  risk assessment.  A contingency plan should also be put in place with a clear  budget  for  each aspect  of  the refurbishment.

Reject

Already undertaken: The business plan for  the  renovation  project  contains significant  risk  assessment  and mitigation, including budgeting.

2

The Council of Ministers should  ensure  that funding is clearly defined

Reject

The  IAP  programme  is  a  ten-year programme  and  funding  requirements will  be  shown  in  the  relevant

Recommendations

To

Accept / Reject

Comments

Target date of action/

completion

in  future  Government Plans for the delivery of the  Inspiring  Active Places  project.  This should  include  detail around  delivery  of  each stage  of  the  project together with the funding stream required to deliver the strategy.

Government  Plans  once  details  are approved.  These  will  need  to  be confirmed by the next States Assembly and is not in the gift of this Council of Ministers.

3

The  Minister  for Economic  Development, Tourism,  Sport  and Culture  should  ensure  a contingency is in place to deal  with  delays  to  the ongoing  delivery  of sports  projects  on  the Island. This could cover aspects such as planning refusal,  delays,  and spiralling costs.

Reject

Each  project  will  need  to  be  treated separately. If delays occur, the project team  will  respond  to  the  specific circumstances at the time.

4

The  Minister  for Economic  Development, Tourism,  Sport  and Culture  should  ensure that detailed information is  provided  to  States Members  and  members of  the  public  regarding the  timeline  of  any planning  application,  in addition  to  any consultation process that will  be  carried  out  for future  skateparks.  This should  cover,  not  only South Hill, but all future States  funded  satellite skateparks,  with  Parish Connétable s  being consulted  on  any  key decisions  affecting  their Parishes.

Accep t

The  high  level  of  public  interest  in skatepark  projects  is  recognised.  As plans  progress  for  new  facilities, community  engagement  and  public consultation  will  take  place.  This  is already planned.