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ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE SCRUTINY PANEL GOVERNMENT PLAN REVIEW 2022-25- WRITTEN SUBMISSION
MR JIM HOPLEY ON BEHALF OF THE JERSEY NATIONAL PARK – BY EMAIL
Dear Connetable Jackson ,
Further to the face-to-face discussion of earlier this week and for the time given to us to explain where in its project the JNP is currently, for which we were immensely grateful, herewith as promised a short-written response to your Panel's request in respect of the Government Plan 2022- 25.
From the detail handed to you at the meeting, particularly the Business Plan for 2021, a continuation of our previously agreed Plan for 2020, I hope we more than adequately demonstrated the Park's alignment to on-going Government initiatives, Themes and certainly its Common Strategic Policies (CSP'S). Once you and your Panel have had an opportunity to examine this detail we stand ready to offer any further clarification that might be required. In addition, the Q3/2021 Draft Report on the Park's activities this year to-date also supplied and our performance against the agreed KPI'S therein we hope demonstrates our continued success in meeting the criteria set for the Park's on- going development.
There are numerous challenges ahead as we touched on at the meeting with clarification of the Parks boundaries as part of the proposals in the Bridging Island Plan and the legal status of the Park itself being key amongst these but our draft Future Strategy also supplied gives a significant indication of our approach forward over the period 2022-25 and our alignment to the current CSP's. This strategy of course can be amended as necessary when a new government decides its priorities following the general election of next year.
The financial resources given to us over the last two years have we hope been well spent and significant efforts to supplement these monies with private sector support, both financially and through volunteering have been made. The greatest step-forward we have secured to-date has been in having the wherewithal to engage on a part-time basis the services of a Park Officer Mr Jerry Neil whom you met to supplement the efforts of Mike Stentiford and myself. That along with financing , largely with non-governmental monies and volunteering, the reconditioning of our now secured base at the Frances Le Sueur Centre has been fundamental to securing this significant progress.
We are yet to prepare our budget and proposed expenditure for the year 2022 and onwards into the next 4 year Plan but hopefully our Strategy document demonstrates the main areas of utilisation of pledged monies forward should the Assembly see fit to approve these. As indicated the further reconditioning of the Centre and more by way of opening it as an educational, information and interpretation facility for both locals and tourists alike, the establishment of a much extended stakeholder governance structure and a planned effort to improve in co-operation with Environment the bio-diversity and the utilisation and appreciation of Le Parc des Mielles by the public are key objectives. Certainly it is our intention to use all central monies supplied effectively and prudently and to supplement these where possible, particularly on a project basis, with non-governmental funding thus assisting with the process of rebalancing even in a small way the ongoing delivery of public services in the face of the current financial pressures.
I hope the aforementioned detail is sufficient for the Panel's purposes but my colleagues and myself are more than happy to meet further with yourselves if this is felt desirable.
Yours sincerely
Jim Hopley Honorary Chair Jersey National Park