The Parish of Saint Helier has received a formal offer from the Government of Jersey to acquire the land required to build the access road to the new hospital. As one of the Parish's 2 Procureurs du Bien Public I have agreed with my colleague that, having studied the offer and taken professional advice, this offer represents fair value for the sale of the land (plus fees paid, reinstatement of adjoining land, land swap re bowling club).
Would we get more through arbitration if the Government used its complulsory purchase powers. Possibly slightly more, but ratepayers would bear the cost of the Parish's legal and professional fees in trying to establish a higher price (and it is my opinion that the price is good value as the offer stands).
Should I have have taken the view that the previous decisions of the Parish Assembly meant that the offer should have been rejected without having been put to the Parish Assembly? No, my oath of office requires me to take advice from Parishioners, and always to act in the best interests of the bien public. The Parish Assembly should decide whether to accept the offer or not - but in light of the Parish Assembly's previous votes, I am making no recommendation whether to accept or reject the offer. Neither will I be proposing or seconding the proposition to the Parish Assembly - supporters of the Government's offer will have to formally propose and argue the case.
In the event that the Parish Assembly votes to authorise me to pass contract on behalf of the Parish, this will not happen until the Government has received planning permission for the hospital project (including the roads). In the meantime, those Parishioners who oppose the Government's plans or want to see changes will be free to object via the planning process without the Government having completed the purchase of the Parish's land. In the event that planning permission is refused, the proposed sale will not go ahead (and neither can compulsory purchase)
