A new elected body for Saint Helier with devolved pwers

This Wednesday 27th April 2022 there will be a Parish Assembly to decide on progressing the project to modernise the administration of the Parish of Saint Helier and rationalise the Parish's powers to act as a one-stop-shop for many of the municipal actions that many Parishioners think we already have. It is a chance to make the inexplicable structure of governance clearer, more responsive and more transparent.

It's an issue I've campaigned on for years both at local government level and as a candidate for the States of Jersey. Local government ideally should be rather boring, and most people won't notice when things run smoothly, and Saint Helier in recent years has been run so boringly and smoothly that the level of rates has been maintained with no increase for a number of years. Since a lot of the work of local politicians is bread-and-butter implementation of municipal trivia, what is proposed is more efficient enactment of what people vote for.

I've been asked for more detail about the proposal, but there's an 86 page report on the background, the evaluation of the Shadow Conseil project which showed how a new elected body could operate (and that the Parish is capable of running such a body).

People who want change, should vote for change.

People who like the way things are run now, should vote for the existing ramshackle system to be placed on a statutory basis.

This has support from all the other Parishes, some of which would potentially be interested themselves in opting-in to the sort of devolved arrangement Saint Helier would like to have. But this is not about telling other Parishes should do: it's about what Saint Helier needs. And besides, Saint Helier's Roads Committee has acted for decades as a de facto conseil, and for the last 20 years with meetings open to the public and media (with the Procureurs du Bien Public also at the table, so that Connétable, Procureurs and Roads Committee can act together, if not vote together). A new law for the administration of Saint Helier would formalise this sort of arrangement, and enable a statutory basis for agreed devolution of functions to the new elected body so that bye-laws, within the framework set by central government, can be made promptly at the appropriate level.

Geraint Jennings to stand for election as Deputy in Saint Helier District 3&4

Geraint Jennings to stand for election as Deputy in Saint Helier District 3&4.

Geraint Jennings has declared his intention to stand as a candidate for Deputy in Saint Helier to represent District Number 3&4 in the by-election called for February 2019, following the sad passing of the late Deputy Richard Rondel.

Geraint Jennings has been Procureur du Bien Public of Saint Helier since 2016, and until then had served as an elected member of the Roads Committee of Saint Helier since 1996.

A lifelong resident of Town, he will work for a strong Saint Helier at the heart of the Island's economy, culture and daily life. As a longterm environmental campaigner, he will continue to press for a sustainable Town and countryside with quality of life for all residents whether rural or urban, young or old, long-established or newly-welcomed.

Having served the people of Saint Helier in local government, he is now looking to represent them in a legislative capacity to push forward the changes in the system that will enable us to achieve the necessary balance of competing needs in years to come. He has over 20 years experience as an elected representative, dealing with everyday matters that affect the community. Since being elected Procureur du Bien Public, he has been overseeing legal and financial matters in the Parish.

“I believe that Saint Helier truly needs a new deal: legislation to modernise the Parish administration; a commitment from the States to work in partnership with the municipality and to devolve administrative powers away from ministers and closer to the people; and the vision to ensure high-quality buildings for all residents in harmony with streets for people, a clean and green environment, and a society that cares for the public good – but dares to change for the better.”

By-election

Vote.je has announced:

A by-election has been called by the Royal Court to take place on Wednesday February 27th 2019 to fill the vacancy left in St Helier district 3/4 following the death of Deputy Richard Rondel in November 2018.

There are a number of administrative details which have yet to be finalised and we expect to be in a position to confirm the nomination date, pre poll plans and postal voting process in early January 2019.

La Fête dé Noué

Feeling festive now La Fête dé Noué has been launched with the switch-on of the lights yesterday evening.

Fête dé Noué @StHelierJsy tonight's switch-on: fireworks blaze over the Royal Square pic.twitter.com/WKQCumQmfs

— Geraint Jennings (@GeraintJennings) November 22, 2018

Thank you to everyone who came to the Christmas lights switch on! We hope you had a magical evening!! 🎄🎉⭐️ pic.twitter.com/0eTeyPOZ11

— St Helier Events (@StHelierEvents) November 22, 2018

Fête dé Noué @StHelierJsy tonight's switch-on with fireworks from @FortRegent pic.twitter.com/wo4rz5CzNr

— Geraint Jennings (@GeraintJennings) November 22, 2018

Al fresco smoking ban considered in St Helier

Al fresco smoking ban considered in St Helier:

"Geraint Jennings, a parish Procureur du Bien Public said the potential ban would "ensure people's health" and "put children first".

He added al fresco areas "were not dedicated smoking areas" and were more for people to enjoy drinking and dining outside."

Preserving the subsidiary sovereignty of the Parish

Interesting commentary "Preserving the subsidiary sovereignty of the Parish" by Tony the Prof on his blog:

"Jersey’s Constables in the States represent that element of bicameralism but they are weaker than a perfect bicameral legislature. Were that the case, there would be a second house with the right to bring legislation and to vote down legislation from the other house. Alternatively, they could effectively be reduced to a token bicameral legislature with merely the power to scrutinise and suggest amendments to legislation, capable of being overridden at any time by the other house.

In a small Island, neither solution would provide both a limit to how much say they could have, and that they should have a vote in order to protect the smaller units of government – the Parishes – from a more centralised State."

Common Strategic Policy

The Council of Ministers has proposed a Common Strategic Policy 2018 to 2022. As usual there are some welcome words, but as yet it is unclear how much commitment and resources are to be put behind the policies. The headline commitments to children, the environment, health, standard of living, and economy are, naturally enough to be applauded (but they are so general that no-one could possibly oppose them or propose the opposite).

Still, there are some details within the bland proposals worth holding the CoM to (if they ever get it through the States).

There's a commitment to Saint Helier:

• "We will make St Helier a more desirable place to live, work, do business and visit"

 - whether this will be worth any more than the last government's promises to the Parish remains to be seen. For a start, they could stop trying to build on our parks, for example.

Some positive mentions for Jersey's actions on the international stage, including:

• "Build on our existing engagement programme with EU institutions and nations, including our nearest neighbour, France"

And some environmental points of interest:

• "We need to design and deliver ‘great liveable communities’ where everyone has access to high-quality and affordable accommodation, open and play space, and active travel and transport networks, in order to achieve a vibrant, inclusive and healthy Island."
• "Our roads, cycle, foot and bridle paths enable Islanders and visitors to get around our beautiful Island, to exercise and to get to and from work."
• "Review options for a coordinated and consistent Island-wide recycling programme"

Infographics were put out in English and Portuguese and Polish, but strangely for a document supposedly committing to identity and culture, not in Jèrriais. So I did versions myself:

 

Visite Royale

  

Yesterday we had a Visite Royale in Saint Helier. This visit of inspection by the Royal Court comes round every 6 years (the Court visits 2 Parishes a year). The Assembly Room was laid out to allow the Court to sit in session with the Bailiff and Jurats (along with the Greffier, HM Solicitor-General and other officials) facing the Parish officials. HE the Lieutenant-Governor also attended as an observer.

After the prayers and formalities, the Connétable presented his report on the Parish accounts, and mentioned certain matters the Parish is planning for the future (including municipal modernisation, for which he gave me credit - or blame). The Bailiff then asked a number of questions on the accounts, which were answered with the help of the Director of Finance.

The Roads Inspectors were called up and quizzed on what they had been doing in the course of the inspection of roads (since the answer is in effect not very much as the elected office serves almost no practical purpose nowadays, there was some tactful generalisation).

The Chef de Police gave a rundown of the activites of the Honorary Police with plenty of facts and figures, and was questioned by the Court.

The nominated Voyeurs were called up and sworn in. I'm very pleased that we had a balanced panel of 6 women and 6 men, as I had proposed this.

After the Court adjourned, disrobed and returned for a teabreak, it was time to board the minibuses (the Court travelled in limousines) and off we went to look at some problems the Parish hoped the Court could solve by some alfresco instant judgment.

In theory the Voyeurs are supposed to get together once sworn in and then take the Court to inspect some roads on a route that:
a) must not go outside the Parish boundaries, and
b) must not double back on itself (i.e. go over the same road twice)

However the Parish and the Court agree a route in advance and the Parish provides the relevant information so that everything should go smoothly.

With the police escort the convoy of black limousines and minibuses and other vehicles rather gave the impression of a grand funeral cortège.

The first stop was at the top of Queen's Road at the junction of Saint John's Road where the spokesman of the Voyeurs explained that the Parish was requesting the Court to vest ownership in a chemin public of unknown ownership in the Parish. The Court agreed that it appeared that the Parish, having maintained the path, probably owned it but to safeguard the interests of anyone who might come forward with a claim, the Parish was to post a notice asking anyone to come forward and if no-one comes forward in the course of 6 months then the Court would be satisfied that the Parish had taken reasonable steps to establish undisputed ownership.

The remaining questions were regarding trees causing problems with roads and whether the Court would order that the trees be cut down. The first tree was measured and condemned. The official axe was used to give it some symbolic chops to mark it. The rest of the trees benefited from some judicial lenience.

So the Parish got half of the judgments in its favour, and although the other trees were not condemned on the spot, the Court ruled in ways that were actually quite useful to the Parish. All in all, a good day - and the weather was excellent.

Elections for Procureurs du Bien Public

An election for one Procureur du Bien Public in each parish is held every 18 months. The next elections will be on 12 September 2018.

The nomination meeting for Procureur du Bien Public in Saint Helier will be at 7pm on 15th August.

To vote in this election you must have registered by midday on Tuesday 14 August 2018 which is the day before the nomination meeting date.

Firing the Saint Helier Day cannon

Procureur du Bien Public, Geraint Jennings, fires the cannon at Elizabeth Castle onSt Helier Day pic.twitter.com/u8aAhsuft1

— Simon Crowcroft (@SimonCrowcroft) July 16, 2018

What is a Procureur du Bien Public?

What is a Procureur du Bien Public?

Each Parish has two Procureurs du Bien Public, elected for a 3-year term by the voters of the whole Parish at a public election (basically in the same way as Connétables, Centeniers, Senators and Deputies). Translated literally into English, the title means "attorney of the public good" or perhaps "attorney of the common wealth", and the position has from time immemorial had the responsibility of looking after the financial and legal affairs of Parishioners. At its simplest this means keeping an eye on spending and income and acting on behalf of the Parish in legal transactions. However a Procureur du Bien Public may be called upon to serve as acting Connétable.

La Ville - Town

I was making a video up at Fort Regent (with a prepared text) and decided I might as well ad-lib some comments about Saint Helier against the panoramic urban background.

Connétables (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Law 2012

This weekend I'm discharging the functions of Connétable of Saint Helier. How come? Since 2012 legislation has empowered the Procureurs du Bien Public of a Parish to act in place of the Connétable (in the Parish but not in the States) in case of incapacity or absence. The senior Procureur (i.e. the longest serving) takes over in the first instance, but if he/she is not available then the junior Procureur takes over. However the junior Procureur may take over the functions of Connétable instead of the senior Procureur (even if the senior Procureur is available) with the consent of HM Attorney General.

The law is the Connétables (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Law 2012, and although it is reasonably clear, one could envisage problems.

For example, how ill would a sitting Connétable have to be for a Procureur to take over? And who decides?

The question of absence from the Island is clearer. If the Connétable is out of the Island for more than 7 days, then a Procureur discharges the functions of the office. If however the Connétable is out of the Island for 7 days or less then the Connétable may continue to discharge her/his functions in absentia provided they've informed at least one of the Procureurs of their intention to do so. The logic of the law is that if they want to continue discharging their functions while away, they have to notify a Procureur before leaving the Island - and cannot change their mind while they are away (because they cannot discharge any function of Connétable that is being discharged by a Procureur).

So rather than being the case that a Connétable may delegate functions to a Procureur in their absence from the Island, the transfer of power is automatic unless the Connétable takes the notifying step.

There are exemptions: a Procureur cannot exercise any function relating to the States Assembly or the Comité des Connétables, and decisions regarding the appointment or removal of the Chef de Police can only made following consultation with HM Attorney General.

All this works fine provided the Connétable and Procureurs work as a team. However possibilities for mischief exist as potentially a Procureur in the absence of the Connétable would have the power to undo a lot of the Connétable's administrative agenda. And unlike an appointed assistant, a Connétable cannot remove a Procureur.

Also as the Connétable is ex officio president of the Roads Committee and is required under the Loi (1914) sur la Voirie to convene the Roads Committee whenever asked by at least one member. So in theory the Connétable could be away, the Procureur in charge could receive a request to convene the Roads Committee, would have to comply, and a slim majority of a quorum of the Roads Committee could effect major changes in policy.

Some of these issues will need to be considered when putting the municipal administration of Saint Helier on a modern legal basis, and if we foresee the possibility of an entrenchment of party politics in the Island, what will happen if Connétable & Procureurs are from different parties?

New community spaces in Saint Helier

On Wednesday evening we are bringing a couple of projets to the Parish Assembly for the acquisition of new community spaces in Saint Helier - preserving green space and providing public access.

THE PARISHIONERS are asked to take into consideration and if deemed advisable to approve

the recommendation of the Connétable and Procureurs du Bien Public to purchase a parcel of land to the north of the Pet Cabin, St John’s Road, known as "La Chenée" for the sum of £5,000 which has been offered to the Parish to provide a public community space, the Parish of St Helier to pay all reasonable legal fees involved in the transaction, and to authorise the Connétable and at least one Procureur du Bien Public to pass the necessary contract in relation thereto.

the recommendation of the Connétable and Procureurs du Bien Public to accept £20,000 plus all reasonable legal fees from the St Helier Youth and Community Trust and to purchase a field to the north of La Pouquelaye Community Centre and Centre Point Trust, La Pouquelaye. The use of the land is to provide a public community space.

As Procureur du Bien Public I have no hesitation in recommending these propositions to Parishioners. The paperwork can be downloaded here.

Saint Helier Roads Committee

Here's the agenda for next week's Saint Helier Roads Committee meeting:

ROADS COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday 25 April 2018 at 9.30am

First Floor Committee Room, Town Hall

AGENDA

‘A’ AGENDA – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
A1. Apologies
A2. Declarations of interest
A3. To approve minutes of meeting held on 28 March 2018 (‘A’ Agenda items)
A4. Matters arising
A5. To consider traffic issues in St Aubin’s Road
A6. To consider a request for an alfresco at 11a Market Street
A7. To consider a request for an alfresco at 31 La Colomberie
A8. To consider the Parish Roads Programme for 2018/19
A9. To consider recent Planning Applications
A10. Any other business

‘B’ AGENDA ITEMS
B1. To approve minutes of meeting held on 28 March 2018 (‘B’ Agenda items)
B2. Matters arising

Halkett Street refurbishment

Baliwick Express reports:

Geraint Jennings, St. Helier's Procureur du Bien Public, told Express: “Halkett Street has been in need of repaving for some years; the state of the surface has been damaged by the wear of many delivery vehicles serving the street."

He added: “Following consultation with traders, and possible advice from Planning, a final design including street furniture and hanging baskets will be brought to the Committee for a decision. As an important commercial street in the historic heart of Town, adjacent to the markets and overlooked by crags and ramparts, Halkett Street deserves, as do all its users, a renewal that will be attractive and cost-effective.”

Tower Road, St Helier – works on hairpin bend

A news release from the Parish of Saint Helier. Putting the States payment in lieu of rates to practical use as voted by the Parish Assembly.

 Tower Road, St Helier – works on hairpin bend

In April 1953 a Parish Assembly approved a scheme to widen Tower Road and provide footpaths to both sides of the road.  To date, the majority of the scheme has been implemented. At the Parish Assembly on 28 September 2016, the Assembly approved the purchase of land measuring 210 sq. ft. (19.5 sq. m) in Tower Road for the purpose of road improvements.

At the Parish Assembly in January 2018 the proposition was approved to divide the unspent funds, originally allocated to the payment of Parish Rates by the States in the 2017 Budget and paid to the parishes following the States debate on P.81/2017, be used to fund Parish of St Helier projects which included Tower Road project.

The proposed works will extend the western footpath on the outer side of the bend up to the face of ‘Broomhill’, realign and widen the carriageway and a continuous eastern footpath will be provided along the inner side of the bend which will improve safety significantly, especially as a safe walking route to and from First Tower School.

The Parish is planning to undertake the works in phases during the school holidays to minimise disruption.