Votes on the Margin: Failed
3 Votes Short
This is the first of a series of examinations of those propositions which came close to success over the period 2015 to Jan 2018. Most were brought by backbenchers, but two were brought by Ministers. When backbench propositions failed, there were invariably comments by the Council of Ministers, who presumably brought the "block vote" of collective responsibility against the proposition.
Draft Strategic Plan 2015 2018 (P.27/2015): tenth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 14th April 2015 by Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier
In the chart on page 14 of the draft Plan in row 4.5 in the column headed “Key Areas of Focus 2015 – 2018”, after the words “standards and quality” insert the words “with reviewed and appropriate criteria of density
To create a walkable Havre des Pas neighbourhood that is harmonious to the needs of its residents, enhances its heritage, and reinvigorates its visitor appeal.
To create a contiguous waterfront promenade for St. Helier, providing a continuous off-road walking and cycling facility connecting Havre des Pas to Corbière.
20 votes pour, 23 contre
Council of Ministers Opposed on grounds that St Helier needs one unifying Masterplan and Havre des Pas couldn’t be treated in isolation. What is this obsession with Masterplans when either they don’t deliver, or they deliver ugly messes? Just an excuse for delay, really, for much needed improvements.
Karl Popper had a thing or two to say about these kinds of Utopian visions: "the Utopian method must lead to a dangerous dogmatic attachment to a blueprint for which countless sacrifices have been made’ and he warned that we should abandon "dreaming about distant ideals and fighting over our Utopian blueprints for a new world and a new man".
Walter Lippman commented that: "he supreme architect, who begins as a visionary, becomes a fanatic, and ends as a despot. For no one can be the supreme architect of society without employing a supreme despot to execute the design"
Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 2019 (P.72/2015): thirteenth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 22nd September 2015 by Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour
Insert the words – “except that the net revenue expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Department shall be increased by £1,400,000 for 2016 to increase funding for the costs of higher education”;
After the words “Summary Table D” in sub-paragraph (ii) insert the words – “except that the allocation to Contingency for 2016 in relation to ‘Economic and Productivity Growth’ shall be reduced by £1,400,000 to offset the increase in the net revenue expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Department”.
Jeremy Macon notes that growth bids of £1.2 million and £750,000 for increasing the threshold and maintenance levels of student grants by inflation since their introduction in 2001 were submitted and declined in the MTFP 2013 – 2015. As a result, the levels of these have not kept pace with inflation, and therefore students are effectively in a worse position than they were in 2001. T
18 Pour, 21 Contre
Council of Ministers: The proposed Amendment doesn’t appear to recognise the improvements since 2001 to higher education funding in the Education Department or the tax relief provided by increases in child tax allowances. The Minister and the Department do not support the Amendment.
No mention of the massive increase in thresholds for grants and funding given by the Treasury Minister this year. A complete U-Turn in an Election Year. A complete lack of principles by the Treasury Minister who, we are expected to believe, has suddenly had his eyes opened on the road to Damascus University!
Draft Budget Statement 2016 (P.127/2015): fifth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 1st December 2015 by the Connétable of St. John
For the figure “£622,155,000” substitute the figure “£621,433,000” and for the words “, land transactions tax and vehicle emissions duty” substitute the words “and land transactions tax”,
Constable Taylor provides statistical evidence to show that:
“Every year since 2012 in the Budget we have seen the Minister for Transport and Technical Services raise the charges for VED by 5% in the expectation of raising extra revenue and every year that the charges have gone up we have seen a reduction in the tax revenue collected. It is clear that there is a trend showing that every time the charges go up the revenue goes down.”
Pour 20, Contre 23
Council of Ministers: There are signs that the environmental objectives of VED (i.e. to incentivise people to purchase lower-emissions vehicles) are beginning to be achieved, although overall reductions in the purchase of new vehicles (as a result of the economic downturn) cloud the patterns.
Draft Finance (2017 Budget) (Jersey) Law 201-. , Article 17
Lodged au Greffe on 1st November 2016 by the Minister for Treasury and Resources
Amendments made by Article 17 to Articles 17 to 19 of the Rates Law would have effect to remove the exemption from liability of a public authority (including the States) to pay foncier and occupier’s rates in respect of land which it owns and uses for public purposes.
Pour 17, Contre 20
Television Licence Fee: exemption for Jersey residents aged 75 and over.
Lodged au Greffe on 4th November 2016 by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade
Request the Chief Minister to enter into talks with the BBC to exempt Jersey residents who are aged 75 and over from the licence fee, and to report back to the Assembly on his progress no later than January 2018.
I saw this was in line with the UK government requiring the BBC to fund free licence fees for those 75 and over.
Council of Ministers:
Successful negotiations, overseen by Senator P.F.C. Ozouf, were concluded with the BBC in December 2016 to ensure the continued provision of broadcasting services to Jersey. The outcome of these negotiations is that the BBC has provided assurances on the future of service provision to Jersey, as well as agreeing very positive arrangements in respect of TV licences for over-75s in Jersey.
From 2018, the BBC intends to begin contributing towards the cost of Jersey’s means tested concession to the TV licence for eligible citizens over the age of 75. This contribution will result in a saving for the States of Jersey of approximately £270,000 in total from 2018 to 2020. The BBC has also committed its intention to contribute the full cost in 2020 of Jersey’s means-tested TV licence concession for people over the age of 75.
19 Pour, 22 Contre
Isn’t it strange how the UK can lay down terms to the BBC, and yet Jersey has to negotiate lesser terms? It sounds almost as if the BBC were threatening to pull out! What on earth is meant by " to ensure the continued provision of broadcasting services to Jersey."? If they didn't, satellite TV users would not need a licence fee. As it is, the Freeview service is a pale shadow of what is available in the UK.
Jersey Infrastructure Levy: approval in principle.
Lodged au Greffe on 20th October 2017 by the Minister for the Environment
“To agree, in principle, to the introduction of an infrastructure levy in Jersey, to ensure that those who benefit from an increase in land value arising from the award of planning permission make a small contribution to offset the impact of that development on the Island community;”
18 Pour, 21 Contre
Draft Strategic Plan 2015 2018 (P.27/2015): tenth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 14th April 2015 by Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier
In the chart on page 14 of the draft Plan in row 4.5 in the column headed “Key Areas of Focus 2015 – 2018”, after the words “standards and quality” insert the words “with reviewed and appropriate criteria of density
To create a walkable Havre des Pas neighbourhood that is harmonious to the needs of its residents, enhances its heritage, and reinvigorates its visitor appeal.
To create a contiguous waterfront promenade for St. Helier, providing a continuous off-road walking and cycling facility connecting Havre des Pas to Corbière.
20 votes pour, 23 contre
Council of Ministers Opposed on grounds that St Helier needs one unifying Masterplan and Havre des Pas couldn’t be treated in isolation. What is this obsession with Masterplans when either they don’t deliver, or they deliver ugly messes? Just an excuse for delay, really, for much needed improvements.
Karl Popper had a thing or two to say about these kinds of Utopian visions: "the Utopian method must lead to a dangerous dogmatic attachment to a blueprint for which countless sacrifices have been made’ and he warned that we should abandon "dreaming about distant ideals and fighting over our Utopian blueprints for a new world and a new man".
Walter Lippman commented that: "he supreme architect, who begins as a visionary, becomes a fanatic, and ends as a despot. For no one can be the supreme architect of society without employing a supreme despot to execute the design"
Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 2019 (P.72/2015): thirteenth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 22nd September 2015 by Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour
Insert the words – “except that the net revenue expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Department shall be increased by £1,400,000 for 2016 to increase funding for the costs of higher education”;
After the words “Summary Table D” in sub-paragraph (ii) insert the words – “except that the allocation to Contingency for 2016 in relation to ‘Economic and Productivity Growth’ shall be reduced by £1,400,000 to offset the increase in the net revenue expenditure of the Education, Sport and Culture Department”.
Jeremy Macon notes that growth bids of £1.2 million and £750,000 for increasing the threshold and maintenance levels of student grants by inflation since their introduction in 2001 were submitted and declined in the MTFP 2013 – 2015. As a result, the levels of these have not kept pace with inflation, and therefore students are effectively in a worse position than they were in 2001. T
18 Pour, 21 Contre
Council of Ministers: The proposed Amendment doesn’t appear to recognise the improvements since 2001 to higher education funding in the Education Department or the tax relief provided by increases in child tax allowances. The Minister and the Department do not support the Amendment.
No mention of the massive increase in thresholds for grants and funding given by the Treasury Minister this year. A complete U-Turn in an Election Year. A complete lack of principles by the Treasury Minister who, we are expected to believe, has suddenly had his eyes opened on the road to Damascus University!
Draft Budget Statement 2016 (P.127/2015): fifth amendment.
Lodged au Greffe on 1st December 2015 by the Connétable of St. John
For the figure “£622,155,000” substitute the figure “£621,433,000” and for the words “, land transactions tax and vehicle emissions duty” substitute the words “and land transactions tax”,
Constable Taylor provides statistical evidence to show that:
“Every year since 2012 in the Budget we have seen the Minister for Transport and Technical Services raise the charges for VED by 5% in the expectation of raising extra revenue and every year that the charges have gone up we have seen a reduction in the tax revenue collected. It is clear that there is a trend showing that every time the charges go up the revenue goes down.”
Pour 20, Contre 23
Council of Ministers: There are signs that the environmental objectives of VED (i.e. to incentivise people to purchase lower-emissions vehicles) are beginning to be achieved, although overall reductions in the purchase of new vehicles (as a result of the economic downturn) cloud the patterns.
Draft Finance (2017 Budget) (Jersey) Law 201-. , Article 17
Lodged au Greffe on 1st November 2016 by the Minister for Treasury and Resources
Amendments made by Article 17 to Articles 17 to 19 of the Rates Law would have effect to remove the exemption from liability of a public authority (including the States) to pay foncier and occupier’s rates in respect of land which it owns and uses for public purposes.
Pour 17, Contre 20
Television Licence Fee: exemption for Jersey residents aged 75 and over.
Lodged au Greffe on 4th November 2016 by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade
Request the Chief Minister to enter into talks with the BBC to exempt Jersey residents who are aged 75 and over from the licence fee, and to report back to the Assembly on his progress no later than January 2018.
I saw this was in line with the UK government requiring the BBC to fund free licence fees for those 75 and over.
Council of Ministers:
Successful negotiations, overseen by Senator P.F.C. Ozouf, were concluded with the BBC in December 2016 to ensure the continued provision of broadcasting services to Jersey. The outcome of these negotiations is that the BBC has provided assurances on the future of service provision to Jersey, as well as agreeing very positive arrangements in respect of TV licences for over-75s in Jersey.
From 2018, the BBC intends to begin contributing towards the cost of Jersey’s means tested concession to the TV licence for eligible citizens over the age of 75. This contribution will result in a saving for the States of Jersey of approximately £270,000 in total from 2018 to 2020. The BBC has also committed its intention to contribute the full cost in 2020 of Jersey’s means-tested TV licence concession for people over the age of 75.
19 Pour, 22 Contre
Isn’t it strange how the UK can lay down terms to the BBC, and yet Jersey has to negotiate lesser terms? It sounds almost as if the BBC were threatening to pull out! What on earth is meant by " to ensure the continued provision of broadcasting services to Jersey."? If they didn't, satellite TV users would not need a licence fee. As it is, the Freeview service is a pale shadow of what is available in the UK.
Jersey Infrastructure Levy: approval in principle.
Lodged au Greffe on 20th October 2017 by the Minister for the Environment
“To agree, in principle, to the introduction of an infrastructure levy in Jersey, to ensure that those who benefit from an increase in land value arising from the award of planning permission make a small contribution to offset the impact of that development on the Island community;”
18 Pour, 21 Contre
The building lobby win!
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