States Meeting Summary 12-16 December 2022
16th December 2022
Statement from the Chief Minister
The States Meeting opened with one minute's silence, followed by the Chief Minister making a statement regarding the tragic incidents of Thursday 8 December and Saturday 10 December, and the Island’s response. Skip to 20 minutes into this session’s recording to watch the Chief Minister’s statement.
Oral questions with notice
The Ministers then answered States Members’ questions with notice. Skip to page 14 in the order paper to see which questions were asked.
Alternatively, skip to 40 minutes into the recording to watch the questions.
Oral questions without notice
After questions with notice, non-executive States Members asked the following Ministers questions without notice for 45 minutes (15 minutes each):
- The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Deputy Kirsten Morel
- The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf
- The Chief Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore
Catch up on questions without notice by skipping to 59 minutes into the recording.
Public business
Proposition for a review of ‘Our Hospital Project’
Deputy Lyndon Farnham then proposed that the Council of Ministers should present to the Assembly a review of our Hospital Project, as amended by Connétable Simon Crowcroft. This report would contain a ‘like-for-like' comparison between the multi-site Hospital option recently proposed in the ‘Review of the Our Hospital Project’ and the originally approved Overdale Hospital option.
To watch the debate on the review of ‘Our Hospital Project’, skip to 2 hours and 8 minutes of this afternoon’s recording.
Comparison of multi-site and single-site hospital options
Today's States Meeting began with a continuation of the debate on the hospital project. States Members debated Deputy Lyndon Farnham's proposition, which called for the Council of Ministers to present a report to the States Assembly by March 2023 comparing the proposed multi-site hospital option and the previously approved single-site option at Overdale. It was proposed as amended by Connétable Simon Crowcroft.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Lyndon Farnham's proposition, as amended by Connétable Simon Crowcroft. 15 Members voted in favour and 32 voted against.
Proposed Government Plan 2023-26
The Council of Ministers proposed the Government Plan 2023-26, which outlines the Government's proposed financial plans and policies for the next four years, as amended by the 1st 9th, 10th, 15th (as amended), 17th and 25th amendments.
Skip to two hours into this morning's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate on the Government Plan.
'Rent a room' tax relief
On behalf of the Council of Ministers, the Minister for Treasury and Resources proposed the 26th amendment to the Government Plan, seeking to create a new "rent-a-room" tax relief for homeowners who let out a room in their home.
Deputy Rob Ward proposed an amendment to the Council of Minister's 26th amendment which looked to extend the coverage of the rental dwellings law to all rooms within the proposed scheme.
The States Assembly voted on part 1 and part 2 of Deputy Rob Ward's amendment to the 26th amendment separately, rejecting both parts.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Council of Ministers' 26th amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 32 Members voted in favour and 15 voted against.
Skip to two hours and 25 minutes into this morning's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate on the 26th amendment.
Stamp Duty on real estate – reduced lodging period
The States Assembly approved Deputy Max Andrew's request to reduce the lodging period of his amendment to the 8th amendment to the Government Plan, so that it might replace the 8th amendment. Instead of proposing to increase Stamp Duty rates on real estate by one-third in addition to the 0.5% increase to the existing proportioned changes, he will propose to increase Stamp Duty rates on real estate by 50p on each £100 payable.
Stamp Duty of buy to let investments, second homes and holiday homes
Deputy Max Andrews proposed the 2nd amendment to the Government Plan. He proposed to increase Stamp Duty by 4% on properties purchased for purposes other than a person's main residence, rather than the Government's proposed 3% increase, requesting that this money is used to fund home ownership schemes.
Deputy Raluca Kovacs proposed an amendment to Deputy Andrews' 2nd amendment, requesting a 10% Stamp Duty increase on properties purchased for purposes other than a person's main residence.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Kovacs' amendment to Deputy Andrews' 2nd amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 11 voted in favour and 34 voted against.
The States Assembly voted on part 1, part 2 and part 3 of Deputy Andrews' 2nd amendment separately, rejecting all parts.
Skip to 1 hour and 40 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate on the 2nd amendment.
Funding for the hospital and healthcare facilities
On behalf of the Council of Ministers, the Chief Minister proposed the 20th amendment to the Government Plan to provide funding to update hospital feasibility studies, continue the development of the former Les Quennevais School for healthcare and transfer the land at Kensington Place for a multi-site facility.
The States Assembly voted to approve the twentieth amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 33 voted in favour, 12 voted against and one abstained.
Funding the Jersey Care Model with the Health Insurance Fund
On behalf of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, Chair Deputy Geoff Southern proposed the fourth amendment to the Government Plan. The Panel requested to stop the proposed transfer of £12.4 million from the Health Insurance Fund to fund the Jersey Care Model and associated digital strategies in 2023 and 2024. The Panel asked for this money to be taken from the General Reserve instead.
The Council of Ministers proposed an amendment to Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel’s fourth amendment. This amendment looked to instead transfer £4.2 million from the Health Insurance Fund and £7.4 million from the General Reserve in 2023 for the purpose of funding the Jersey Care Model and associated digital strategies. The amendment also proposed to transfer £3.2 million from the Health Insurance Fund and £6.6 million from the General Reserve for the Jersey Care Model in 2024.
The States Assembly voted to reject the Council of Ministers’ amendment to the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel’s fourth amendment. 16 Members voted for, 29 against and one abstained.
The States Assembly voted to approve the fourth amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 31 voted in favour and 13 voted against.
Reduced rate of GP consultations for Islanders with two or more chronic illnesses
Deputy Geoff Southern proposed the sixteenth amendment to the Government Plan. The amendment looked to transfer £6.5 million from the Health Insurance Fund to the Consolidated Fund for a scheme to allow Islanders with two or more chronic illnesses to receive GP consultations at a reduced rate.
The States Assembly voted to reject the sixteenth amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 14 voted in favour and 32 voted against.
Free GP consultations for Islanders under age 18
Deputy Carina Alves proposed the eighteenth amendment to the Government Plan. The amendment proposed a transfer of £800,000 from the Health Insurance Fund to the Consolidated Fund for a scheme to allow children and young people under 18 years of age to receive free GP consultations.
The States Assembly voted to approve the eighteenth amendment to the proposed Government Plan. 24 voted in favour and 22 voted against.
Skip to an hour and 15 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to watch the beginning of the debate on the eighteenth amendment.
Removal of additional funds allocated to Jersey Business
Deputy Moz Scott proposed the twelfth amendment to the Government Plan, seeking to remove the £700,000 granted to Jersey Business in 2023 in addition to its base grant of £860,000 a year.
The States Assembly voted to reject the twelfth amendment to the Government Plan. Three Members voted in favour and 43 voted against.
Skip to two hours and 20 minutes into this afternoon’s meeting to watch the beginning of the debate on the twelfth amendment.
Urban renewal programme
Thursday's States Meeting began with the debate on Connétable Simon Crowcroft's 24th amendment to the proposed Government Plan 2023-26. The Connétable proposed the removal of £1 million from the Reserve for Central Risk and Inflation to fund a St Helier urban renewal programme, including the trial of a one-way system at Harve Des Pas and the refurbishment of public areas in the town centre.
The Council of Ministers proposed an amendment to Connétable Crowcroft's 24th amendment. It requested that the Head of Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Regeneration is instead used to fund this urban renewal work, with additional funding of £300,000 in 2024 and £350,000 in 2025 to be included in future Government Plans.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Council of Ministers' amendment to Connétable Crowcroft's amendment. 33 Members voted in favour and 15 voted against.
The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve Connétable Crowcroft's amendment, as amended by the Council of Ministers.
Removal of Upper Earnings Limit on Social Security Contributions and Long-Term Care
Deputy Sam Mézec proposed the 23rd amendment to the Government Plan, asking the Assembly to agree that the Upper Earnings Limit on Social Security contributions and Long Term Care Tax should be removed.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Mézec's amendment to the Government Plan. 16 Members voted in favour, 28 voted against and one abstained.
Skip to two hours into this morning's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate.
Increase of Stamp Duty on real estate
Deputy Max Andrews proposed the eighth amendment to the Government Plan, asking to increase Stamp Duty rates on real estate by 50p on each £100 payable by 1 January 2024.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Andrews' amendment to the Government Plan. Eight members voted in favour and 39 voted against.
Watch from the beginning of this afternoon's meeting for the full debate.
New capital allowance for small and medium sized businesses
Deputy Steve Luce proposed the 13th amendment to the Government Plan. This amendment looked to introduce a new capital allowance for small and medium sized businesses from 1 January 2024, the intention of this being to allow businesses to offset 100% of capital expenditure for investment in the fiscal year that it is incurred.
The Council of Ministers proposed an amendment to Deputy Steve Luce's 13th amendment. This outlined how Ministers would, as part of the 2024 budget, consider a range of measures to encourage and stimulate investment. This would include consideration of increasing the rate for capital allowances available to businesses that make qualifying purchases.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Council of Ministers' amendment to Deputy Luce's amendment. 42 voted in favour and 6 voted against.
The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve Deputy Luce's amendment, as amended by the Council of Ministers.
Skip to half an hour into this afternoon's meeting to watch the debate in full.
New tax for offshore property
Deputy Steve Luce withdrew the 14th amendment to the Government Plan, which proposed a new tax for offshore property owners. Skip to one hour into this afternoon's meeting to find out more.
Suspending applications to the High Value Residents scheme
Deputy Sam Mézec proposed the 19th amendment to the Government Plan. This amendment looked to close the High Value Residents scheme to new applications in 2023 whilst the Government continues its review of the scheme.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Mézec's amendment to the Government Plan. 15 members voted in favour, 33 voted against and one abstained.
Skip to 1 hour and 5 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the debate on the 19th amendment.
Ring-fencing Stamp Duty for home ownership schemes
Deputy Max Andrews proposed the 11th amendment to the Government Plan. He asked for the £8 million of revenue raised from Stamp Duty on properties sold for over £2.5 million to be allocated to the Assisted Home Ownership Schemes outlined in the Government Plan.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Andrews' amendment. 17 members voted in favour and 32 voted against.
Skip to two hours and 20 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the debate on the 11th amendment.
Removal of GST on sanitary products
Deputy Lyndsay Feltham proposed the 22nd amendment to the Government Plan. This amendment looked to ensure that, as previously agreed by the States Assembly, GST is removed from sanitary products unless the States Assembly votes to rescind this decision in a specific proposition.
The States Assembly voted to approve Deputy Feltham's amendment to the Government Plan. 24 members voted in favour, 22 voted against and one abstained.
Skip to 2 hours and 55 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to watch the beginning of the debate, which continued into this evening's meeting.
£100,000 for development of St Helier Country Park
Connétable Simon Crowcroft proposed the fifth amendment to the Government Plan, asking that £100,000 is taken from the 'Emerging Projects' budget in the Government Plan and used to fund the development of Warwick Farm into a St Helier Country Park, as agreed in the Bridging Island Plan.
The States Assembly voted to reject the fifth amendment to the Government Plan. 20 members voted in favour and 25 voted against.
Skip to 8 minutes into this evening's meeting to watch the debate in full.
Gas Place Primary School Site
The Council of Ministers proposed the 21st amendment to the Government Plan. This amendment looked to allocate funds for the use of Gas Place as a new primary school and transform the current Springfield School and Le Bas Centre into new community open spaces, with green corridors and active travel routes.
Deputy Coles proposed to amend the 21st amendment. If approved, the former Play.com site will be considered as an additional site on which to build a new primary school and a review of both options will be carried out within 100 days.
Skip to 1 hour and 15 minutes into this evening's meeting to watch the debate in full.
This morning's States Meeting began with a continuation of the debate on Deputy Coles' amendment to the Council of Ministers' 21st amendment to the Government Plan. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers proposed to allocate funds for the use of Gas Place as a new primary school and transform the current Springfield School and Le Bas Centre into new community open spaces, with green corridors and active travel routes. Deputy Coles' amendment asked for the former Play.com site to be considered as an additional site on which to build a new primary school and for a review of both options to be carried out within 100 days.
The States Assembly voted to reject Deputy Coles' amendment to the 21st amendment. 21 Members voted in favour and 24 voted against.
Connétable Simon Crowcroft withdrew the second amendment to the 21st amendment, which had requested the Government to put in place a Town masterplan before new primary schools and new open spaces are developed.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Council of Ministers' 21st amendment. 43 Members voted in favour and one voted against.
Safe walking and cycling routes
Connétable Simon Crowcroft proposed the sixth amendment to the Government Plan, as amended by the Council of Ministers. This amendment asked for the provision of walking and cycling routes, funded by the Climate Emergency Fund, to be included as a Carbon Neutral Initiative within the Government Plan.
The States Assembly voted to approve the Connétable's sixth amendment to the Government Plan, as amended by the Council of Ministers. 44 Members voted in favour and one abstained.
Skip to one hour and 45 minutes into this morning's meeting to watch the debate in full.
The Government Plan 2023-26, as amended
The debate returned to the proposed the Government Plan 2023-26, as amended by amendments one, four, six (as amended), nine, ten, 13 (as amended), 15 (as amended), 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24 (as amended), 25 and 26.
The States Assembly voted to approve the amended Government Plan. 37 Members voted in favour and 11 voted against.
2023 Budget Law
The Minister for Treasury and Resources proposed the draft Finance Law (2023 Budget Law) to give effect to the revenue measures agreed as part of the Government Plan 2023-26.
The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve the draft Law.
Law to deal with a criminal offence by deferred prosecution agreement
The Minister for Home Affairs proposed the draft Criminal Justice Law, as amended. The draft Law looked to allow certain criminal offences by corporate entities to be dealt with by way of deferred prosecution agreement.
The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve the draft Law.
Law to enhance the obligations of non-registered non-profit organisations
The Minister for External Relations and Financial Services proposed to amend legislation relating to non-profit organisations to enhance the obligations of certain non-registered non-profit organisations, minimising the risk of non-profit organisations being used to fund terrorism.
The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve the draft Law.
Replacement of the former food safety law
The Minister for the Environment proposed draft legislation to regulate food to protect consumers' health in Jersey. This replaces a previous Food Safety Law to account for changes in food technology, production and storage techniques.
The debate continued into the afternoon meeting. The States Assembly unanimously voted to approve the draft Law.
Christmas messages
Before adjourning, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Deputy Geoff Southern and the Bailiff shared Christmas messages. Skip to 15 minutes into this afternoon's meeting to listen back.
The States Assembly has adjourned until 9:30am on Tuesday 17 January 2023.
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