Composition of the States: revised structure and referendum (P.75/2007)

STATES OF JERSEY

Composition of the States: revised structure and referendum (P.75/2007) – third amendments

Lodged au Greffe on 3rd July 2007
by Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

COMPOSITION OF THE STATES: REVISED STRUCTURE AND REFERENDUM (P.75/2007) – THIRD AMENDMENTS

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(1) In paragraph (a) for sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) substitute the words –

“48 members, to be known as Deputies, all elected in 6 new large electoral districts with any Parish Connétable who wished to do so able to stand for election as a Deputy in one of the 48 seats;”.

(2) After paragraph (b) insert the following new paragraph and renumber accordingly –

“(c) to charge the Privileges and Procedures Committee , in conjunction with the Comité des Connétables, to conduct a thorough review of the electoral register and the voter registration process and to report to the States with recommendations to ensure the accuracy of the register by 2010 at the latest;”.

(3) In paragraph (e) for the words “consult as appropriate with Ministers and” substitute the words “consult as appropriate with all members and”.

DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

REPORT

The first of these amendments deals once more with the position of the Constables in the States. If we are to accept that the Parish is not the appropriate constituency on which to base representation, and that we should place our trust in the so-called “super-constituencies”, then we should not be making an exception for the position of Constables. There is some merit in PPC’s proposal for larger constituencies, to dilute the potential for “nimbyism” which is a danger of a pure parish-based system, but only if it is consistently applied.

In fact, the proposition as drafted by PPC, serves to highlight the dual role of the Constable. Whether we like it or not, there can be no way of avoiding the fact of this dual role as “father of the parish” and as representative of the parish in the States. PPC has again avoided dealing with this question, and there solution serves merely to highlight the problem. Leaving the Constables in their “ex-officio” role negates the thrust of the move to a wider base for the Island’s politics. It could result, in the longer term, in being a “back-door” route into the States, avoiding the need to pass the test of persuading a wider electorate required of the 36 Deputies.

The second amendment is far more straightforward, and is included as a safety net for my concerns about the accuracy of the electoral register, especially in the urban areas. There may be argument over the degree of inaccuracy, and the methods we might employ to improve it, but surely there can be little argument over the need to “review” the position, especially if we are to use the referendum in the electoral system, as looks likely. This amendment requires PPC to carry out such a review in time for elections in 2011.

The third amendment simply asks that consultation over the possibility of moving to a spring/summer election by 2011 is not limited to Ministers. Whilst I am aware that the Minister for Treasury and Resources has raised some issues over the implications for the budgeting and business planning process, I see no reason why consultation should be limited in this way.

There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from this amendment.