Fort Regent Political Steering Group

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A decision made 5 May 2011:

Decision Reference:
Decision Summary Title):	Fort Regent Political Steering Group Interim Report		Date of Decision Summary:
Decision Summary Author:	Derek de la Haye		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title:	Fort Regent Political Steering Group Interim Report		Date of Written Report:	3rd May 2011
Written Report Author:	Derek de la Haye		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The report updates States members on the progress made by the Political Steering Group in its work on the formulation of a development plan for Fort Regent.
Decision(s): To present the Fort Regent Political Steering Group Interim Report to the States.
Reason(s) for Decision: To update States members on the progress made by the Political Steering Group since the adoption by the States on 20th January 2010 of P.188/2009 “Fort Regent: establishment of a working group”.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: To request the Greffier of the States to present the report to the States in early course.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Fort Regent Political Steering Group - Interim Report

States of Jersey

Fort Regent Political Steering Group

Interim Report.

Introduction

This report updates States members on the progress made by the Political Steering Group which was established as a result of adopting proposition P.188/2009 of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, as amended, which agreed to request the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture –

‘(a) to establish and lead a political steering group, consisting of representatives from the Education, Sport and Culture Department, Jersey Property Holdings, the Economic Development Department, the Planning and Environment Department, the Parish of St. Helier and at least one States Deputy of St. Helier No. 1 District, who would consult with other interested parties including the Jersey Heritage Trust and the Fort Users Association, with the aim of producing a cohesive and realistic plan for the future development of Fort Regent; and

(b) to take the necessary steps to form the political steering group immediately and to provide quarterly updates to all States members of its progress regarding the formulation of a development plan for Fort Regent.’

Membership and meetings

Membership of the Steering Group is:

Deputy James Reed Minister for Education Sport and Culture, Chairman

Senator Paul Routier Assistant Minister Economic Development

Connetable John Refault Assistant Minister Treasury

Deputy Robert Duhamel Assistant Minister Department of the Environment

Deputy Trevor Pitman St Helier No 1 District

Connetable Simon Crowcroft Constable St Helier

The Steering Group have met formally on eight occasions and have received presentations on:

the history of Fort Regent bringing together information on past reports and demonstrating the importance of Fort Regent to St Helier
uses of Fort Regent since it has been a Leisure Centre with information on current users, operating costs and subsidy levels
benefits of Fort Regent from an Economic Development point of view
policies which guide the Planning Department and also reports which impact on Fort Regent and the surrounding area
site surveys that have been commissioned by Property Holdings
views from Property Holdings on possibilities for development at Fort Regent and surrounding areas
the implications for the demolition of the pool structure

Consideration has also been given to all previous reports on Fort Regent including the findings and recommendations contained in the most recent review undertaken by the Education and Home Affairs scrutiny panel.

The Steering group is supported by officers from Education Sport and Culture, Economic Development, Department of the Environment, Jersey Property Holdings and the Parish of St Helier who have carried out further work over the period. Officers from Jersey Property Holdings and the Environment department are producing an overall site plan which will identify potential sites in and around Fort Regent and the development opportunities that these sites could support.

In addition the Chairman of the Steering Group has met with representatives of the Fort Regent Users Association and the Jersey Heritage Trust who are supportive of the process and the guiding principles that have been agreed by the group.

The Steering group has agreed that the following guiding principles should be used to determine any future development of Fort Regent:

maintain and enhance the sport leisure and club facilities with improved social facilities
ensure historic nature of the site is conserved and made more accessible to the general public
retain the iconic nature of the main Fort Regent structure
explore opportunities for adding development to current structure in partnership with private sector

This will be achieved by:

improving access and enhancing usage by integrating Fort Regent into the Town
promoting development which complements, enhances and supports the primary uses
promoting commercial opportunities for capital and income generation to enhance the facilities and increase footfall

The Steering group is currently planning a consultation event where key stakeholders and other interested parties will be asked for their views on the guiding principles and discuss how they may be achieved.

At the event, participants will also be given the opportunity to consider the findings and recommendations contained in the Education and Scrutiny Panel Review and opportunities identified by Jersey Property Holdings that may help to fund any future development of Fort Regent.

The consultation will be facilitated by an independent organisation and a report of the findings, together with a cohesive plan for the future development of Fort Regent will be presented to the States by the end of July.

3rd May 2011