Fort Regent Political Steering Group

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A decision made 11 January 2011 regarding: Fort Regent Political Steering Group - Interim Report 2

Decision Reference: MD-ESC-2011-0002
Decision Summary Title:	Fort Regent Political Steering Group Interim Report 2		Date of Decision Summary:	10th January 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Derek De La Haye		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Fort Regent Political Steering Group Interim Report		Date of Written Report:	10th January 2011
Written Report Author:	Derek De La Haye		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: On 20th January 2010, the States adopted P.188/2009 as amended which requested the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture to establish and lead a political steering group with the aim of producing a cohesive and realistic plan for the future development of Fort Regent and to provide quarterly updates to all States members of its progress.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the report, dated 10th January 2011, and decided to present it to the States.
Reason(s) for Decision: To meet the terms of P.188/2009 : ‘Fort Regent : Establishment of a Working Group’.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Report to be forwarded to the States Greffe and Publications Editor with a request that it be presented to the States as soon as practicable.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Fort Regent Political Steering Group - Interim Report 2

States of Jersey

Fort Regent Political Steering Group

Interim Report.

Introduction

This report is to update 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

Deputy John Le Fondre Assistant Minister Treasury

Deputy Robert Duhamel Assistant Minister Planning and Environment

Deputy Trevor Pitman St Helier No 1 District

Connetable Simon Crowcroft Constable St Helier

The Steering Group have met formally on six 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
existing and emerging planning policies which will guide the future development opportunities at Fort Regent and the surrounding area
site surveys that have been commissioned by Property Holdings
oOpportunities for development at Fort Regent and surrounding areas from Property Holdings
the implications for the demolition of the pool structure
consideration of all previous reports on Fort Regent

The Steering group is supported by officers from Education Sport and Culture, Economic Development, Planning and Environment, Property Holdings and the Parish of St Helier who have carried out further work in between the main meetings.

The draft Vision developed by the group (which will be the subject of public consultation) is to:

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.
promote development which complements, enhances and supports the primary uses
promote commercial opportunities for capital and income generation to enhance the facilities and increase footfall
retain the iconic nature of Fort Regent structures
improve access and enhance usage
bring the front door into St Helier and integrate Fort Regent into the Town
explore opportunities for adding development to current structure in partnership with private sector

The Group is currently in the process of identifying those assets which can be developed to either increase or support the core activities of the Fort and those opportunities arising will be carefully assessed before forming part of the draft plan.

The vision and proposals included in the draft plan will be the subject of an extensive public consultation, involving key stakeholders such as Fort user groups, sport, leisure and entertainment groups, the general public from the elderly through to school children and nursery groups.

The feedback from the public consultation will inform the final development plan which will ultimately be presented to the States for approval.

15 December 2010