Government of Jersey

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A decision made 29 January 2010 regarding: Recreational Scallop Permit - 2010 fee increase.

Decision Reference: MD-E-2010-0011
Decision Summary Title :	2010 Increase to recreational scallop permit fee		Date of Decision Summary:	20 January 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Simon Bossy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	2010 Increase to recreational scallop permit fee		Date of Written Report:	20 January 2010
Written Report Author:	Simon Bossy		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Fisheries - 2010 increase to recreational scallop permit fee
Decision(s): The Minister – (a) determined that the fee charged for a Recreational Scallop Permit should increase from £15.90 to £16.70; (b) requested that the Law Draftsman prepare the necessary draft Order in accordance with Article 27 of the Sea Fisheries (Jersey) Law 1994, as amended, on the basis of a drafting brief to be provided by the Department; and (c) agreed that the Minister for Treasury and Resources should be requested to approve the proposed increase.
Reason(s) for Decision: To enable Fisheries to increase its recreational Scallop Permit fee for 2010 in line with the Anti-Inflation Strategy agreed by the States.
Resource Implications: An overall increase to Fisheries income of approximately £164.
Action required: To request the Treasurer of the States to approve the increase to the fee. To instruct Law Officers to produce the draft Order for subsequent consideration by the Minister.
Signature:		Senator Alan Maclean Minister for Economic Development
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Recreational Scallop Permit - 2010 fee increase

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

INCREASES TO FEES

Purpose of the Report

The Minister for Economic Development is asked to approve a request to increase the fee charged for the recreational scallop permit for taking a maximum of 24 scallops per day from £15.90 to £16.70.

Background

The Department currently generates income from the administrative work it does on issuing the following licences : (the number issued in 2009)

Fishing vessel licences (165)

Professional scallop diving permits (25)

Fish farm concessions (7)

It also issues the following permits with no charge :

Granville Bay Access Permits (157)

Granville Bay - Zone E permits(10)

Granville Bay - Zone F permits(4)

Beam trawling permits (5)

The Department also issues just one type of licence to amateur or leisure fishermen :

Recreational scallop diving permit (207)

Discussion

In order to support the industry it is proposed to keep all charges relating to licences and permits for professional fishermen and fish farms the same as the 2008 level (the licence fee did not go up at the beginning of 2009).

However, the policy is to increase the leisure element by approximately the cost of living or 2.5% per annum whichever is the lesser. This would suggest we increase the recreational scallop permit from £15.90 to £16.70. The calculation for this is set out below.

RPI Sept 08 to Sept 09 = 2.7%

Sept 07 to Sept 08 = 4.9%

7.6%

7.6% x £15.90 = £17.10

However 2.5% x 2 = 5% (States policy)

5% x £15.90 = £16.70 (which is 2.6% below RPI for the 2 years)

In accordance with Finance Direction No.4.1 Increases in States Fees and Charges, all increases to charges above 2.5% require the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Treasurer of the States can approve increases to States charges under his delegated powers, where those increases are non-contentious.

Recommendations

The Minister is recommended to approve the increase to the recreational scallop permit fee from £15.90 to £16.70 and seek the approval of the Treasurer of the States for this increase.

Reason (s) for Decision

To enable Fisheries to increase the fee for a recreational scallop permit in 2010 in line with the Anti-Inflation Strategy agreed by the States.

Action Required

The Minister to request the Treasurer of the States to approve the increase to the fee.

Written by:	Simon Bossy – Head of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Approved by:	Andy Scate – CEO Planning and Environment