STATES OF JERSEY
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
in accordance with Article 21(4) of the States of Jersey Law 2005, to dismiss Deputy Robert Duhamel
as Minister for Planning and Environment.
CHIEF MINISTER
Note: In accordance with the requirements of Article 21 (6) and (7) of the States of Jersey Law 2005 –
(a) the Minister for Planning and Environment was given the opportunity to be heard by the other Ministers;
(b) a majority of Ministers, gave their agreement to the lodging of this proposition on 6 January 2014;
(c) the reasons for dismissal are set out in the accompanying report.
REPORT
- Introduction
I bring this proposition to ask the Assembly to dismiss the Minister for Planning and Environment. I do this with the support of the majority of the members of the Council of Ministers.
The Council have lost trust and confidence in Deputy Duhamel. We can no longer work with a Minister who has failed to be honest, straightforward and open with fellow Ministers or with this Assembly.
In 2011, I proposed the Deputy as Minister for Planning and Environment despite knowing that a Vote of No Confidence[1] forced him to step down as President of the Chairman’s Committee in 2007 for failing to work effectively. I did so because I believed that he would overcome this and work cooperatively and collectively with fellow Ministers in order to ensure our Island benefited from strong environmental advocacy.
He has not done so.
Instead he has failed to provide Ministers, fellow States Members and Officers with straight answers to straight questions. He has dissembled, chosen not to disclose critical pieces of information and hidden behind omissions and silence. Neither the Council, nor this Assembly nor his Department can function fully and effectively in those circumstances.
States Members and Council Ministers legitimately and rightly hold a diverse range of views. That diversity, and the tensions it can generate, help ensure good governance, but only if we have trust and faith in each other. Where the working relationship has irreparably broken down because we no longer believe each other, then we cannot do the best for our Island.
I do not bring this Proposition lightly. To call for the dismissal of a Minster is a serious matter, but I do so because it is the right course of action.
The following report sets out examples of the ways in which the Deputy has failed to discharge his Ministerial duties and obligations. I have explored these issues in depth and have ensured that the Minister has been provided with opportunities to be heard and to respond. I am not satisfied with his account however, and neither I nor my fellow Ministers believe he should continue to hold office.
I therefore bring forward this proposition to dismiss the Minister in accordance with the States of Jersey (2005) Law.
2. Background to proposition
On 13 November 2013, the Council considered proposition P.148/2013 “Minister for Planning and Environment: vote of no confidence” and concluded that concerns relating to the Minister needed further consideration.
On 20 November 2013, I met with the Minister and on the following day I wrote to him setting out my concerns about his conduct as Minister. The letter[2] focused on four examples:
- two planning applications where the Minister failed to act with the level of transparency and openness required of a Minister:
- the Channel Island Co-operative Society Charing Cross planning application (section 2.1)
- Jersey Electricity Company St Helier western sub-station application (section 2.2)
- two matters of critical importance with which he failed to deal in an efficient and appropriate manner, thus displaying a lack of judgement as a Minister:
- Transport and Technical Services Department’s application for the disposal of asbestos (section 2.3)
- review of the Island Plan (section 2.4)
This letter was not the first occasion on which I had expressed concerns to the Minister about his conduct and performance; there had been ongoing exchanges between myself, other Ministers and himself about such issues. The letter marks, however, the point at which it was irrefutably clear that action was required, not in relation to each individual issue, but in relation to the failure of the Deputy to uphold the role of Minister as a whole.
On 27 November 2013, the Minister attended a Council of Ministers’ meeting, where my letter was discussed and he was provided an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised. Having heard the Minister’s response, all members of the Council - excluding the Minister himself - concluded that he should resign. Accordingly, I met with him on the 28th November and asked for his resignation. The Minister refused.
I wrote again on the 29 November 2013[3] and asked that he reconsider his refusal. I explained that if he did not resign, I would lodge a Report and Proposition requesting his dismissal - having first provided him an opportunity to both review that draft Report and Proposition and to attend a Council of Ministers’ meeting to respond to that draft Report and Proposition.
This process of outlining concerns, and providing the Minister with an opportunity to respond at each stage, was the proper course of action both in terms of my legal obligations under the States of Jersey (2005) Law and my natural desire to treat the Deputy openly and fairly.
2.1 Channel Island’s Co-operative Society Planning Application (Charing Cross)
The Code of Conduct for the Minister in the determination of planning applications and pre-application advice[4] was introduced by the Deputy himself in order to ensure clarity about the role the Minister could play in the consideration of individual development proposals. That Code clearly outlines that pre-application meetings should only be attended by the Minister in exceptional circumstances and with his Officers. Pre-application advice includes advice given in relation to initial applications and advice given prior to the submission of revised applications.[5]
On 19 October 2012[6], the Minister attended a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Channel Island’s Co-operative Society (CI Co-op) without his Officers present and without their knowledge. The matter discussed was the CI Co-op Charing Cross site.
On 10 December 2012, Officers met with representatives of CI Co-op who indicated that they would be submitting a revised planning application for the Charing Cross site. Unlike the previous application it would include the demolishing of all four historic buildings on the site.
On 21 December 2012, I met with the Minister and his Chief Officer and specifically asked whether any politician or officer had met with the developer to discuss the loss of all the historic buildings on the Charing Cross site.[7]
The Chief Officer answered my question and said that no-one had discussed the loss of all historic buildings - until the point at which the CI Co-op brought forward the proposal - because he had not been informed by his Minister of the meeting on 19 October 2012. The Minister, however, chose not to answer my direct question and did not correct the inaccurate answer inadvertently given by his Chief Officer
Later that day the Chief Officer, who still did not know from his Minister whether or not a meeting had taken place between the Minister and the CI Co-op , emailed the Minister to advise by email that “if you have met with the applicant privately, and you have given advice on the application, then I feel that as per the protocol[8] …you should declare this and play no further part in the decision making process. Such a decision would then be assigned to the Planning Applications Panel”[9].
The Minister did not respond to his Chief Officer, or to me to declare that he had indeed met with the CI Co-op. His silence and failure to disclose this information, either face-to-face at our meeting, or subsequently, is an unacceptable act of omission and falls below the standards of honesty and integrity expected of a Minister.
It was not until nine months later on 10 September 2013[10], when Deputy Hilton, asked in an oral question whether the Minister had met or spoken with the Management Team of the CI CO-OP, that the Minister confirmed he had indeed had a meeting.
When asked by Deputy Hilton if he had broken the Code of Conduct by meeting without Officers he said he “did not agree”. When directly asked whether, at that meeting, alternative developments were discussed, the Minister stated that “it is my recollection that no alternatives were discussed”. He confirmed again that this was his position at a following States sitting on 24 September 2013[11].
However, I am of the opinion that the Minister did discuss an alternative scheme at that meeting on 19 October because the Chief Executive Officer of the CI Co-op has himself confirmed in writing that during the meeting the Minister “indicated he might look more favourably on a scheme that addressed the Department’s concerns but which saw the demolition of the historic buildings”[12]. A proposal which was reflected in the revised proposals first discussed between the CI Co-op and Officers in 10 December 2012 and then in the revised application submitted by the CI Co-op on 29 January 2013.
It seems clear that a discussion on an application did take place between the Minister and the CI Co-op in October 2012, and therefore the Minister broke the clear intent of the Code of Conduct that he himself had introduced only 10 months previously.
As to his account to the Assembly, if one accepts that the Minister simply failed to recollect such a significant conversation on an application, then serious doubts must exist about his ability to uphold his duties and be accountable to the Assembly. If one does not accept the failure to recollect, then the Minister misled the Assembly, an act which requires resignation under the 2006 Ministerial Code of Conduct.
In summary, the Minister:
- failed in his responsibilities when he met with the applicant without officers present and participated in a discussion about an alternative, thus breaching the clear intent of the Planning and Environment Minister’s own Code of Conduct relating to the determination of planning applications:
- failed to be honest, open and transparent when he omitted to admit, when directly asked, whether he had met the applicant;
- either failed to recollect a significant matter, which has bearings on his capability to act as a Minister OR knowingly misled the Assembly.
2.2 Jersey Electricity Company (JEC) – St Helier western sub-station
At the Council of Minister’s meeting[13] on 13 November 2013[14]&[15], Treasury and Property Holdings Officers presented a report concerning proposals for a new site for JEC electricity sub-station. The report focused on two sites, the Old Quarry, which had been under consideration for some time, and an area of the Lower Park. The Minister, when asked at that meeting if he had “pre-determined his preference” as to the site, stated that he had not, indicating he had not expressed any such preference on the subject to either the JEC or to the Parish of St. Helier.
The Minister’s position is however very clearly contradicted by Chief Executive Officer of the Jersey Electricity Company (CEO JEC) and by officers of the Environment Department. Nor does it accord with the view of the Constable of St Helier:
- On both the 25 June[16] and 28 June 2013, the Minister had meetings with the JEC to discuss proposed sites for the sub-station. JEC officials, and the Departmental Officers that accompanied the Minister, are very clear that at those meetings the Minister expressed a very clear preference for the Lower Park site despite, at the very same meetings, his Officers expressing their reservations about Lower Park.
In an email dated 4 July 2013[17] from the CEO of the JEC to the Minister, the CEO summarises the discussion at those meetings and unequivocally states to the Minister that he recognises “…your strong support for the Lower Park facility – and that it is your clear preference over and above the old quarry site…”. The CEO goes on to note that “it is clear that your officers…had some reservations about the merits of the Lower Park site. I note your willingness and commitment to progressing this Lower Park site despite your officer’s reservations”. The CEO finishes by stating to the Minister that: “With the confidence and commitment you provided last Friday, we would be willing to proceed with this site…”
The CEO’s view of the meeting is confirmed by the Environment Department Chief Officer who has stated in writing that “it was clear that both I and (name of officer) advised against the Lower Park option, but the Minister gave oral support to the JEC Chief Executive about the Lower Park option”[18].
- It is also the case that he had engaged the Connétable of St Helier in discussions, despite stating he did not do so at the Council of Minister’s meeting on 13 November 2013. The CEO of the JEC, in an email dated 5 July 2013 to the Connétable of St Helier, states that “The Minister has also advised me in our meeting that he had discussed the (Lower Ground) site with you”.[19] In an email dated 17 November 2013, the Connétable of St Helier confirms that he had discussed alternative JEC sites with the Minister[20].
The Minister failed to be straightforward and transparent with the Council about the extent to which he had expressed a preference as to the site to the JEC or the Parish. This is not acceptable and falls below the standards of honesty and integrity expected of a Minister.
2.3 Disposal of asbestos
The Minister has a responsibility to safeguard our environment and to challenge any planning application which presents a risk to it. It was therefore right and proper that he raised questions about Transport and Technical Services’ application in 2010 to construct and operate an asbestos disposal cell.
In so doing, however, it was incumbent on the Minister to secure the Island’s overall best interests. The Minister however pursued his personal preferences and opinions which were contrary to best practice and to the expert advice received. This was to the detriment of good governance and timely, robust decision making and represented a serious failure on the part of the Minister because of the lack of appropriate asbestos disposal facilities rated as TTS’s highest priority on their risk register due to:
- the deteriorating condition of the existing containers and the potential for asbestos to be released into the environment
- the existing containers being located close to the Energy for Waste plant and La Collete fuel farms, and hence the potential for them to be subjected to a blast wave in the event of an explosion.
This failure to make a timely decision constituted a very real risk to the health of Islanders.
In 2009, TTS undertook a detailed feasibility study into all available options for the disposal of asbestos. This study concluded that the construction of the asbestos cell was the best way forward, hence their 2010[21] application.
In early 2012, after finalisation of the Environmental Impact Assessment process that is standard for all such planning applications, the Minister requested that other options were explored – including off-island vitrification - as he felt unable to make a decision until it was demonstrated that the solution proposed was the most appropriate. This was despite his officers clearly indicating their support for the application.
Work was therefore undertaken to provide the Minister with the information, evidence and expert opinion he required, including:
- In April 2012 LQM, a leading specialist environmental consultancy with an international reputation for assessing the risks posed by contaminants, published an independent review of disposal options and confirmed that TTS’s proposed disposal route was the best available at the time
- This was further supported by a report compiled by the Minister’s own States Environmental protection team, who upheld the LQM findings and concluded that the off-Island vitrification option, reviewed at the request of the Minister, was not a practical option.
- Advice received from the UK’s DEFRA, which confirmed the recommended option, and also stated that vitrification via plasma was overly energy intensive.
In August 2012, the Minister was accompanied by the Director of Environment – as waste regulator – on a visit to a French waste facility to further explore disposal options, including vitrification, at the request of the Minister. After that visit, Officers made a formal recommendation to the Minister, at a Ministerial hearing, that he approve the application.
At this point the Minister should have been reasonably satisfied and should have approved the application. He chose to defer the decision however, requesting that the alternative options were further explored, contrary to the advice of his officers, although he could easily have approved the application subject to an appropriate condition.
It was not until November 2013 that the Minister approved the application. This was:
- almost 3 years after it was submitted and
- more than 12 months after he had received extensive and compelling expert evidence, and a clear recommendation from his Officers, that the application should be approved.
The Minister was entitled to be satisfied that these hazardous materials were handled in the best manner. It was clear as far back as August 2012 that TTS’s proposals were in line with best practice The Minister, however, in repeatedly requiring officers to pursue other options, subjected the Island to prolonged risk and potential danger from the existing asbestos storage facilities, and also to unnecessary expense.
This is not acceptable. It displays a lack of judgement and a serious inability to give proper weight to issues of public safety.
Review of Island Plan
This Assembly, in its Strategic Plan, unequivocally set out the need for affordable housing. We did so because it is a priority to address the shortfall in social housing provision and to enable hard working Islanders to realise their home-ownership dreams.
Over the summer of 2012, the Minister conducted a consultation on H3, the Island Plan policy which aims to support the provision of affordable housing. This work was subject to excessive and unnecessary delay and was not concluded until July 2013, at which point a series of Island Plan revisions were finally proposed[22].
Neither myself, nor my fellow Ministers, disagree with the proposed revisions - on the contrary we were very clear with the Minister that revisions were required - however we have serious concerns about the time taken to get to this point.
The Minister failed to expedite the review of the Island Plan. Excessive delay was caused by the pursuance of his own policy ideas around home ownership through community trusts, and in seeking to establish control of access to affordable housing, even though access issues fall outside his remit. He did so despite myself and Ministerial colleagues expressing, and re-iterating our concerns, from December 2012 onwards.
- Conclusion
The Code of Conduct for Ministers sets out that the Council of Ministers “will work together on the basis of consensual and collective decision making” and that the Council will be a “forum for frank and open discussion”.
We cannot achieve that, we cannot uphold the Code of Conduct, and we cannot maintain integrity of collective decision making if any Member of Council fails in their obligations to be honest, straightforward and open. The majority of the Council believes that the Minister must be dismissed. He has misled the Chief Minister, the Council, the Assembly and ultimately the people of the Island by failing on a number of occasions to be transparent and to disclose critical information, even when directly asked.
The majority of the Council believes he has failed to secure the Island’s overall best interest in the pursuance of policies which are not supported by expert advice or which have resulted in unnecessary delays. In so doing, he has displayed a lack of judgement and capability. We believe he has also breached the Environment Minister’s own Code of Conduct relating to planning application advice.
It is the Minister’s right and duty to determine planning applications on his own but this does not excuse him from his obligations to work as part of a team. Members of the Council of Ministers have tried very hard to work with him, but he seems unable to uphold the Council of Ministers’ Code of Conduct and work co-operatively with his colleagues.
I bring forward this proposition with regret, but also with the firmly held belief that it is the right course of action.
I therefore ask Members to dismiss the current Minister for Planning and Environment.
- Financial/manpower implications
There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from this proposition.
Appendix 1: Chronology of events
Channel Island’s Co-operative Society Planning Application (Charing Cross)
Date | Event | Summary |
23 Sept 2011 | Planning application submitted | Demolish 2 listed buildings but retain 4 listed buildings |
12 Oct 2012 | Application considered at Ministerial Meeting | Decision deferred by Minister. |
19 Oct 2012 | Meeting - Minister
- CEO CI Co-op
- No officers present
| Minister does not re-call if an alternative scheme was discussed but the CEO Co-op confirms an alternative scheme discussed, including demolition of the historic buildings. |
10 Dec 2012 | Meeting - Planning Officers
- CI Co-Op reps
(Minister and Environment Department Chief Officer not present) | CI Co-op inform Officers, for the first time, that they will be submitting revised plans which include proposals to demolish all the historic buildings. |
21 Dec 2012 | Meeting - Chief Minister
- Minister
- Environment Department Chief Officer
- SoJ CEO
| Chief Minister asked the Minister about his involvement with pending revised application from CI CO-OP to demolish the historic buildings. Minister does not respond. |
21 Dec 2012 | Email - Environment Chief Officer to the Minister | Chief Officer advises that if Minister has met with applicant he should declare this. |
29 Jan 2013 | Revised plans received | Plans include proposal to demolish all listed buildings on sites, as set out in 10 December officer meeting. |
13 May 2013 | The Minister passes responsibility to determine Co-op application to Planning Application Panel | Minister’s decision recorded at an internal meeting with Officers. Reason for decision not provided by the Minister. |
2 July 2013 | Further revised plans submitted | Demolish 4 listed buildings but retain 2 listed buildings |
22 August 2013 | Planning application panel meeting | Refuse revised plans (now subject of Royal Court Appeal) |
10 Sept 2013 | Oral question –Deputy Hilton to the Minister | The Minister states: - he does not agree that meeting without Officers was a breach of Code of Conduct as application determined by Panel, not himself
- he has “no recollection” of whether alternative developments were discussed at his meeting with Co-op
|
24 Sept 2013 | Oral question – Deputy Hilton to the Minister | Minister: - confirms position that he has no recollection if alternative developments were discussed
- states he withdrew from determining application in favour of Panel because he was conflicted but declines to disclose why.
|
Jersey Electricity Company (JEC) – St Helier western sub-station
Date | Event | Summary |
25 June 2013 | Meeting - Minister
- ED Officer (Director of Environment)
- JEC (CEO and Energy Division Director)
| Site of St Helier sub-station discussed |
28 June 2013 | Meeting - Minister
- ED Officers (CEO; Director of Planning)
- JEC officials
| ED officers advise against Lower Park option Minister gives oral support to JEC re: Lower Park |
4 July 2013 | Email JEC CEO to the Minister | Email records that: - JEC had looked at Old Quarry site over a number of years
- Minister had subsequently stated that was his intention to list old quarry site
- Minister requested on 25 June that JEC re-examine 3 additional sites ahead of 28 June meeting
- 28 June meeting: 3 additional sites discussed. Minister shows his “strong support” for Lower Park option, although it was “clear” that ED Officers “had reservations”
- Minister had already discussed Lower Park option with Constable of St Helier who had also indicated support
- JEC to proceed with the Lower Park option on the basis of the “confidence and commitment” the Minister provided.
|
5 May 2013 | Email JEC CEO to Constable of St Helier | Email records that Minister advised JEC that he had already discussed Lower Park site with the Constable (Constable confirms to Chief Minister on 17 November that he had discussed alternative JEC sites on a number of occasion). |
13 Nov 2013 | COM Meeting minutes (draft) | - Discussion about proposals for site for JEC sub-station discussed
- The Minister for Treasury and Resources expresses concern that the Minister had “pre-determined his preference” as to the site
- Denied by the Minister.
|
Disposal of asbestos
Date | Event | Summary |
April 2009 | TTS undertake a detailed feasibility study into all available methods for disposal of asbestos | Conclude construction of disposal cell is best option |
Dec 2010 | TTS Planning application submitted | Application for construction of disposal cell. |
Jan 2011 – October 2011 | Full environmental impact assessments undertaken in accordance with the planning process. |
Feb 2012 | Minister asks TTS to do further work looking at other options for treatment including off-island vitrification. |
April 2012 | TTS commission independent report Land Quality Management Ltd. (LQM) | Report confirmed TTS disposal route was best available option |
July 2012 | Report – States Environmental protection team | Agree with LQM position. State off-Island vitrification non practical. State landfill the best option – as is common practice across jurisdictions including UK and France. |
July 2012 | Correspondence with DEFRA | DEFRA confirm recommended disposal route via landfill. State vitrification via plasma is very energy intensive. |
21 August 2012 | Visit to waste management operation in Normandy, France: | Minister wishes to research potential for vitrification via plasma and/or landfill. Visit confirms Director for Environment’s position – as waste regulator – that on-island land fill is the best option |
28 August 2012 | Recommendation – Environmental protection and planning officers recommend to Minister that TTS application is approved | |
4 Sept 2012 | Decision deferred by Minister | Minister receives email, on 3 Sept, from French waste facility stating they would be able to transport and treat waste depending on regulatory requirements. Minister therefore defers decision, contrary to officer advice, in order to establish if export possible. |
Sept to end 2012 | Correspondence TTS Minister and the Minister | TTS Minister requesting urgent decision. TTS Minister reiterates unequivocal advice received from Environment officer and UK authorities that export for disposal would not be permitted/not be best option. |
Jan 2013 – June 2013 | Officers work to seek resolution, including additional research into alternatives options. |
June 2013 | Officers visit French waste facility - Director of Health and Safety
- Chief Officer TTS
| Whilst vitrification facility had been reviewed as part of TTS feasibility study in 2009, which concluded use of facility was prohibitively expensive, and had also been discussed as non-viable with DEFRA - officers visit to look at other additional aspects including; - Health and safety
- Environmental best option
|
September 2013 | Report Officer report produced summarising issues | Rules out use of vitrification for Jersey’s asbestos from on grounds of: |
November 2013 | Approval of TTS application | |
Appendix 2: Attachments
gov.je