PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Appointment of new member to the Jersey Environment Forum
(Public)
Purpose of the Report
For the Assistant Minister to approve the appointment of one new member to the Jersey Environment Forum: Elizabeth Murfin.
Background
The Jersey Environment Forum (JEF) was established by the Environment and Public Services Committee in June 2003 to bring together the views of all those who have a stake in Jersey’s environment. Support for such a forum was confirmed at an open workshop held in December 2002. In the past six years the Forum has provided advice on the development and implementation of environmental policy issues to ensure that it is on a sound and informed basis. JEF has also facilitated the effective exchange of knowledge, information and views at all levels between the Government, the public and non-governmental stakeholders.
The JEF acts at an ‘operational level’, providing constructive criticism to the Minister and Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment on specific policy issues, bringing together the areas of interest that each member represents (in this sense the term operational refers to specific policies, projects and the business of the Department as defined by the States of Jersey Strategic Plan and Departmental Business Plan).
Discussion
The JEF has twelve members who each serve for a period of three years, except for the two youth members who serve for one year. This results in the need to replace four retiring members each year. The recommendation of members of the Forum is carried out by the Chairman in consultation with the Director of Environment and they are formally appointed by the Assistant Minister, usually in August each year.
The requirement for an additional new member at this time of year comes as a result of the retirement from the Forum of Lesley Toms in September 2009.
Elizabeth Murfin graduated from Durham University with a Geography degree and a fascination with the ‘mechanics’ of our world. It was during her epic cycle ride from the Equator in Ecuador to Cape Horn in Argentina that she developed a passionate interest in Education and came back to complete a PGCE at Birmingham University. After teaching in the UK for 5 years Elizabeth arrived in Jersey to teach Geography at Hautlieu. Hautlieu has achieved Eco-School Bronze status and she is working with the students to achieve the silver award. Elizabeth aims to bring some of the student’s views to the group and help them to become more involved with protecting their environment. She is also pleased to be able to feed back to the students some of the debates that are going on in order to make the theory they study in the classroom take on more meaning.
Recommendation
1. That the Assistant Minster approves the appointment of Elizabeth Murfin as a member of the forum until January 2013.
Written by: Sarah Le Claire, Assistant Director for Environmental Policy, Planning and Environment
Approved by: Andy Scate, Chief Executive Officer, Planning and Environment
Attachments: none
Ministerial Decision Ref: MD-PE-2010-0017
26 th January 2010