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JDA Policy, Aims and Objectives |
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Letters to the JEP from JDA members
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To formulate and promote political policies that adhere to the following principles:
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Economic Development Ignore the economy at your peril. The single most important factor in voting patterns is how they feel about the economy, both on the large scale and on the level of their own personal finances. |
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The JDA fully support the continued development of an ethical and well-regulated Finance Industry. Nevertheless, we believe that government must balance the benefits brought by the industry’s success with the demands on the island’s resources. The continued drive to put all of our eggs in one basket is pure folly. Our dependence on a single industry for over 52% of our economy is frightening.
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The JDA believes that we must maintain and nurture our tourist industry. In 2005 we campaigned for support to bring down the costs of getting to Jersey. We are glad to see that the Economic development minister has adopted our policy, with the result that tourism numbers are up once more, largely thanks to the subsidies now being given to low-cost carriers.
We believe that the government can go further; by adopting modern commercial financial and accounting practices, the Airport could cut landing fees by up to £3.5m, and boost passenger arrivals whilst eliminating the need for States funding.
Once travel costs are down, we can look to invest in tourism. This requires strategic use of the interest on the rainy-day fund, already suggested but not yet done, by none other than Senator Walker. Over past years, the realised interest has averaged over £12m annually. This interest could, and should be invested in our infrastructure. Our number one target would be the restoration and refurbishment of Fort Regent as a major tourist and conference centre. Lift access from Snow Hill is an essential investment priority to revive the Fort.
The JDA, however, believes that given the right encouragement, Tourism can once again be a viable secondary economy for Jersey.
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Of course every politician who stands for election supports the Jersey agricultural industry. We all believe in “Brown cows in green fields”. Not to do so would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it? Well, yes, apart from those ministers and others who voted (AGAIN) against the funding free school milk to the tune of £200,000. Philip Ozouf, who proposed the cut, one week later found a spare £500,000 to toss to Jersey Finance for more marketing. Would you believe it?
The JDA believes that a wholistic approach must be taken to our economy. Finance, Tourism and Agriculture are all interdependent like a 3-legged milking stool. The three legs of the economy are agriculture, tourism and finance Without farmers to maintain and protect the countryside, we will have no tourism; without the hoteliers and their conference managers, we shall have no facilities for business and finance visitors; without finance, we lose 50% of our economy. The current economic thinking in government is that ALL subsidy is wrong and that COMPETITION is the only God. Such a policy is wrong. Without the three legs of the stool, when we sit on it to try to milk the golden cow of finance, we shall fall on our faces (soit dans la boue). Subsidy will be required and must be delivered to our second and third industries if we are to keep any semblance of diversity in our economy. The JDA will work to ensure that this happens. |
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We will find ways to support the neglected small business sector. Businesses on the island, apart from the finance sector, have suffered a double blow from the imposition of GST. Not only has GST made them less competitive with UK and internet companies but they have additional administrative costs of collecting the tax for the government.
The massive development proposed on the Waterfront now poses a severe threat to businesses in the old town. The risks from displacement are huge. Measures must be put in place to protect the activity and the infrastructure of the traditional heart of St Helier.
Finally to the perennial issue of the application of The Regulation of Undertakings Law (RUDL) to small businesses; there can be no doubt that RUDL makes it far more difficult for small business to recruit and to grow. Big business appears to have far more clout. The JDA will seek ways to ensure greater equity in the application on RUDL. |
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The JDA believes that controlling immigration is the underlying key to bringing soaring house prices under control, and to put a stop to both the saturation of St. Helier with high-rise, high-density development and the creeping erosion of green and brown field land across the island. The driver of immigration is undoubtedly this government’s obsession with growth of the economy. This growth is now out of control. As a consequence, the government have lost control of their so-called migration and population policies. Such growth is unsustainable. |
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The JDA believes that in order to meet the economic needs of our island, and to protect against young people leaving to seek appropriate employment else where, greater value and emphasis must be placed on vocational education, leading to more flexibility and increased apprenticeships.
Early Years Learning & Care The JDA is committed to high quality Early Years education and care. In doing so we will work towards establishing a level playing field for all parents to access free provision; a provision which currently does not exist.
University Fees & Higher EducationThe JDA do not believe that the Minister has given adequate consideration to the views of parents and potential students. We do not support the use of ‘Student Loans’ to substitute for the fees of university course. The JDA further believes that we must simultaneously place a greater emphasis on the value of apprenticeships and vocational training to offer young people. This will, in turn, help reduce the strain on resources by encouraging more young people to consider training within the island.
We will also explore creating a fund specifically for ‘non-criteria’ students currently unable to access normal grants, but keen to qualify and bring back their expertise to benefit the island.
The Youth Service & Provision of Informal Education We believe that the continued provision of high quality, purpose-built youth facilities is absolutely essential in support of young people’s social, personal and educational development. We will thus oppose any attempts sell off youth facilities to pursue the development of low quality ‘on site’ youth provision built on to schools.
The JDA will work in tandem with the Connétable’s to ensure the development of partnerships with ESC to deliver youth work becomes the norm for all the island’s parishes. |
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Hospital As an island community, we must continue to maximise the medical resources available locally. Private sector resources should be encouraged to supplement and enhance provision, but must not undermine the public facilities by direct and aggressive competition.
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The JDA recognises the
valuable role of the Parish Hall inquiry as part of our criminal justice
system. We also
The JDA support increased community policing, particularly in St. Helier A visible police presence on the streets is a proven deterrent to public disorder and anti-social behaviour.
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The JDA firmly believes that it is a key role of the States to provide and maintain social rental housing that is secure, affordable and to a reasonable standard. Selling off social housing stock rather than maintaining it is not a solution. The JDA will reverse this trend ensuring assistance with social housing is given where it is genuinely needed.
The JDA supports, as a priority of policy, to investigate all potential avenues by which to provide first-time buyers the opportunity to purchase their own home at a reasonable cost. The JDA nevertheless currently holds substantial reservations about the proposed Jersey Homebuyer Scheme. In its present form this scheme will result in most buyers never being able to progress to a position in which they can afford to sell their starter home and move up the property ladder.
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The JDA generally support the protection of our countryside and heritage as a core value. In particular, we would defend the remaining unspoilt coast as both a tourist attraction and an important contribution to local quality of life. We do, however, endorse the judicious redevelopment of “brown-field” sites to provide our requirements for residential and commercial premises, especially improved provision of family houses.
We remain opposed to more large-scale development on the Waterfront, which would blight the Town Centre as well as making the “gateway” to the Island visually unwelcoming, and would like to see a return to the original vision of mixed small-scale development and public open space, with due allowance for rising sea level.
The JDA oppose any further major developments on low-lying coastal land, due to the certainty of flooding within a few decades.
The JDA believe that all new buildings should be embracing the latest energy saving design features. Energy waste from existing homes is the fastest growing source of CO2 emissions in the UK and Jersey will be no different.
The JDA believe that reducing energy consumption is desirable and achievable in the short term. The JDA propose, as a practical solution, proven in the UK, that grants be made available towards the insulation of buildings, e. g. loft insulation and draught-proofing. In particular, we will encourage the reduction in energy use by offering grants for energy efficient improvements to the home. We also would encourage the installation of solar panels and small wind turbines, with contributory grants also available for these purposes. |
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The JDA opposes the massive, high-rise development currently being promoted. Not only are the latest schemes wholly out of character with Jersey’s environment, but the proposed new finance/office/commerce centre will rip the heart out of the existing town. The JDA believes passionately that local businesses here in St. Helier must be protected. We fully support the call for local architects to be commissioned to ensure an understanding of Jersey’s structural character and heritage is incorporated into all designs.
The JDA continue to hold to our original belief that inclusion of facilities for young people must be central to waterfront planning. We fully support the development of both the long overdue skateboard park and the construction of a purpose-built youth centre with café facilities within the former Public Works warehouse on the old North Quay.
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The Elderly The JDA support a Social Insurance scheme like that in Guernsey to pay for residential care. We will also make it a priority to examine ways to help with the burden of rates on the elderly. We believe that all too regularly pensioners end up “asset-rich, but income poor”, when a £400 rates bill becomes a serious problem.
Income Support The JDA note the fact that the many flaws identified in the new Income Support Scheme by the Scrutiny process were not acted upon by the States. We will ensure this scheme is modified to protect those who need it most. Where help is needed it must be given. Because HIE has been scrapped and substituted as a component of IS. this component has proven to be less conducive to people who were on HIE and as a consequence, these recipients are using A&E. Predicted by Deputies Judy Martin and Geoff Southern. Furthermore, it is questionable as to whether the system is helping those who are on the bottom of the income level, as was acclaimed by the Minister. The subject of Income Support and the lack of effective delivery of support to the needy will be a major topic on this website soon.
The JDA are committed to finding funding for enhanced respite care and co-ordinated home care for the elderly. We will also develop provision for supervised access facilities for divorced/separated parents.
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Transport & Technical Services
Town Bus Service The JDA call for investment in a greatly improved bus service on principal commuter routes and around Town, including the reintroduction of a “Hoppa” type service, as the only realistic solution to the present congestion and pollution. We feel that cheaper fares are the way forward, and believe that it is unfortunate that the terms of Connex's present agreement do not encourage them.
Traffic We would like traffic management policies to become more focussed on the purpose of efficiently moving people and goods in and out of Town. We are also concerned about the volume of vehicles on the island’s roads, which puts a strain on both our infrastructure and on the environment. Whilst expanding the road-network might be appealing to some as a way to solve congestion, we believe this to be short-sighted and prefer moves that will ultimately encourage people out of their cars and onto more sustainable, greener forms of transport i.e. cycles and buses.
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The JDA will promote the three Rs Strategy – Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. We believe that the current recycling target has been set too low and we will seek to achieve higher rates of recycling. In the longer term, the introduction of the Continental system of returning packaging to suppliers for recycling would be beneficial. Levying a duty on excess packaging may also be a helpful measure in discouraging waste. The JDA backs calls for the reduction and ultimate cessation of the use of plastic carrier bags in Jersey. The JDA believe that, while the rest of Europe is moving away from archaic incineration technology, we should not be proposing to increase our own use of it.
We suggest that consideration be given to upgrading our very inefficient street lights with designs that shine downwards instead of all around, to give the same level of illumination where it is required without wasting electricity to light the sky.
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GST The JDA has always opposed the imposition of a Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the means to fill the so-called black hole caused by the zero/ten policy. This tax is regressive and will have greatest impact upon the least well off in our community; pensioners and low earners. It will cause hardship for many. The compensation offered to the poorest is not enough.
20/20 Taxation The JDA also opposes the “20 means 20” tax measure. Work is now in progress to carefully examine the possibilities of replacing both GST and “20 means 20” with more progressive tax measures
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recognise that this system must be updated to ensure it
is more efficient and Human Rights compliant. We will encourage greater
cooperation and sharing of resources between the Parish Honorary Police
Forces. We support the introduction of proper sentence planning and the
use of restorative justice and community service orders contained in the
Criminal Justice Policy. 
