Emails reveal States HQ tensions

Monday 21 January 2019

Newly-released emails have revealed how news that the Chief Minister’ was considering scrapping £30million housing plans for a new States HQ was received behind the scenes.

The correspondence, which was made public under the Freedom of Information Law, shows how conversations over the future of Ann Court were being held in early October between Chief Executive Charlie Parker, Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré, and St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.

They also show how the discussions took several weeks to reach the Housing Minister Senator Sam Mézec, who exchanged disappointed words with Andium Homes’ Chairman and former Chief Minister Frank Walker over the proposals.

Rumours began to circulate of plans to scrap £30million plans for Andium Homes’ prospective 165-home development in mid-October.

Pictured: Treasury Minister Deputy Susie Pinel wrote to the Chief Minister to seek clarity on whether to sign off the loan for Andium to begin construction at Ann Court.

At this point, a senior States source told Express that, although the Chief Minister was considering halting the plans to consider whether it could become the States new headquarters under Charlie Parker’s ‘One Gov’ plans, no officials moves had been made yet.

Construction at Ann Court had not started yet, with Andium awaiting sign-off of a vital loan worth nearly £40million allowing this to begin.

It wasn’t until 29 October that the Treasury Minister Deputy Susie Pinel and her Assistant Minister, Deputy Lindsay Ash, requested urgent clarity from the Chief Minister over whether they should approve the loan.

“I am being asked by Andium Homes, in accordance with our Memorandum of Understanding with them, to approve a loan of 37.8 million to them (from the Bond) to begin the Ann Court development… Can my Assistant Minister and I please request a meeting with you as a matter of urgency?” Deputy Pinel wrote in an email to Senator Le Fondré.

Pictured: Frank Walker, Chairman of Andium Homes.

The Chief Minister replied that Jersey Property Holdings – the wing of the States responsible for managing and maintaining its property portfolio – was “doing a piece of work on Ann Court” and that Andium “was aware”.

This work related to its suitability for a new States HQ, and wider considerations of how the site would fit into plans to regenerate the north of town.

Despite later exchanges on the topic, it took more than a week – November 9 – for Treasury to officially confirm the Chief Minister’s instruction “NOT to release funds” for the development, and a further five days for Deputy Pinel to officially state that the plans will be halted.

In a letter to Andium Homes’ CEO Ian Gallichan, the Treasury Minister said the decision was “not made lightly”, describing it as a “pause”.

However, much of this appears to have played out without the knowledge or approval of the Housing Minister.

Pictured: The Ann Court housing project remains on hold, but Deputy Steve Luce has brought forward proposals for debate to ensure that they are not scrapped in favour of a new States HQ.

On November 12, he reported that he would be meeting with the Chief Minister and would bring up the issue the following day.

Writing to assure Andium Chair Frank Walker shortly after media reports made the plans public, Senator Mezec assured: “My position on this remains unchanged since we last discussed it. I hope that things become clearer as soon as possible so that Andium are able to crack on with the brilliant work you have planned, without any shadows hanging over you in this way."

The Chairman replied: “I very much hope you will be able to persuade the cM that this makes no sense at all, particularly as Ann Court is totally compliant with the Island Plan, plays a major role in the regeneration of St. Helier, provides 156 units of much needed accommodation, [redacted].”

He then called for a meeting with the Senator and Assistant Treasury Minister Lindsay Ash in the event that the Chief Minister “can’t be persuaded”.

The emails also showed how, when Express asked questions of Ministers and Andium, which is States-funded but run independently, the two bodies liaised before replying separately.

A request for comment from the Chief Minister over whether Andium would be allowed to sign contracts with their approved contractor ended up involving input from policy advisor Paul Bradbury, Chief of Staff Catherine Madden, Chief Executive Charlie Parker, Treasurer Richard Bell, Communications Director Stephen Hardwick, Director General of Growth, Housing and Environment and two unknown people, whose email addresses were redacted.

The status of the project remains on hold, but a debate due to be held in the States Chamber next Tuesday could change things.

Former Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce has brought forward proposals to ensure housing gets built on the site, which States Members will vote on.