Planning probe a "smokescreen"

Tuesday 04 February 2020

A probe into a controversial rejected planning application for farmworker accommodation is a “smokescreen” detracting from the “real issues” in the Planning Department, a former owner of the Jersey Royal Company has claimed.

The allegation comes from Tom Binet, whose claim that planning officers had told “untruths” in relation to his 2018 planning application was upheld last year by the States Complaints Board – an independent panel tasked with reviewing grievances with government departments and their Ministers.

The Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, initially dismissed the findings, leading Mr Binet to team up with other aggrieved islanders, as well as launching a petition demanding a full investigation into the Planning Department. 

In an apparent U-turn, the Minister last month agreed to an inquiry led by an independent planning inspector into the handling of the Jersey Royal Company owners’ application.

Pictured: Environment Minister Deputy John Young.

In a statement, the investigation was described as a “forensic” probe into the department’s process in relation to the application.

But far from quashing the ex-potato company owners’ discontent, Mr Binet has responded furiously, describing the inquiry as a “smokescreen” and “a glorified attempt to side-step responsibility."

“This is not what the complaint was about at all. It’s a review of something we don’t want reviewed,” he told Express.

“We made it plain to [the Environment Minister]. We complained about the department and the actions of senior officers. The investigation we wanted carried out was into his department… This isn’t about Planning, this is about the conduct of individuals.”

He further expressed concerns that such a review could have been suggested by “the very people we complained about”.

Emphasising that the review in its present form “is of no use” to either himself or other aggrieved islanders he claims to represent, Mr Binet is now calling on the Minister to reconsider his decision and broaden the inquiry to consider the operations of the Planning Department generally.

“I hope he will have the courage.”

Express asked whether the Environment Minister would consider reviewing the scope of the inquiry in line with Mr Binet's demands, and whether the individuals involved in his planning application had played a part in the decision to hold an inquiry.

A government spokesperson answered neither query, but provided the following response: "An inspection report was made by the Planning Officers Society last year, which gave recommendations for improving the planning process... The Minister for the Environment Deputy John Young made the decision to hold an independent inspection into this particular application."